Nail-biting Cup Victory for Blackheath Cricket Club

Published on: 23 Jul, 2018
Updated on: 24 Jul, 2018

Mitchell McMullan follows through as he drives towards his 33 run innings.

Report Martin Giles – Photos Simon Jones

A real team victory was secured in a nail-biting finish by Blackheath Cricket Club yesterday (July 22, 2018), playing at their home ground in the final of the I’Anson League Stevens Cup. Every man played his part in defeating worthy, top of the league, opponents Grayswood.

Blackheath won the toss and chose to bat on a slow and low pitch which, considering the current drought, had been well prepared. The outfield was, of course, dry, dusty and fast.

Things looked ominous for Blackheath when early wickets regularly tumbled and they could only erratically advance to 33 for 5 and then 60 for 8. But thanks to three stand out innings, 33 from Mitch McMullan, 27 from Hugh Jolly and 24 from 15-year-old Archie Freeth, a total of 117 was reached from the 16 eight-ball overs.

Archie Freeth, also a Surrey colt, survives a stumping appeal.

Even Blackheath supporters looked gloomy. Was victory still possible? It was surely going to take an unprecedented bowling and fielding performance.

That was not the Blackheath team’s thinking though. They took to the field undaunted, knowing they had faced these odds before in their semi-final against Puttenham.

Grayswood started their innings scoring steadily but slowly owing, especially, to some tight, economic slow bowling from Simon Mansell. His four eight ball overs went for just 18 runs.

The first Grayswood wicket fell with the score on 23 and the second with it on 47. However, with wickets remaining in hand it led Grayswood, and the spectators, to imagine they would be able to safely accelerate towards their 118-run target as the innings progressed.

But then came a collapse from 47-2 Grayswood went to 58-6. There were still another 60 runs needed off 48 balls with only four wickets standing. It could still go either way and the small crowd of around 150 spectators were engrossed. They hadn’t paid to watch but they would have done, now.

Grayswood added another 14 runs for the loss of a further wicket but then a stand between Dooling and McIntyre took the visitors on to 108 for eight as the final over commenced.

Ten runs were still required by Grayswood as the Blackheath skipper gamely backed himself to bowl the last eight balls.

The first ball was a little short and Dooling saw his chance. He hooked for the midwicket boundary. But on patrol there was Harry Giles. His and everyone’s hearts were in their mouths as the ball descended.

Having pouched it safely, his relief was obvious but as Blackheath resumed their positions the match was not over. There were still two Grayswood wickets standing and an entirely possible ten runs to be made off seven balls.

McIntyre hit the next ball to long on and set off, a single would have been safe but he needed to get back on strike. A sharp return from “The Heath’s” Rob Parrot to the bowler left the luckless Hind with too much ground to make. He was run out without facing a ball.

So now Grayswood needed nine runs from six balls. Still very possible but nine wickets were down.

The next ball went for four at third man. Just five runs to get. A dot ball and a two followed. Three runs to get from three balls. Everyone was on the edge of their seats.

McIntyre swung at the next ball but only succeeded in popping the ball up in the direction of mid-off where Jolly, running round from cover, took the catch and secured the victory.

Victory celebration. Somewhere in there is team captain Bertola.

No wonder the Blackheath team took off in pursuit of their captain to celebrate, no wonder the crowd broke into spontaneous applause and no wonder poor McIntyre looked dejected.

They say “catches win matches” and that seemed to be the case. Blackheath had caught out six of the Grayswood batsmen, not a chance had been dropped.

Blackheath’s overseas player from Australia, Mitch McMullan, receives his man of the match award from I’Anson league chairman Keith Ellis.

Chairman of the Lanson league, Keith Ellis, made Australian Mitchell McMullan, man of the match for his innings of 33 and for taking 3 wickets for 22 runs.

The chairman said, when presenting the trophy to Blackheath captain Bertola, it had been a match that would have graced any cricket ground and probably neither side really deserved to lose.

But Blackheath had won – just. And such victories are usually the sweetest.

Blackheath: (back left to right) Simon Mansell, Mitch McMullan, Harry Giles, (middle) Archie Freeth, Tom Melhuish, Rob Parrot, Hugh Jolly, Ronny Harrison, (front) Pete Melhuish, Alex Bertola (c), Will Melhuish