In 2020 WCC equalled its best ever season: Played 8 vs external opposition, won 4, lost 4. Identical to 2019.

The much delayed season finally got under way on the 19th July with a fine 22 run victory over the Royston Dads. Royston posted a sort of competitive 147 in their 36 overs, with the wickets evenly shared among 8 bowlers. Special mention to Alex Humphrey for figures of 2-0-7-2. In reply a strong opening stand from HNB Birch and young Luke Townsend was then more than built upon by a very rare 32 from Jason “I bowl fast but rarely get wickets” Scott, and a 34 from Tim “I bowl fast and I take wickets” Vries. The WCC easily surpassed Royston, with 3 overs to spare, closing on 149 for 7.

This victory was followed by a 14-run victory in the 20/20 vs Sandon on a sunny cloudy day at Whaddon. Electing to bat first, the WCC put on 117 all out after only 19 overs, with Michael Benyan top scoring on 30, ably supported by the Townsend ladz, contributing a fine rearguard of 34 between them. Sandon started poorly, being 5 down for only 34 runs, swept away by the combined Benyans, but then recovered strongly, and things were on a knife edge, with Sandon needing 25 off the last two overs. The penultimate went for 10, but then in a fine last over we conceded only 1 run for 3 wickets, bowled by the captain and author.

Next up Bassingbourn, at their beautiful large ground, a match about which the less said the better. We were smashed, the only bright spots being a Huffmeister unbeaten 32, George Pinner 19 and an unbeaten 34 from Tim Vries. Bassingbourn had 5 batsmen retire, as they amassed 210 for 3. A particularly hard day for the Benyans as both father and son were first ballers. Shows you cannot be brilliant in every match.

Steeple were the next opponents, and this was a frustrating match. We should have won it, but local knowledge of the light meant we batted second into the blinding low sun in the gathering gloom. Set 128 to win in the allotted 20 overs, the WCC got off to a good start with Steve Look and Michael Benyan both reaching (almost) the retirement score of 30, but the usual England style collapse, spearheaded by James “Duck” Bridges, who failed to trouble the scorers for the third consecutive match, we fell short, achieving only 120. I’d like to know why RVP could not slash and burn at the death vs Steeple as he managed somehow vs Church Street later in the year. Highlight of the match was George Pinner’s 2 for 9 off 2 overs.

And so on to the habitual foes of the much vaunted Huffer XI. The series was nicely set at 3 wins and 3 losses over the years. Choosing to bat first once more, WCC equalled their second highest ever score, of 200 for 4, with 3 retirees (at 30): Bob Strawbridge, Michael Benyan (again) and Frank Huffer, back from his sojourn down under (well, NZ). Why Frank plays for us rather than his father is a mystery. Well, knowing Roger, maybe not. Another honourable batting performance from George Pinner at 29. He has been brilliant this year. To be fair to the H XI, they batter very well, achieving 176 for 6 off the 30 overs. Best bowling performance was your beloved captain, with 2 wickets for 11 off 3. Jason Scott finally managed to get a ball on the stumps and took his first wicket of the year. Well done Jason. Really well done. Another great effort was Steve Cross’s bowling, a very tight set of overs producing 1 wicket for a mere 42 runs off his 3 overs.

So after taking the lead in the WCC v Huffer, it was time for the most important match of the year: Church Street leading the series 5-3, Bridge were in need of some inspiration to turn around a sequence of 3 consecutive Church Street victories. And inspiration from unlikely quarters they got in spadefuls. Who would ever had put down RVP and Pete Nussey and Mark Newberry for unbeaten scores of 32, 17, 17? (Bob Strawbridge of course retired on 31, but that is boring, he always does that). But RVP scoring 16 off 5 balls facing Tim Vries? Anyway, Bridge Street won, with 185 for 10 (not all out…), with one ball to spare. Church Street were very magnanimous in defeat. And it is just as well Church Street did lose, or we would never have heard the end of it, as apparently there was some mess-up with a long over of 76 balls, off which Church Street scored a 6. Whatever. Church Street itself had 4 retirees (Tim Vries, Michael Benyan, Larry Lamb and your WCC captain), but the last overs off the innings were not spectacular, with only 6 runs coming from the 2 final overs. Personally I don’t blame David Short. Others might, but that would be beneath me.

The Steeple rematch up next, on a friendly (to Whaddon) pitch, ably prepared by our chief groundsman Mark Newberry, restricted Steeple to a mere 125 all out of 22.4 overs. Very happy to announce that James Bridges finally added some value, with 2 wickets off his 3 overs, conceding only 17 runs. The batting however was a thing to behold. No, not James, he was out cheaply again, even as opener. But returning from Leeds Uni, Tom Nussey and Frank Huffer put on 54 runs between them (oh and Michael Benyan scored yet another 32 not out). Alex Humphrey then guided us home with an unbeaten 18, with oodles of overs to go.

