Derbyshire XI edge home in thriller
by Paul Barker, 14th August 2007

Once again Cutthorpe Cricket Club staged a match for the Derbyshire beneficiary at their Recreation Ground and just like last year’s effort it turned out to be a real thriller. This year’s beneficiary is the former county captain Graham Welch and I must say there has never been a more deserving case.

Since arriving at Derbyshire, Graham has presided through one of, if not the most dismal periods in the County’s history. He has done so with great dignity and no little skill and has given 300% every time he has turned out for his adopted county.

It is then absolutely heartbreaking that he has now had to retire from a game that he loved and gave so much for. He was quite philosophical when he told me ‘I have never had another injury, in my entire career, so I suppose I can’t complain’. Quite frankly I think he has every right to complain and moan, but it just goes to show the measure of the man when he can accept such a cruel twist of fate, in such a way.

To say the game was hastily arranged, it was an unqualified success and quite a good crowd attended and enjoyed some amazing hitting from batsmen on both sides. There was also a big and very welcome surprise when it was announced just before the start that Ian Harvey a player who has won 73 one-day international caps for Australia would be captaining the Derbyshire XI

Batting first the strong Derbyshire XI quickly got into their stride with Graham Wagg and Steve Stubbings battering the local’s attack to all corners of the park. Wagg made a belligerent 54 and Stubbings 39 with some audacious blows and the Cutthorpe officials had to keep finding more match balls as the previous ones sailed out of the ground with amazing rapidity.

Their good work was carried on by young guest player Ben Slater who belied his age with an extremely assured 31 and Hassan Adnan added another 40 as the Derbyshire XI built up a tremendous total of 248 for 9 from their twenty overs. Skipper Ian Harvey arrived for the last ball of the innings and drove a monumental straight six right into the road. Simon Barlow took 4 for 31 in a terrific spell for Cutthorpe and the excited crowd had been thoroughly well entertained.

Facing such a large total anybody could have excused the Cutthorpe players for being petrified but some massive hitting by Rob Plested soon settled their nerves as they took up the challenge. Plested and his opening partner Nigel Kingham kept the score moving at a tremendous pace and the 100 was soon achieved in great style.

When Plested was dismissed for a brilliant 41, Matt Cluer kept up the good work with some colossal blows until he was caught in the deep by Jamie Pipe for 30, but even at that stage, who would win was still in doubt as Kingham who had batted quite brilliantly took centre stage and cut loose with some terrific shots all around the wicket.

Kingham’s fine innings ended after he had made 69, the highest score of the evening, and the Cutthorpe team’s final total of 241 for 8 saw them close eight runs agonisingly short.

Mark Barlow who had done a super job as M.C. for the evening introduced Graham Welch to the spectators, and also paid tribute to the scorer Ian Bradbury who must have had a mountain of a job keeping up with things over the evening. He also thanked the two umpires Martin Cannon and Paul Barker and presented a man of the match award to Graham Wagg.

The six hitting in the match was generously sponsored by Steve Wallis (Accountants) with every shot which cleared the ropes by a Derbyshire XI player adding ten pounds to Graham’s testimonial fund and by Bonds Gallery of Newbold who added the same amount to the fund for every hit for six by a Cutthorpe player. There was 19 sixes struck by Derbyshire players and 14 by their Cutthorpe counterparts meaning that £330.00 was added to the fund.

Also the catering staff, the groundstaff and the people who provided the amusements for what was truly a great family night out were all thanked for their efforts.