Page 16 - Chiron Autumn/Winter 2023

DATR
Cricket
Tmatch
he Defence Animal Training Regiment were invited to compete in a match against
The Quorn Stars played at Ashby Folville on Thursday 24th August 23 at 1800.
This all started when Lt Col Robinson asked me if I was going to play in a match for the DATR. A match, up until that point I was completely unaware of and at that time was just an idea.
I spoke to WO1 RSM Eade about the event and was asked to help organize the match and to captain our team.
After weeks of inquiring who
was keen to play and a few sessions of batting, bowling, and fielding practice at Melton Mowbray CC, the team of 11 were locked in. On the morning of the match, I woke to a message from Cpl Cope who had become a father in the early hours of the morning reducing the team
to 10 players, this would have been fine but both reserves were unable to fulfil the role. After a few hours of chasing for a new player WO1 Shaw put his hand up and was willing to play, we were back up to 11.
All players gathered at the Carrington Arms before the match and walked over to the cricket ground ready to start. The coin was tossed, I called heads, it landed on tails. We had to field first and bat second which in an evening league game is a disadvantage as the light continues to get worse and the ball is harder to see.
We took to the field, and I gave Cpl Binns the new ball and asked him to open the bowling (a job he had not done for 4 years). The match started well with only one run conceded off six balls, during his second over he took two wickets without going for
a run, match figures of two wickets for one run off twelve balls. At the
other end Cpl Longley bowled with good pace. One of the balls took a top edge all the way to the boundary where Cpl Binns was positioned.
A hard catch which was dropped (apparently the sun was in his eyes). Every player bowled one or two overs each, with some better than others but every player when asked were happy to take the ball even if it was their first-time bowling. Luckily,
we had a good wicket-keeper LCpl White who put his body on the line to stop any wayward ball from getting past him and going to the boundary. After sixteen overs The Quorn Stars had scored ninety-five runs a target achievable, but
difficult on a
slow low pitch.
sun now set behind the trees and only one run needed to win the match the last over began. A very watchful Cpl Longley played the first two balls back to the bowler, the team needed one run to win from four balls with the pressure on. Cpl Longley took an all-mighty swing which if he had connected, the ball would have landed in Melton town centre. However, he missed, and the ball hit the wickets. LCpl White now walked into bat with us needing one run from three balls after a quick conversation with WO1 Shaw he took his guard at the crease, the bowler ran in, LCpl White pushed at the ball
and without a second’s thought ran, the ball
was quickly gathered and thrown towards the stumps. LCpl White put in a graceful dive; the ball hit the wickets all eyes fell on the umpire Paul Hill
who signalled NOT OUT.
The DATR won the match with two
balls remaining.
After a thrilling match and
handshakes exchanged, both teams tucked into the BBQ and had a few beverages. Before people started to make their way home rumours of rematch began circulating.
Lt Col
Robinson and
Luke Preston
walked in
to open the
batting, after
the unlucky run
out of Lt Col
Robinson, David
Biggadyke came
into bat. A good partnership saw Luke Preston retire on twenty-five with the score on thirty-two. A quick fire twenty from David Blackmore and with Captain Bates scoring at a good rate, the DATR needed twenty- five from four overs. With the light waning batting became difficult
and wickets started to fall. With the
“Cpl Longley took an all- mighty swing which if he had connected, the ball would have landed in Melton town centre. However, he missed and the ball hit the wickets”
14 / Chiron Calling