The penultimate match of the season was against Hare Street, in Buntingford on an enormous pitch, against whom we have the uninspiring record of Played 17, Lost 16, Called off 1. Needless to say the match was a forgone conclusion, the WCC reaching a creditable (for us) 158 all out, with the best opening two stands of the year between HNB Birch, Roger Huffmeister and your beloved captain, standing at 87 for 1. But then the rot set-in and only George Pinner managed double figures. The bowling was awful, only Henry “bomber” Burgess managed a wicket. Highlight of the game without doubt was Henry in the deep covers being made to run and run and run. The opposing bat even decided to switch-hit just to keep Henry running. Needless to say Henry was up to the task, but he was thirsty afterwards. Maybe one year we’ll get Hare Street, maybe.

And the final match of the year, again a frustrating loss to Sandon. We had so much time to get the paltry 137 runs required, but in a blaze of Ben Stokes-esque glory (or Bob Strawbridge, take your pick), we managed to flunk it, achieving 115 for 11 off only 23.4 overs, leaving 11.2 overs unplayed. Oh dear. The batting highlights were Tim Vries and Jason Scott (who only seems to score in the first and last matches of the year). The bowling highlight was the much improved Mark Beamer Green, who managed to keep the ball on the deck long enough to take 3 wickets off his 4 overs, for only 17 runs, including one very rare and precious maiden (which means no wides, which is amazing in itself).

Individual season stats:

• most runs: Michael Benyan 157; best batting average: 4 players with infinity (played once, not out once: Peter Nussey, Cosmo Benyan, Mark Newberry, Larry Lamb); other than that Michael Benyan on 157 (only out once, the miserable effort vs Bassingbourn). Honourable mention to Bob Strawbridge, average of 90.  
• most wickets Peter Haselden 8; best bowling average Alex Humphrey with 5.0, James Bridges with 8.3, Frank Huffer (what?) with 8.5 and Peter Haselden with 10.8.
• Jason Scott prize: best economy bowling, 3.6 runs per over off 26 overs. Alas alack, only 1 wicket.
• most catches Roger Huffer with 3
• Youth of the season: George Pinner
• Most improved of the season: Olly and Luke Townsend
• Player of the season: still to be decided…. we need a dinner to decide that.

Which brings me to the end: so another WCC comes to a close, a year of Covid, of terrible loss throughout the country, of yet another loss to Hare Street. Most sadly there was no cricket dinner with which to make ourselves feel better about losing so often. 

Peter Haselden (WCC Club Captain)

Whaddon 1st XI v Hare Street, Sunday 6 May 2018

Summer truly arrived in Whaddon today. A scorching day in the middle where BBC Weather's claim of 25 degrees felt at least 10 degrees too little. Hare St. Won the toss and decided to have a bat. Despite the heat, WCC started very tidily, Peter H and Bob keeping it at 3.5 an over for the first 6 and Peter removing Fitzgerald senior cheaply. Tom N bowled with real zip and looked threatening, particularly with his quicker stuff and was unlucky not to get his name in the wickets column. He also took a stunner of a catch to remove Fitzgerald junior off Steve C's second over, a wicket maiden!

Another bowling mention must go to our debutant Michael B who showed some fantastic turn and bounce with his leg breaks. Again hugely unlucky not to get in the wickets column after creating numerous chances. We look forward to him playing more matches in the future.

Mark G though was the pick of the bunch, getting the key wicket of Ward (who almost always has scored a 50 against us in previous years) and adding Figg lbw. He also delivered the throw for the McNamara run out. He finished with 3 overs, 5 for 2.

Hare Street have quality and depth though, and Newland and Scott Caine both batted well to keep the score ticking along. But our bowlers did a really great job holding them to 154 for 5 from 30 overs.

It only seemed to get hotter as WCC went out to reply, Mark G getting the nod after his great anchor role last match v Sandon. Steve C was unlucky to get one that ripped off the pitch. William H was looking very good with a couple of excellent wristy boundaries before slightly mistiming one and paying the price. Tom N played a little early on one that sat up for a well taken c&b, and Michael B was unfortunate to pick out a fielder taking us to 34 for 4.

Bob S and Mark G batted well and kept us in the hunt and the latter was very unlucky to fall to a fine C&B after a cracking 42, the Whaddon knock of the day. A rush of Welsh blood saw the end of the skipper very soon after for 39, flashing at a straight one.

Shot of the day came next via RVPs cover drive for 4. Straight out of the text books. He finished unbeaten on 15. Unfortunately though with Caine at one end bowling really well and Ward at the other keeping it very tight, we were always slightly behind the rate. We finished 15 short, but it was the closest we have come to beating them.

Roger H carried his bat to remain the only Whaddon player yet to be out this season.

A few good performances, but only one real contender for Man of the Match, Mark Green for both bat and ball. Well done to him, a great all round performance.

Many thanks from all of us to Mark N for all of his tireless work on the pitch without which we wouldn't play at all, and to Karen for tallying all day for us in the heat.