SULLY AND TOBY GET FINDON MARCHING

THERE IS A growing sense of deja vu about watching Findon play in the Village Cup. The template for success is well defined and successive visitors to Long Furlong seem to stumble towards their demise as if suffering from a bout of cricketing narcolepsy.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Jul 2004, 12:57 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:01 BST

Sunday was a case in point. From a position of apparent strength at 111 for nought, requiring a run a ball, Hampshire champions Paultons slumped woefully to a disappointing 170 for eight in pursuit of 191 for victory. Toby Kingsbury was the chief architect of the collapse with five for 34, supported by Paul O'Sullivan's two for 14.

The basic script for the drama remained relatively unchanged from previous rounds. Once again, Findon lost the toss but were asked to bat first. Once again, the game opened with a rattle of early runs and wickets. John Rogers smashed two boundaries before being bowled. Toby Kingsbury managed to pick out a boundary fielder for the third successive game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The loss of early wickets is not unusual given Findon's attacking instincts and their tendency to score quickly allows for passages of calm rebuilding when required. The alliance of the implacable Nick Gifford and ever-resilient Graham Waller steered the Findon ship out of choppy waters of 43 for three to the relative calm of 91 without additional loss.

Waller's dismissal for a pivotal 38 brought in Andy Vickerstaff whose cleanly-struck 39 from 35 balls was of inestimable value to his side before a clatter of wickets from the excellent Tareeq Iqbal reduced the Horses to a perilous 146 for eight. Vickerstaff's knock had, however, afforded Findon's last three the time to bat sensibly and accumulate late, vital runs, lifting the total to a competitive 190 all out.

In reply, left-hander Colin James proved his all-round value to the visitors with some crisp and unfussy strikes. In fact, he rarely looked troubled as Findon, minus regular opening bowler James Iago, struggled for penetration. However, at 111, James found Nigel Waller's safe hands at mid-wicket off leg-spinner Mark Stewart for an excellent 62 and the match changed beyond recognition.

The challenge of chasing totals is as much a mental as a physical one, and Paultons singularly failed to withstand the pressure. Admittedly, they were not helped by the absence of big-hitting all-rounder Tony Richman, who earlier broke a bone in his foot while bowling. Nevertheless, they slumped dismally in a flurry of feeble dismissals while Findon bowled straight, fielded solidly and watched their opponents subside.