Report via Annapolis Cricket Club Facebook pages
The crack of willow on leather once again echoed around the Parade Ground at Fort Anne as the Annapolis County Cricket Club staged their re-creation Heritage matches in conjunction with “Paint The Town” last weekend. Polite applause from spectators attired in Victorian finery seated decorously on the ramparts greeted the players as they took to the field.
A two-match series pitting the ‘Crimson Caps’, led by Richard McCann, against the ‘Royal Blues’, captained by Bruce McLaggan, was played out with great enthusiasm, no little sporting prowess and much enjoyment for all. Visitors and tourists to the Parks Canada site may have been bemused to witness the renaissance spectacle – though the programme sheets for the days gave a helpful explanation to the games as they unfolded.
Several artists from the Arts Council’s Festival seized the opportunity to immortalise events on canvas, with dainty parasols and ribboned hats making a handsome backdrop to the scene.
The Saturday match saw the ‘Crimson Caps’ put into bat, with an early breakthrough as opening batsman Simon Bonnington was dismissed, given caught behind for 4. No.3 Dillon Tonkin then came in to play a sublime innings, hitting 11 boundaries in his 53, as he and Lawrence Garner pushed the run rate and the score along briskly. Matt Lane added a quick 23 before being bowled by Gary Hurlock. Skipper Richard McCann scored at more than a run a ball to remain Not Out with 12 from 10 at the end of the 20th over, the ‘Caps’ posting a competitive total of 147 for 4.
After the traditional Tea Interval innings break, where cucumber sandwiches and iced tea were among the light refreshments shared by players & their families, the ‘Blues’ made a slow start in reply. Oliver Belle took a chance against the arm of Reed Power-Grimm in calling his partner Bruce Snell through for a bye, but only managed to run himself out for 18 as the superb return from the Deep Third Man scattered the stumps. Power-Grimm then took a comfortable catch to dismiss Snell for 12 as a skier ricocheted behind from the batsman’s top edge from the bowling of Ryan Scranton. The ‘Blues’ proved unable to keep up with the required run-rate as wickets fell steadily – top scorer was Raj Toor with 26, who lost the top of his middle stump to young Rhys Scranton’s first ball.
The last ball of the 20 over innings saw man-of-the-moment, Rhys, run-out the last tail-ender as the run-chase petered out. The ‘Blues’ innings finished with 100 All Out, handing victory to McCann’s ‘Caps’ by 47 runs. Of the nine bowlers employed by McCann, Rhys had returned the best figures with 2 for 8 from 2 overs.
High drama had earlier interrupted the 17th over as Pat Akrigg looked to punch the ball firmly behind him towards the Fine Leg boundary. Wicket Keeper Bonnington had moved across and was floored as he took the ball firmly on the forehead. Bruised but otherwise intact, Bonnington sat out the rest of the game, quipping “Well, at least it hit the thickest part of my body!”
The return match on Sunday saw a few changes to the team line-ups, with Bonnington now sporting a rakish eye patch as he kept to the boundary’s edge to commentate on both innings.
Sunday afternoon’s match began with sunshine and hopes of retribution for the ‘Royal Blues’. Opening the batting for the ‘Blues’, Oliver Belle played a majestic 61 before he retired not out, 56 of those runs coming from boundaries including four deftly placed 6s – one evading the finger tips of a diving McCann at Cover Point. Also reaching his half-century was Raj Toor – making 50 from 41 balls before he too graciously retired in a marvellous spirit of sportsmanship to allow others to the crease.
The total of 166 from 25 overs appeared to be a reachable target, a run-rate of 6.68 being required. However, following the Interval, the ‘Caps’ were never able to get beyond first-gear. Although there were plenty of wickets in hand, some very tight bowling by Belle and Toor pinned back the batsmen who were unable to play the ball away from the square. Five overs brought just one wide ball, as the runs totally dried up for Matt Lane & Mick Murray.
As the thunderclouds threatened, the wickets of the middle-order’s Gord Nicholson and Ryan Scranton fell in quick succession, leaving the ‘Caps’ well behind the rate on 92 for 4 from 18 overs. And then the heavens opened. And thus, in the truest spirit of village cricket (often dubbed ‘the Englishman’s Rain Dance’), Rain Stopped Play. Players, officials and the remaining spectators huddled beneath the cover of the Pavilion before the sensible decision was made by Umpires Peter Davies and Dave York that the match was to be abandoned as a Draw. Man of the Match was undoubtedly Belle, with figures of 2 wickets for 7 runs from 5 overs with two maidens, to add to his unbeaten 61 with the bat.
“The Annapolis County Cricket Club would like to thank Parks Canada for allowing Fort Anne to be used for the Cricket Heritage Weekend” said Annapolis Heritage Society Curator and ‘Red Caps’ No.5 batsman, Ryan Scranton. “The Fort Anne site offers the ability to connect the early roots of Canadian cricket with the modern game. We very much look forward to next year’s match.”
The action continues for the Annapolis County Cricket Club with a series of out of town fixtures. At the end of August ACCC will travel to Windsor for an encounter with a new Hants County XI. In September, a weekend tour to Prince Edward Island will pit the club against the PEI provincial team. Finally, a tour to Tatamagouche in early October will see the debut of a Colchester County XI.
The Annapolis County Cricket Club was founded in 2013 with the mandate to promote cricket as a recreational and competitive activity for all ages, abilities and genders. The club welcomes new cricketers and those interested in learning about the sport. For more information on the ACCC, please visit their Facebook page, website www.annapoliscountycricket.ca or email info@annapoliscountycricket.ca.