Some cricket matches are a scriptwriter’s dream, and Newdigate’s first roll-out of the newly formed Old Guard & Young Bucks side was one to be heralded.

With the forecast offering no help earlier in the week, the cricketing Gods did their bit, and laid out a perfect day for a Sunday afternoon of cricket.

Newdigate won the toss and elected to field, with Aiden Jones and Chris Halvitigala Don Jnr taking the new ball. Jones Jnr was to pick up the first wicket on his whirlwind day, that of Ali, a lovely swinging ball that perfectly connected with the top of off stump.

Oli Winters (32) batted with great aplomb, hitting some sublime cover drives, ably assisted at the other end by Bertie (34), and with the score at 75 for 2 after 15 overs, Mickleham were looking well set. However, when Winters fell to the penultimate ball of Tristan Newton’s spell (3-20), and his tactic of bowling of a wide, in order to take a wicket with the last ball of his spell, but avoiding the associated cost of leaving himself on a hattrick (noted by the way!), 76-4 gave the home side the sniff they were hoping on.

Replacing Newton Snr from the Dead Tree End ©, Austin Hunter made his return to cricket at Newdigate with instant impact, taking a wicket with his first ball, showing us all what resilience looks like in the face of adversity.

However it was Freddie Bennion, also making his senior debut for the club, who lit up the scoreboard with figures that he will probably appreciate a lot more in 20 years’ time, when he recognises the level of his achievement. Having started with a wicket maiden, he then picked up 4 of the final 5 wickets, alongside Oli Newton, finishing with quite astonishing figures of 4-4 from his 4.2 overs; wrapping up Mickleham’s innings, 122 all out.

In reply, Newdigate’s innings got off to a flier; some wayward bowling, combined with some hard hitting from Eliot Spiers (50*), broke the back of the run chase. Austin Hunter scored a well made 10*, but it was Aiden Jones who stole the show with the bat, hitting his maiden 50 (not out), getting over that milestone with the final scoring shot of the game. Some achievement, doubling his previous high score from 2023.

It was a great game, played in great spirit. My thanks to Mickleham for their help with that, and the Malibu ski after the game was a lovely touch, which we will definitely look to replicate in some way our end.