A HEARTY EFFORT FROM A FRESH FACED GIANTS TEAM -
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Sunday’s Giants – Ketan Amin, Thomas Elks (wkt), Alex Humphries, Jacob Kalnins, Aayush Patel, Rory Watson, Tom Weston, Ben Young (c) and on debut: Jamie Edwards, Joe Throp and Ed Whittaker.

Cricket in May is often a dicey situation - drizzle, jumpers, light - not this time; Chiddingfold was set very fair, a scorcher of a Sunday afternoon was in store as the Giants had made the pilgrimage down to the site of last year’s season opening ‘super over’ nail biter. Welcomed by the Frogbox©, the Giants collected and made introductions (more on that later), Young lost the toss and the Giants were put in on a greenish but good track - what could possibly go wrong?

Ketan and Tom Elks opened up against some genuine pace and line. Ketan convincingly left his first for a bye. Elks top edged his first ball, a catch to cover which had turned him round and came down with snow on it. Ed ‘Windows’ Whittaker (more on that later too) came in at 3. Ketan got a ripper of a ball which had off stump hitting the turf. James Throp (Debut) came to the crease at 4. The debutants working nicely together initially before Throp also had his off stump castled. Aayush, now elder statesman of the Giants top order, came in to steady the ship. In this instance, that meant a combination of some astute game management and the ability to smack the young opener indiscriminately around the park and out of the attack - the pitch was good and true and provided some tennis ball like bounce. It was also this bounce which became Aayush’s undoing with the first ball of the first change bowler; a short one dying on him to hit middle stump halfway up. Jamie Edwards (Debut) then joined Whittaker, though also departed soon after having again been outdone by what was seemingly a two paced pitch.

Jacob Kalnins came to the crease at 41-5 to join Whittaker. A rebuilding job was in order and was duly provided. Some solid hitting from Kalnins (36 from 32 balls) provided a strong base for the innings with Whittaker also cashing in on some, at points, buffet bowling. Ed taking advantage of one particularly loose delivery to pick out the front path of a house beyond the mid-wicket boundary where an unlucky bounce saw the ball crash through a pane of glass in the front door and down the hall. It was however one slightly dodgy call too many for Kalnins just before drinks which saw the end of him at 133-6. Humphreys provided able assistance taking us to 170-8. The pitch looked especially conducive to the no nonsense hitting of Watson, but it was not going to be Rory’s day as he went for 5. Young joined Whittaker briefly, but Ed was then caught trying to dispatch their returning opener but spooned one up instead, for a very well made 57 (from 70 balls). Weston and Young took advantages of some extras for the tenth wicket. All out for 203 with 6 overs to spare, but Whittaker’s smashing effort meant we were still very much in the game.

Tea – supplied by CCC’s local sponsors ‘The Swan Inn’ - was superb I cannot overstate this point. Quiche (two varieties), scones (jam and clotted cream), sandwiches (a prosciutto variety particularly good) and Victoria sponge. A serious impediment to the tough bowling challenge to come.

The Giants came into today with 1.5 recognised bowlers, a tough day in the field was in store. Humphreys and Weston opened up. Humphreys struggled for rhythm, eventually and unfortunately joining the ever lengthening roster of Giants injuries. Weston was bowling some good occasional off spin (“spin”) off his one fully functioning leg and kept a sense of control - if occasionally being picked up by one of their openers.

The middle overs were filled with a real bingo card of Giants bowling. Watson contributed very well, bowling some remarkably consistent leggies and was richly rewarded with 2-30 including a sublime catch from ’Keeper Elks’ smartly taken having been turned round the corner off a glove. Young (1-26) replaced at the top end, followed by Ketan and then Ed. Kalnins also gave a strong contribution from the bottom end. Wickets were occasional and always well timed just enough to keep the Giants excited in the field. A good caught and bowled from Young and a sharp catch in the covers from Jamie particular highlights. Throp, usually a keeper making his debut as a specialist batsman, turned all-rounder with a wicket from his first over for several years.

Despite a very hearty effort from a fresh faced Giants team, we came up short.
Too few runs, from too few overs and too few wickets being taken meant that Chiddingfold came home at a canter with 4 overs to spare.

Overall, however, it was a great day out for the Giants. What was left out of the start of the report was that until Friday, we had about 8 players. Our playing team had five specialist keepers, two invalids and three debutants (now at cap no.734) who all made valuable contributions and there was some serious spirit shown on and off the field.

While this time we came out with a loss, you can’t win them all, and given the extremely close finish to last year’s game, probably just as well. We already looking forward to putting things right next year and of course to the tea!

Chiddingfold win by 5 wickets (with four overs remaining).
Player of the Match – Ed Whittaker, for his 57 (70 balls, eleven 4s and one 6).
Giants Moment of the Match – This week a joint effort from Ed and Jacob for this year’s first sighting of two Giants batsmen together in one crease.

Ben Young - May 2022