Hambrook Cruise to Third Straight Victory in Chidbrook Cup

180916: Hambrook v Chidham (Chidbrook Cup)

Hambrook won the toss and elected to bat

Hambrook 162-4 (20 overs)

Chidham 116-9 (20 overs)

Hambrook cruised to a 46 run victory over neighbourhood rivals Chidham in the 2016 Chidbrook Cup at a sunbaked Delling Lane on Sunday.

There were a few hitches with the pre-match preparation as both the tractor and roller broke down and it looked at one stage as if there would be two extra obstacles in the outfield but luckily Van Niekerk managed to get both machines started and shifted in time

Hambrook skipper Tom Phizackerley won the toss and elected to bat first with Parker senior and junior chosen as his opening pair. Both players were quick of the mark with a number of boundary shots but Steve was eventually caught by Jim Mansell (C Pink bowler). Number 3 Vinnie Smith got a couple of boundaries before succumbing to the same fate (caught Thorpe, bowled O'Donohue) and then Van Niekerk entered the stage to assist Will Parker.

Both players were soon forced to retire, Van Niekerk hitting only boundaries on his way to a swift 30 and Will Parker retired on the same score after finishing with a six. A Clark (8), H kimber (14) and T Phizackerley (10) added some nice runs to the Hambrook total and J Phizackerley (6) and S Clarke finished things off for the reigning champions with the latter putting in his best batting performance of the season.

Players and families enjoyed a lavish tea in the sun whilst the children played in the cricket nets and then it was back to the serious business of the afternoon as Chidham set about chasing the winning target of 163 runs.

Chris Pink and Matt Chessire opened up for Chidham but Pink was soon bowled out for a duck by young Joe Phizackerley and number 3 Jim Mansell also went for a quack thanks to family Phizackerley, this time David bowling and Tom catching. The Chidham innings was beginning to stall much like the ground machinery earlier in the day.

Leon Fiahlo was soon gone for 2 runs and then O'Donohue (14) helped steady the ship before he was out LBW bowled by H Kimber. Matt Chesshire, who somehow survived an early run out scare, was ticking along nicely before he was caught deep in the field by V Smith (bolwer Van Niekerk) only to find out when he walked back in that he should have been retired one run earlier.

S Thorpe (1), P WIld (3), K Stetchman (0) and L Davey (0) were unable to assist Chidham in the chase and amongst all this Henry Kimber (the long lost brother of Andy Gubbs) managed to secure a well-earned hat-trick of wickets which included taking one of the catches himself - however he failed to secure a jug of beer in the pub after the game.

Keith Davey and Matt Chesshire (getting a deserved second bite at the cherry and replacing the absent Simon Davis) kept their wickets intact to see out the 20 overs but ultimately Chidham fell well short of their target and it was left for Chidham skipper K Davey to present the 2016 Chidbrook Cup to Tom Phizackerly in a champagne fuelled celebration.

This was Hambrook's third straight victory in a row and the overall score in the Chidbrook Cup now reads Hambrook 7 Chidham 4. 

Man of the Match: Willem Van Niekerk (not least for sorting out the machinery)

Hambrook Team:

T Phizackerley (C), V. Smith, W Van Niekerk, S Parker, W Parker, S Clarke (W), D Phizackerley, J Phizackerley, A Gubbs, A CLark, H Kimber

Chidham Team:

K Davey (C), L Davey, P Wild, S. Davis, J, Mansell, M Chesshire, C Pink, L Fiahlo, S Thorpe, K Stetchman, P O'Donohue

Hambrook Batting Stats:

Chidham Bowling Stats:

Chidham Batting Stats:

Hambrook Bowling Stats:

Chidbrook Cup 2016 Pictures