Runs, Donations Flow At Salute Our Hero's Festival

Richmondshire CC played host to a special four day Salute Our Hero’s Cricket Festival in association with Hilton Newcastle Gateshead producing cricket which saw an average of nearly 8 an over scored and over £1000 raised for ABF The Soldiers Charity. Report by John Holland, photos courtesy of FILMAR Photography

The Pro40 was perhaps the pick of the games with the Army crashing 7-267 thanks to a near faultless 151 (128) from Ian Dixon (right) in perfect scoring conditions at Richmondshire to make a mockery of all the satellite predictions of evening rain.

7-267 was perhaps 30 short of the Army desired total thanks to a fine fightback after loosing 90 runs in 10 middle overs for the students lead by Northumberland's Jonathan Malkin 2-37, Sri Lankan Gihan Dilruk 2-39 and debutant Callum Prosser 2-50 crucial in controlling the death overs.

The students had almost been written off as incapable of chasing 267 by the majority after Derbyshire's demise to the strong Army attack on Monday but their togetherness for the challenge became clear.  They could and perhaps should have won although the Army could rightly feel the result was too close for comfort but that is the beauty of sport.

In hindsight the match swung first ball of Brown's innings where a clear nick was put down by the Army keeper and how he made them pay as with the highly rated Pursehouse 38(33) they gave the students a rousing start full of shots before Pursehouse pulled to deep mid on to mass disappointment at 1-84 in the 12th.  His parting message to Brown was clear, it was his turn to make the big number having seen all his other colleagues score this year.

He did not disappoint as with Del Borrello 24(24) they pulled the rate down to 8 an over with fine shot making before the batting powerplay backfired with first Del Borrello followed by William Ullyott out to leave the students stuttering on 4-166 in the 29th as the spin of Hudson and Booth took hold.

102 needed in 10 overs game over? Not just yet as Brown (above left) combined with Thomas Ullyott (left) 38(24) to breath new life into the chase with Brown going through all the scoring gears if enjoying another two lives to reach a deserved maiden century to the rapturous applause of his team mates.  4-210 in the 34th had the game in the balance but the return of Wade the destroyer of Derbyshire swung the game to the Army by reducing the scoring options allowing Dixon to snare Brown.  Ullyott then took over the scoring picking up 28 from his last 16 balls but Wade did the damage in the 36th and 38th removing McGregor then Ullyott to leave the tail needing 12 an over but a fine effort to finish 10 short showed the spirit in the ranks.

That spirit was carried through to the T20s where the forecasters forgot to mention the gloom and light rain over Richmondshire.  Much was made of the students new look, Dutch Orange and Hilton Blue for which the students would like to thank Guy Hilton for sponsoring to make this T20 possible and our brand supplier for sourcing.

Pursehouse was soon regretting his option to bat first in the gloom as the students were bundled out for 120 and that owed much to Ullyott (right) but this time William who scored an impressive 34(26) putting on 44 for the 6th wicket with Lee Whitfield (below right) 22(27).  In reply, it remains a mystery how you stop Emmanuel 79*(35) as try as the students did they could not…his innings including 11 fours and 3 massive sixes remains perhaps the finest display of hitting seen against NUSC and his award from the players was well earned.

The second T20 again showed the spirit growing the camp as the Army picked up 3-211 thanks to captain Senneck 85*(35)

In reply the first 8 balls of the match are best described as action packed

4, 4, wicket (Pursehouse out), 3, 1, wicket (W Ullyott out), 1, wide, 1, wide, wicket (Del Borrello out) 3-16 reply in tatters

Not quite as two names from Wednesday came together to be a thorn in the Army’s side again with Matthew Brown 43(21) and Thomas Ullyott 58(45) putting on 81 in just 7 overs of entertaining hitting.  Brown the more aggressive striking five fours and three huge sixes while Ullyott played with great skill to keep the students in the fight until he just ran out of partners at 8-148 but the tail wagged to bring up 161 a very creditable score against some fine Army bowling.

The results were never really the aim of the festival it was to showcase Army sport and raise vital funds for ABF The Soldiers Charity.  Anyone who witnessed the action or followed via Military Radio could not be impressed with the Army hitting nor the students never give up attitude against the barrage.

Major Ingram MBE Chairman North East ABF The Soldiers Charity was pleased to confirm over £1000 had been collected on the day thanks in no part to Richmondshire CC generous donation of £575 while the students were delighted to donate along side each players cash donation a signed England bat, a signed Bangladesh bat via SportsCentral and to have made a signed Paul Collingwood shirt available.  These will be auctioned at a special gala dinner on Friday 29th October 2010 hosted by Hilton Newcastle Gateshead so the festival’s final sum is still rising.

A lot of fun memories are taken away by all and a great big thank you is extended to Phil Graham at FILMAR Photograph for providing pictures of the t20 day, to Jeff Brown of BBC TV for covering the event and Military Radio for attending the three days as they just added to the atmosphere.

A final public message to the NUSC players involved

You were absolutely sensational, be proud of everything put into the festival, the atmosphere created, the spirit show, the money raised and the enjoyment we had together in the face some brutal cricket.  It’s been like NUSC always is an adventure!

The army squad	The NUSC T20 squad
© FILMAR Photography