NZ Over 70’s  v England Invitational Over 70’s Match Report

It’s hard to know where to start to describe this incredible match or where it was played. The small town of Hagley lies between Stourbridge and Kidderminster and South of the city of Birmingham. It’s also on the outer edges of the legendary Black Country of the Western midlands of England. Home of the Industrial Revolution and not far from other famous places like Shakespeare’s Stratford on Avon.

For those whose blood runs red and black, and even those whose blue and gold blood sometimes runs red as well, it was a location of great significance. The match was played at Hagley Hall, home of the Lyttelton family and Lord Cobham. We were able to play there thanks to Tony Penny whose connection with the family allowed us that privilege. It was amazing to be able to play at the home of the family linked to so many of Canterbury and Christchurch’s famous and iconic landmarks.

The ground was flat in the middle but sloped downwards on two sides and upwards on the other two. Surrounded by ancient trees and between deer grazing an adjacent fields, the impressive John the Baptist Church on the other side and the imposing Hagley Hall dominating the view looking across the pitch. Just to add to the day the church was holding a funeral while we fielded. The home team probably hoped it was ours but it didn’t turn out that way.

The home team won the toss and elected to bat. It was more or less the England B team with players selected from those who had trialled but not been included in the England World Cup squad. The team included 6 opening batsman and at the beginning their plan was to retire their batsman at 50. It was not a plan shared by us however and we would not do the same thing when it was our turn to bat. A fact that reputedly upset a few of the home team members.

3 of their first 6 batters did make 50 then retired and once they had gone we managed to pick up a few of their other wickets with Roger Stachurski picking up 3 for 35 from his 9 overs and John Durning 1 for 47 from his 9 overs. The slow bowlers pegged their run rate back to under 5 1/2 and the consensus was they had not scored enough runs on a pitch the locals felt was a 270-280 one. Had the 3 retirees batted on the target may well have been more like that figure.

Tony Penny and Paul Facoory opened the batting and put on a great opening partnership of 65 from 14 overs before Tony fell to a superb caught and bowled by Dave Tee. Dave Tee also took the only other NZ wicket to fall and as well as his 53 retired was voted as our man of the match for the home side. 

The departure of Tony saw Hamish Cochran come to the wicket and he settled quietly into his work before normal service returned. Following on from his 84 off 57 balls at Stroud Hamish blasted the ball into the boundary fences 21 times in his innings of 110 off 80 balls. Alongside his 19 singles and 3 twos it was a masterly display of his power hitting. The home side had one catching chance but it was hit like a rocket to the fielder and we thought he might have taken out another opponent like he did at bath. 

Meanwhile at the other end Paul Facoory controlled the run chase perfectly. Defending when needed, feeding Hamish the strike, and attacking the bowling himself when it was required. When Hamish was bowled in the final over Paul finished the match off with 2 fours to end on 94 not out from 116 deliveries. 

At the drinks break after 39 overs we were at 142 needing 103 off the remaining 15 overs. Just over 6 an over and as long as there was no batting collapse that was a target the batting pair felt was readily achievable. What transpired after that drinks break was a bit of a monstering of the attack with 44 runs off the next 5 overs then 60 of the last 5. The home bowlers and fielders were powerless to stop the onslaught and their fielding became a bit ragged and demoralised towards the end. 

Earlier in the chase Tony and Paul had achieved a rare feat in any cricket, let alone veterans, of an all run 4. This was our second of the tour so far. The ball was hit across one of the upslopes then it curled across the hill and carried on back down towards a different boundary. 

The hospitality was superb as in the previous games and the food was wonderful both at lunch and the evening meal. The Hagley cricket club did a great job of hosting us this amazing venue. It wasn’t Hagley ovals outstanding world class pitch and outfield but it was every bit as memorable. Congratulations to Tony and the team for being able to get us a match at such a venue. And also to our players for giving the venue a fitting result.

Chris East