Mills Village Shield
Stoke Fleming 144 for 10,
Harberton 137 for eight.
Stoke Fleming won by seven runs
Over the past two years the Mills Village Shield has been held alternately by Harberton and Stoke Fleming, with neither able to gain a firm grasp on it.
Unbeaten all season, the odds were in favour of Harberton retaining the shield on Vice-President’s Day at their ground. But Stoke did not read the script.
The Harberton wicket was straw coloured and hard on top and looked a good batting track.
Winning the toss, Stoke elected to bat, hoping to amass a big score to pressure their hosts. They soon found that first impressions were wrong as Heath, Shephard and Tregelles ripped through the top order, reducing Stoke to 40 for four wickets after 14 overs.
The bounce on the wicket was erratic. Gritty performances by Steve Edmonds and Clarke started the recovery, but the going was painfully slow against tight bowling on the unpredictable track and excellent fielding by the Harberton team.
At drinks – 20 overs – Stoke had progressed to 59 for four wickets. Edmonds was looking comfortable until he pulled up suddenly with a torn hamstring. He decided to bat on, but it was painful to watch.
The breakthrough came in the 32nd over when Clarke was trapped lbw by Tobias for 28 with the score at 112. Pick of the Harberton bowlers, Heath, was brought back into the attack. Bowling with pace and accuracy, he removed Stoke’s tail, finishing with his first five-wicket haul for Harberton for just 16 runs in his seven overs.
Edmonds was finally removed after a stunning catch by Harvey in the deep for a superb 44. Stoke’s total of 144 looked challenging.
They say catches win matches. This was true for this match. The game was always going to be close, but when players look back they will reflect on two game-changing moments in the Harberton innings.
Stoke needed early success with the ball to put pressure on the home side. The usually reliable Mike McClement uncharacteristically went for a big shot off Clarke. Stepping down the wicket he swung and missed, to be stumped by Hardy with the score at six.
His son Toby was looking comfortable until he was a victim of stunning catch number one. Clarke (two for eight) bowled a loose ball down the leg side and Toby connected. The square leg umpire was waiting for the ball to fly past him to the boundary, when ‘Superman’, in the form of fielder Wilson, took off and flew past him with right arm extended. Miraculously the ball stuck in his hand as he rolled over. It was a catch reminiscent of Ben Stokes or Andrew Strauss at their best.
Suddenly both openers were back in the pavilion for just seven runs. With Sleep falling to a sharp caught and bowled off Hamitt for 15, the cream of the Harberton batting had gone for just 22 runs. It was time to rebuild the innings.
Harvey and Tobias batted watchfully. It was not pretty, but it was effective. Stoke were bowling very tightly – there were very few loose balls.
Despite his torn hamstring, Steve Edmonds (one for 21) came on to bowl off just one pace. Grimacing with each delivery, he gave little away. He removed Harvey (10) in the 21st over with the score at 56.
Worryingly, Harberton were unable to push the score on as overs were used up rapidly. The fifth wicket fell with the score at 75 after 28 overs – 70 still needed with just 12 overs to go.
Skipper Tobias went on to the attack. He was looking dangerous. There followed match-changing catch number two. Again it was Wilson. Tobias on 43 went for the big hit back down the wicket, past bowler Perkins. It looked a six all the way. Wilson took off, arm extended fully. Again the ball stuck in his hand as he twisted sideways to take another memorable catch. Harberton 90 for six with eight overs to go.
The last few overs were frantic, with Heath (17), Wing (12) and Tregelles (10 not out) all going for the win. Martyn (two for 12) and Perkins (two for 34) held their nerve. Harberton fell seven runs short with two wickets remaining in an exciting game.
The Village Shield was back in Stoke’s hands.
The man of the match was Steve Edmonds for a superb batting and bowling performance, despite a painful torn hamstring.