Juicy joins the 500 club

The positives. Northchurch fielded 33 cricketers on a day in which the lads v dads and bbq match at home clashed with the 3rd round of the national village cup. Several people got some first XI experience. Preston looked an absolute picture and played very well. The teas were spectacular, including fish fingers sandwiches. The game was played in very good spirit.

Unfortunately, it rained a bit, we had an early injury to one of the five frontline bowlers, and Preston simply played better than we did.

Hopes were raised when Darren removed Preston's opener on the first ball of the match, shortly followed by his partner, however, the home side were able to string together several partnerships that eventually took them to 195 in a reduced 35 overs. Not beyond reach with a few partnerships of our own.

The early loss of four Northchurch wickets, including those of the in-form batsmen, put the game out of reach, and Preston put the squeeze on to strangle Northchurch to 87 all out.

The moment of the match, though, was when Preston's number seven, veteran Ash Catlin, chipped to George Liveing at square leg, who held on to the simplest of chances to give Ollie Johnson his 500th Northchurch wicket. OJ's hands were driven aloft in celebration, and he later reported that the hairs on the back of his neck were stood on end.

It has taken OJ 14,976 balls to claim his 500 scalps, which have come at and average cost of just 19 runs and more regularly than the Victoria line in rush hour, with a wicket every four overs. In recent times, only Mark Hobley (521) has achieved the milestone. The current Chairman, sitting on 998 Northchurch wickets (and counting?), is now looking over his shoulder.

Most remarkable is that OJ is still under 25. One has to hark back to the old days, when bats were shaved thinner than 1st XI wallets at match fee time and turnips were grown on the square, to find a more productive bowler.