Little Bardfield Village CC vs. Dunmow Cricket Club 1st XI
Date: 2nd September 2023
Venue: Dunmow
Toss: Little Bardfield won the toss elected to bowl first.
Dunmow Innings:
The local derby that always creates a few sparks didn't disappoint in our penultimate game of the 2023 season.
A Dunmow side with the weight of a potential promotion to Div 1 resting on their shoulders came out to bat. Mel Hussain and Stuart Felsted opened for Dunmow, who were hoping to apply their combination of county and international experience. However, Mel was soon dismissed by Matt Graham for 8 runs on a wicket that looked prime for a good day's cricket.
Joe Gallant joined Stuart Felsted in the middle, re-forming a partnership that caused Bardfield real problems in the home fixture. Thankfully, it was not to be today with Joe Owen taking an excellent catch from a Rory Hitchcock ball to put an end to Felsted's infamous blows and send him back to the pavilion.
This brought overseas talent Lachlan Coyte to the crease ready to settle the nerves that were starting to form in Dunmow heads. After a promising start came a controversial decision with the Australian specialist being run out a yard short of his crease with his score still low. Unfortunately, without any league officials able to attend the game the teams were left to umpire themselves. Dunmow's Player-Umpire was unable to confirm the run out much to the frustration of Little Bardfield who felt it was a clear and obvious wicket taken.
Dunmow capitalised on Bardfield's frustration until Joe Gallant was eventually dismissed for 41 with a great delivery from Hitchcock. The second Hussain of the day walked out to join Coyte. Travis notched up 25 runs but was caught and bowled by Joe Owen, who was having a good day with ball in hand.
Coyte, arguably lucky to still be at the crease, found his stride striking Bardfield tiring bowlers all over the ground (and out of it), eventually finishing on a score of 117 not out alongside a supporting Cameron Gibson who scored 53*.
Dunmow closed with 310/4.
Little Bardfield Innings:
With a big total to chase Matt and Rory headed out ready to upset Dunmow's promotion hopes. After a punchy start Rory was bowled for 8, sparking noteworthy celebrations from a Dunmow side getting excited at the prospect of taking all 20 points and holding onto their 2nd place promotion spot.
To replace Rory came Rich Linney in what was to be his last game for the Oxslips after a 4 year stint at the club, 2 of which he has been the Bardfield captain. Last season leading the side which kept their Div 2 status despite losing a number of key members of the team.
Matt was caught behind and followed Rory back to the Pavilion having scored 30 runs and breaking a partnership that could have added more to the Bardfield total.
The younger Hymas, Callum, came out to take a stand with Rich but unfortunately the partnership didn't last long. Mel Hussain with a sharp catch from his own bowl dismissing Rich, again raising the Dunmow excitement levels further for the full 20-point haul.
Daryl Hymas, still somewhat fired up by the injustice of the 1st innings, joined his son in the middle. Both Hymas' jostled between digging in and hitting big boundaries, including a couple of 6's taking up residency in the neighbouring gardens. Dunmow threw everything short of the kitchen sink at the boys but struggled to dismantle the partnership. There were a few dropped catches out in the field as once again Dunmow nerves began to grow, could bottom of the table Bardfield (population 256) deny Dunmow (population 10,396 per the 2021 Census) their crucial bonus points?
Eventually Dunmow struck, taking Daryl's wicket for 33 and shortly after Callum's for 44 runs. This left Joe Owen and Sam Register out in the middle, who in the final few overs frustrated Dunmow further with some excellent defensive batting despite the best efforts of the home side.
Ultimately, Dunmow were unable to take the final wickets denying them 3 points that could prove crucial to their promotion hopes.
Bardfield finished up on 181/5.
Whilst the loss confirmed a return to Division 3 for Bardfield in 2025, the club remain immensely proud of their achievements in recent years; despite a population of 256 our little village club continues to wear its heart on its sleeve and compete with the likes of Dunmow (population 10,396 per the 2021 Census) and other such clubs around us.
We play Braintree (incidentally population of over 42000) at home on Saturday in our final game in Div 2...for now.