Jared Thatcher Ensure NVCC Win Over Marin CC Socials In “Game Of His Life”

Continuing a trend for the 2016 season of standout performances from American members Napa Valley Cricket Club (NVCC) club stalwart Jared Thatcher had the game of his life in the recent victory over Marin CC Socials.  With both ball and bat Thatcher excelled, returning figures of 2 wickets for 20 runs off 4 overs while with the bat he notched up 42 runs off 48 balls and was not out as NVCC surpassed the Marin CC total in the 33rd over. Bedeviled by old hockey injuries over the last two seasons to both his shoulder and ankle Thatcher has worked hard on his game in the nets over the last number of months and his return to full game fitness was marked by an impressive all-round display.

The game at picturesque Piper Park in Larkspur was played in perfect conditions between two evenly matched teams. NVCC club captain Rob Bolch won the toss and opted to bowl first with the intention of restricting Marin’s scoring. Bolch opened the bowling with the Maqsood brothers – Moe and Adersh – who each had a great opening spell of four overs, keeping the quality Marin top order batsman contained and defensive. While only one wicket fell during this spell, to Moe, the pair restricted Marin to only 26 runs.

Jared Thatcher of NVCC on his way to 42 not out against Marin CC Socials. Top photo, NVCC and Marin CC Socials members pictured after their recent game at Piper Park in Larkspur.

The strong bowling from NVCC continued at first change with Bolch mixing up his bowling with Chandanpreet Singh and Jared Thatcher alternating. Singh, new to the NVCC this season, was unknown to the Marin batsmen and his first over of the day produced a maiden over – no runs scored – of pinpoint accuracy. Thatcher looked to find his line and length in his first couple of overs and as the Marin batsmen thought they had the measure of him he struck with two wickets in his third over off consecutive legitimate balls. Both of Thatcher’s wickets were well caught in the deep by Tim Kay whose strong performance in the field was indicative off the way the NVCC’s fielders backed up their bowlers. Thatcher’s wickets started a panic of sorts in the Marin ranks as Singh had their opening batsman Kumar excellently caught in the next over by American member Jamie Johnson at first slip and Singh himself was responsible for the run out of Marin’s Vijay. In a three over spell Marin had gone from 50 for 1 to 67 for 5.

Marin limped to the 20 over drinks break for the loss of another wicket – bowled Martin Mackenzie and caught by Phil Bourke – and NVCC were in a strong position as captain Bolch looked to keep Marin’s score very chasable. The Marin wickets kept tumbling as Pete Sander took a spectacular catch at Short Fine Leg off the bowling of Kay and Mackenzie picked up his second wicket for Marin’s Nikhil. From here Marin ate up balls for very few runs struggling to deal with the bowling of NVCC president Phil Bourke, who rarely bowls in competitive matches. Bourke who bowled in tandem with Bolch didn’t secure any wickets but gave up only 13 runs from his five overs and helped to keep the Marin run rate low. Bolch wrapped up the Marin innings by bringing the Maqsood brothers back on and a wicket apiece for them saw Marin finish with a total of 140 runs in 39 of their 40 overs, a low score by Piper Park standards.

Bolch opened the NVCC batting with the Maqsood brothers which didn’t go as planned with Moe back on the sideline after just five balls for 1 run and joined by his brother Adersh in the fourth over with only 12 runs on the board. These two were followed in by Pete Cameron (0 runs off seven balls), Sander (8 off 38), and Kay (3 off 14) to leave NVCC wobbling at 41 for 5 in the 15th over and it was beginning to look like it may not be NVCC’s day despite their strong effort with the ball and in the field.

NVCC batsman Tim Kay pictured at the crease during the recent game against Marin Socials CC.

Up stepped two club stalwarts in the shape of president Bourke and treasurer Thatcher to produce a game defining partnership. The pair played smart cricket by rotating the strike often with plenty of hard run singles and interspersed these with 10 fours – four for Bourke and six for Thatcher. Their partnership of 72 runs, which saw them occupy the crease for more than an hour, staunched the flow of wickets and turned the game squarely in NVCC’s favor. Bourke fell in the 28th over and Thatcher was joined by Johnson in the middle. With 28 needed to win the game the pair of American batsmen brought the game home for NVCC both finishing the game with ‘not out’ scores – Thatcher (42 runs) and Johnson (7 runs).

“We played well to restrict Marin to 140 in their innings as usually here at Piper Park scores are 200+” said NVCC captain Rob Bolch “and the boys in the field did a fantastic job of backing up the bowlers who worked hard to create wicket opportunities. Everyone contributed which was very heartening with some great catching from Timmy Kay, Pete Sander and Jamie. Slips catching has never been one of our strengths so to have Jamie take one at first slip was a great way to welcome him to the club. And Chan (Chandanpreet Singh) and that run out really helped to unhinge the Marin batsmen right after Jared’s two wickets.”

• NVCC Captain Rob Bolch (R) pictured presenting the Clos du Val Man of the Match award to Marin CC Socials Bilal for his not out innings.

Continued Bolch “we were really struggling early on with the bat as a few of the lads who don’t normally get the opportunity to bat up the order were having their turn. We steadied a bit with Pete Sander staying in and occupying the crease for eight or so overs early on and helped stop the bleeding of wickets in our innings. And then Jared topped off his incredible bowling performance with his best batting performance ever for the club. The time he spent in the middle with Phil was key to us winning this game and he can be very, very proud of his knock of 42 runs, and a “not out” to boot”

The NVCC have worked hard to grow the numbers of American members in their ranks and for the third game in succession they boasted three American born players in their team. Thatcher was joined on the field by Jamie Johnson recently returned to wine country from the East Coast and Pete Cameron who has already impressed this season with a great knock with the bat in the previous game against Marin and excellent fielding whenever he plays.

“It’s important for the future of the club that we have American’s playing cricket with us” said club president Phil Bourke “and this is true not just in the Napa Valley but in America as a whole. Cricket is growing in America with a lot of effort and resources being poured into the sport from the ICC (International Cricket Council – world governing body of cricket) and we’re proud of our efforts at the local level to be increasing participation by American’s that are new to the game. What’s even more heartening is that in every game this season substantial contributions with bat, ball and in the field have come from this growing segment of our membership, and we hope this continues”

After the match, Bolch presented the Clos du Val Man of the Match award to Marin’s Bilal for his contribution to the game.

Next Game
Sunday 17th July 2016 – HOME to SF Seals at The Fairgrounds, Calistoga – 1435 N Oak St., Calistoga, CA 94515 – from 10.30am (check website for details)

Score Summary
Saturday 18th June, 2016 – Marin CC Socials v Napa Valley CC at Piper Park, Larkspur
Marin CC Socials 140 all out lost to Napa Valley CC 141 / 6 by 5 wickets.  (40 over game / 12 batting)

Napa Valley CC Batting – Phil Bourke 43 runs off 53 balls (4 x 4), Jared Thatcher 42 off 48 (6 x 4), Jamie Johnson 7 off 16.

Napa Valley CC Bowling – Moe Maqsood 2 wickets for 11 runs off 7 overs incl. 3 maidens, Martin Mackenzie 2 for 9 off 4 incl. 1, Jared Thatcher 2 for 20 off 4.