Rainham
v The Aussies
Rock Nest Island
rests just off the coast of Perth in Western Australia. It's particularly
well known for a small marsupial known as a quokka. These mammals
have inhabited the island for as long as people can remember.
In 1994 another type of quokka, the Quokka Cricket
Club came to England for a cricket tour of Kent. They were due to
play a series of matches but early in the week of their tour the
Thursday opposition pulled out. At the last moment Rainham were
asked if they were interested. They accepted the offer and took
up the challenge for their first ever match against Australian opposition.
I particularly
remember the day very well as I had flown home to England the previous
evening from Colombia after a twelve hour flight via Paris. I was
tired and suffering from jet lag but all the same, I phoned (current
club president) Stewart Macfarlane to get a report on the 1994 season
and to make myself available for the following weekend.
“Are you interested in a game tomorrow?”
asked Stewart, “We’re desperately short of a good wicketkeeper
and we’re playing a touring side from Australia.”
“Alright”, I answered reluctantly, “I’m
out of practice but it sounds like an interesting game.”
After a good
night’s sleep that caused me to wake up at 9.30 the next morning
due to jet lag, I hurriedly got dressed, gathered together my cricket
equipment and rushed to Berengrove Park where a number of players
and officials were anxiously preparing the wicket and cutting the
outfield for an 11am start.
The proposed match, an all day affair, was to be
played on the basis of 12 players a side as both teams had an excess
of players available and everyone was keen for a game of novelty
value and a new challenge.
The toss was made on a cloudy day but rain the previous
day had made the wicket favourable to the seam bowlers. I particularly
remember that pungent smell of grass that is typical when you have
rain before cutting the outfield. The Aussies won the toss and decided
to bat.
Rainham took the field apprehensively, not knowing
what to expect but they did have Nick Plumridge bowling at one end
and Ivan Willis at the other. The Aussie batsmen came to the wicket
confidently and Nick Plumridge ran in to bowl. The batsman leant
back and hit a good length delivery straight over mid wicket for
six. Nick Plumridge couldn’t believe it. The next one went
for four over mid off and the next one for six over square leg.
Nick Plumridge stood aghast with hands on hips unable to speak,
two more boundaries and 25 appeared on the scoreboard.
Ivan Willis
ran in at the other end for the second over and came in for the
same treatment - 48/0 off two overs.
The incredulous
Aussie batting couldn’t last and Nick Plumridge got the breakthrough
with two quick wickets. Ivan Willis captured a wicket at the other
end, Nick struck with three more and the Aussies were suddenly 65/6.
Feeling that a slaughter may take place, captain
Glen Cook removed both bowlers just before the lunch break with
Nick Plumridge finishing with 6-45. This helped the Aussies who
had held back two good batsmen and after a big lunch they got stuck
in and steered their side to a respectable 196-8.
In reply Rainham
lost a quick wicket when I went forward to a ball that flew spitefully
off the wicket, struck my glove and looped straight to second slip.
Two more wickets fell cheaply to a keen and vocal Aussie side and
Rainham were struggling at 15/3. With Stewart Macfarlane and Ivan
Willis at the crease the omens weren’t good but some determined
batting by the Rainham pair brought about a partnership of 68 and
Rainham were back in the game at 83-3.
In the ensuing
battle the game swung backwards and forwards with Glen Cook (26)
taking the side within sight of victory. When he was dismissed,
a flurry of wickets and frantic running resulted in Rainham falling
short by one run, giving the ecstatic Aussies victory in a memorable
game.
At the presentation in the bar speeches were given,
a pennant and cap were presented to the Rainham club while Stewart
Macfarlane returned the compliment in kind. The beer flowed for
the remainder of the evening and after exchanging stories from different
parts of the globe the Aussies departed, happy after a day at Rainham.
David Wood 2005
