A Will Macdonald master-class saw Stoke Row gatecrash their way into third place in the FNG-BCL Premier Division following a dominant winning draw over Sandhurst. Despite their inability to claim what would have been a deserved victory, this was arguably Stoke’s finest performance of the season so far, as they subjected an established Premier Division side to an afternoon of torment, mostly instigated by the marvellous Macdonald.
After winning the toss, Stoke captain Rich Ashton was left with little choice but to bat first, after an inexplicable misreading of the fixture card from three Row players, who believed they would be playing at Newlands Lane, saw the trio of Stockings, Fenn and Bateman arrive just as Macdonald and the promoted Hennessy entered the fine playing arena. Indeed, the surface at Memorial Park was of the highest order, and a credit to the host club.
Amidst the chaos of the re-shuffled batting line-up, Stoke suffered an early blow as soon as the fourth ball of the innings, as Hennessy was superbly snaffled at slip by Graham Sanders off the bowling of Aron Shallom. However, the knowledge that Stoke were missing a selection of key batsman appeared to focus the minds of Macdonald and Oliver Nowell, who returned to form in a determined mood. Whilst Andrew Bradshaw was punished for some excessively short-pitched bowling, Shallom and Australian Dave Hambrook, who bowled some excellent off spin, made the Maharajas pair fight hard for their runs. Although a run rate of around four an over was perhaps out of the ordinary for a Stoke side who generally prefer to take the attack to their opponents, it was testament both to the quality of bowling from Sandhurst and the intelligence of the Row duo, who were willing to ‘ride out the storm’ before accelerating latterly.
Having overcome the early excellence of the Sandhurst attack, Macdonald and Nowell began to progress serenely, with the number three in particular striking some fine blows until he was well held by Simon Coxwell at slip for 29. Following this dismissal, the previously untouchable Sam Boughton was unable to repeat his recent heroics with the bat, yet contributed to some degree with a workmanlike 27. With Stoke 146-3, the game was in the proverbial balance.
However, as has all-too-often proved the case in their maiden Premier League voyage, Stoke Row then suffered a middle-order collapse of potentially fatal consequences. Goodness knows what may happen if this misfiring unit ever achieve a modi***** of form, but, once again, it was a tale of woe for the much-vaunted Stockings, Ashton and Sampson. With the initial two run out by Hambrook, who was an excellent fielder throughout, and the Protea bowled by in-swing bowler Coxwell, Stoke fell to 181-7.
Yet for once the proclamations of captain Ashton were taken on board – for the past thirteen weeks he has implored any member of his highly talented top order to ‘go on and get the big one’, and at last Macdonald produced the goods. A player of exceptional talent, the ex-Oratorian had previously made fourteen ‘fifty’s’ for Row, including four this season, yet this was the day of his maiden century for the club. Offering no chances throughout his majestic innings, the opener was aided by a mature cameo from Nick Windsor, who continually manipulated the strike to ensure his senior partner was on strike. Macdonald went on to post a fantastic 123*, including a hard-hitting 24 from the final over. From Sandhurst’s perspective, Coxwell bowled an intelligent spell, claiming 3-31, whilst youngster Jordan Clement, expensive on this occasion, also showed promise for future seasons. Furthermore, the hosts were exceptional in the field throughout the 45 overs.
In reply, Stoke’s ‘man-of-the-moment’ Macdonald opened up alongside fellow spin twin Dion Sampson. With an excellent ‘buzz’ generated amongst the fielders, Stoke started with the old ball and immediately reaped an unexpected reward as Hennessy, as stand-in wicket-keeper in the absence of Vickers, took a phenomenal catch to dismiss league top run-scorer Graham Sanders. His rival for this particular title, Macdonald, would have been especially pleased with Hennessy’s excellent glove work from an under edge which normally may have resulted in four runs.
As ever, the ‘keeper sets the tone for a side, and Chris Pharo’s enterprising cameo of 19 was shortly curtailed after a stunning off break from Sampson left the hosts 24-2. Quickly after, the energy of the Stoke Row outfit resulted in the crucial run out of Hambrook, as an ill-conceived run to Boughton at mid wicket resulted in a fatal clattering of the stumps. When the highly impressive Fenn entered the attack, the previously obdurate Shallom had his middle stump removed by the pacy Maharajah, and when Sampson trapped Birch leg before, Sandhurst were reeling at 67-5.
However, Sandhurst have not been a fixture in the FNG-BCL Premier League for many years without showing tremendous tenacity in the face of adversity. And so it was on this day – Kevin Speakman and the aforementioned Bradshaw displayed first-rate levels of concentration to diminish the threat of a loss for the home side. On the other side of the coin, their stubborn defiance also ensured that there was to be no chance of chasing the target which may have kept Sandhurst’s flickering title hopes alive.
As the game wound down to its’ inevitable conclusion of a draw, Macdonald rounded off his personally pleasing day with the wicket of Speakman, before Del Bateman bowled his first over for the club and, amazingly also claimed his first wicket, that of Clapham, to ensure Sandhurst ended on 137-7 after their 45 overs.
Thus Stoke Row’s miracle season continues, as they now move into third place in the FNG-BCL Premier League. Considering the trials and tribulations they have suffered, including losing their captain to an unforeseen injury for the first month of this season, as well as having a constant variety of absentees throughout, this can be seen as a truly remarkable effort. The next two weeks, though, will show just how far the Maharajahs have come, as they face the top two sides, Mortimer West End and Swindon NALGO.
In other results in the Feisal Nahaboo Global Premier Division, Mortimer retained their position at the head of the table with a thrilling winning draw over Pinkneys Green. Paul McGee continued his fabulous season with 92*, whilst South African Mark Gillon, fresh from sealing a crucial win against Peppard the previous week, hit 73. Duncan Atherton claimed 6-75 as MWE posted 254-9. In reply, Danny Woods and Jags Dhillon both hit half-centuries but Green ended up just short on 237-8.
However, Swindon NALGO failed to capitalise on Moretimer’s inability to dismiss Pinkneys as they slumped to a three-wicket defeat to Peppard. Whilst Shaz Khan continued his fine recent form, with 44, Paul Vines once again showed his class in blasting 111 to see his side into 5th place in the league. In the fixtures which have a major impact on the relegation zone, a Matt-Hayman inspired Embrook and Bearwood claimed a crucial four-wicket win over Woodcote, whilst Shinfield bounced back to form by gaining an assertive winning draw over Crown Wood.
