The latest ECB advise is out and county cricket remains suspended until August 1st at the earliest and recreational cricket is still suspended indefinitely so, sadly, still no live cricket for the foreseeable future. So, it’s another day of reminiscing as we look back at the events “On This Day” – 29th May.
It is not very often that we start these look backs with a defeat. It is hard not to when the first game you come to is in the SPCL T20 Cup where our record could be described as …. indifferent! In fact, we only won two of our first 13 games in this tournament, against Portsmouth & Southsea and Waterlooville. However, this particular game, in 2011, saw us come up against one of the best T20 players in the country and he showed all of his tricks that would make him one of the most sought after white-ball players that Gloucestershire snapped up when Hampshire released him later that same year. Benny Howell captained Totton and Eling and was instrumental in his sides’ 45-run win. He smashed 75 off 52 balls with six fours and three sixes before Brenton Allan removed him while Simon Steel (32) and Ricky Rawlins (25) would take them to 165-8. And then Howell opened the bowling – 4-1-6-1 later and we were done despite Darren Vann’s 52-ball 65 – tucking into Sam Walker and Rawlins!
The whole weekend was washed out in 2010 and in 1993 as well – and we were crushed by Alton in SPCL Division 2 in 2004 by 7 wickets despite 52 from Paul Cass and 35 batting at three from Charlie Freeston, our 194 all out posed little of a problem as the hosts chased it down in 31.4 overs, Freeston taking 2-41.
Now, normally, a game like this next one wouldn’t have got much of a mention but I reckon it’s worth for the efforts of a 13-year-old called Lavelle. It’s a 3rd XI game against County Borough of Bournemouth Employees Association down at the Old Ground and we lost by 67 runs. CBBEA made 136 all out in their innings with Steve Dunn taking 3-23, Martin Perris 2-51 and then, the fifth bowler … Mark Lavelle bringing home figures of 5-3-3-3! We were bowled out in reply for 69 with Dave Brandes making 20.
As has been mentioned in previous editions of “On This Day”, we didn’t have much luck sometimes when we play Andover. But we did on this day in 1999 when we got the better of a rain delay to win at a canter by 7 wickets chasing a revised target. Andover captain Jeremy Hayward hit five sixes on his way to 95 not out as the home side reached 224-7, with a couple of wickets each for Lee Savident and Paul Draper. It was Savident’s boundary strewn 53 which was crucial in the 28 over revision – we only needed 22 with Draper’s 41 and Tom Pegler 28 not out leading the way. And we made it a double over the North Hampshire men as the 2s strolled to victory in County Two by 6 wickets. Andover only made 137-7 in their 45 overs with two wickets each for Pete Clark, John Shepherd and Kevin Marshall. 33 from Tim Lumsden gave us a good start before 44 not out (yes, another red inker) from skipper Clive Surry saw us home with 14 overs left in the bank.
A trip to the picturesque Bolton’s Bench ground in Lyndhurst is always a pleasure, it has been the home to many a formation of a club – Lyndhurst, Lyndhurst & Deanery, Ashurst and Lyndhurst & Ashurst to name a few. In County One in 1982, it was the original Lyndhurst and we travelled home with a 73-run victory. Terry Chilcott’s 44 and captain Martin Newman with 32 took us to a decent 155-9 before Ray Hurst – who else really in those days – took 4-29 alongside Steve Brandes’ 2-27 and Billy Sims 2-14 as the home side were removed for just 82.
Our earliest league encounter came in 1976 with an away game at Gosport Park against Old Portsmuthians in County Two and we just about came out on top, winning by 11 runs. Bob Wilcocks with 36, Bob Dickinson 27 and a couple of 23s from Paul Hoskins and skipper Terry Chilcott were the outstanding scores in our 159 all out. Surprisingly, Ray Hurst didn’t open the bowling but it was his removal of R. Wilkinson, who had hit 59 which followed Durrant’s run out by the keeper for 45 that caused them to falter in the chase – Tufty Taylor’s 4-48 doing the main damage.
It would be remiss of me not to look back at some pre-league matches and 49 years ago today in 1971, the 1s went down to Bournemouth Sports and the match was drawn but not before 20-year-old Tony Archer had made a superb 101 in our 203-3dec with Vic Sevier’s 46 and Stan Piper 34 for company. The home side made little effort in chasing it down and we tried eight different bowlers to dislodge them!
Right then, enough of all that – let’s talk proper cricket! This is the moment that I have been waiting for since commencing these ‘On This Day’ stories at the start of May. Sunday 29th May 1994. Tom Pegler is, without a shadow of doubt, a Calmore Sports Club legend. With over 300 1st XI appearances dating back to the late 1980s, he is the only man with over 5,000 1st XI runs – Ben Johns is his nearest challenger still playing, over 2,000 runs behind. And with 151 dismissals behind the stumps, only Stuart Bailey has more. The stats alone stand Tom out as one of our greatest.
Back in the days of plentiful Sunday cricket, Tom used to bring a team up to play against our Sunday Second XI – often an all-day game with lunch and tea. It was always a great occasion – regularly booze infused, hence why it was always played over a Bank Holiday weekend! On this particular occasion, up at Loperwood Park, his side would get the better of our XI by 3 wickets. Jimmy Gill hit a brilliant 103 and Nigel Hill 34 as we declared at 201-8 after 57.5 overs. Tommy’s side crashed to 2-2 with Graeme Lyon removing both Pearcey and Foster but recovered to 79-3. And then, it happened!
Being dismissed hit-wicket is rare – in fact, in our 1st XI league history, it only happened once and that was Kevin Emery in 1990 at home to Poole. When you think of all the great bowlers who have played and could have forced such a dismissal, for it to only happen once is remarkable. But it happened here on this day. To Tom Pegler. But who was bowling, I hear you ask? IT WAS ME!!!! On my way to 2-19 off 5 overs. Forever, on a scorecard in Calmore Sports Club history, will read T.M. Pegler hit wicket b R.V. Isaacs 54. Done in the flight by my wily leg-spin or trying to smash it so far into Tatchbury Mount that it would never be seen again …. it matters not. What’s this in my pocket …. oh, it’s little Tommy Pegler!!!!
CALMORE SPORTS BIRTHDAYS:
1991 – Paul Lock
1998 – Lewis Bridle
