REME Corps Cricket Season 2021

Sport

REME Corps Cricket Season 2021

Scribe: Sgt Tom Smallwood

The squad sporting the new T20 strip

With the long, cold lockdown winter of 2020 finally coming at an end, the REME Men’s Corps Cricket Team were itching to get back to competitive sport. After many months of waiting around to get the pads and gloves on, the Army was given the green light to allow outdoor sports matches and the go ahead was given. Despite having to play under strict social distancing guidelines, the excitement was building.

The Inter Corps T20

The first competition began in May and was a great way for the team to become reacquainted after a lengthy period apart. WO2 Pugh and SSgt Jhajj didn’t hold back in ensuring that enough cones were used in the first training session. We could have easily lined the route of the London Marathon.

The theme of the week was wet and windy weather, followed by glorious sunny spells. This rang true prior to our first game against the Infantry. Heavy downpours and hail looked likely to put an end to proceedings before they had even started, however thanks to the hard work of the Tidworth groundsmen, we managed to get the game underway.

New skipper LCpl Liam Fletcher lost the toss and we were put into bat. Strong batting performances from LCpl Fletcher (46) and WO1 (ASM) Dixon (21) saw REME finish on 143 – 9 from 20 overs. An impressive afternoon of fielding from the team, including tight bowling from SSgt Jhajj with figures of 2-32, ensured we kept the Infantry at bay and secured the win.

The Army Air Corps fixture was reduced 10 overs per team due to poor weather conditions. All batsmen were in fine form with the team finishing on an impressive total of 117 – 2 after just the 10 overs. Notable performances from Cpl Watts (35), LCpl Fletcher (39) and Cpl England (25*). Some impressive bowling from newcomer Cfn Kerry Powell (3-6) and Sgt Hayward (3-13), saw the Army Air Corps finish on 46 All Out. This comfortable win saw REME finish top of the group and into the Cup Semi Final, to be played against the Royal Artillery.

Winning the toss and batting first, the Gunners got off to a flying start which only momentarily slowed during the middle of the innings. A tough 20 overs for fielders and bowlers ended with the Royal Artillery finishing on an impressive total of 195 – 4. Early wickets early in our innings saw us at 14 -2 after 3 overs and in trouble. Sgt Jay Boynton came to the crease. Some big hits from him and LCpl Fletcher saw the mammoth total required being quickly reeled in. The loss of LCpl Fletcher for 42 didn’t slow the chase with Sgt Boynton joined by Lt Naker to continue to push on. A tense finish saw the team keep within touching distance all the way up to the final over, unfortunately falling just short and finishing on 181, Sgt Boynton finishing with 89 Not Out from just 56 balls.

This was the end of the competition for the Corps. An impressive start to the season and only narrowly losing out to the Royal Artillery who went on to lift the Inter Corps T20 Cup.

Power Cup Competition 2021

With the T20 competition done and dusted, the team switched fire to 50-over fixtures in the Power Cup League.

Our first fixture was against the RLC at Larkhill. Batting first, a good performance saw REME finish on 249 all out, with contributions from Lt Naker – 69, LCpl Pirie – 46, LCpl Pallett – 32. In response the RLC began well, cruising to 119-1 but were reeled in after some quick wickets in the middle overs, and being reduced to 164 – 8, Sgt Smallwood taking 5-54 and Cfn Powell 242. Frustratingly, the RLCs ninth wicket pair stood up to the

Graft all season long battling against the rain

Lt Naker keeping the RLC Bowlers at bay

challenge and steadily got the runs to secure victory.

The following fixture against the Infantry was another difficult day at the office for the team. After some tight bowling and fielding, the Infantry managed to close their innings on a competitive score of 192 all out. In response, the Infantry bowling attack showed great discipline and REME never really got going. We were eventually all out for 98 all out.

After two straight defeats, in order to reach the Power Cup Final, we now needed to win all our remaining 4 fixtures and have other results going in our favour… The challenge was on and with backs to the wall our performances improved.

Bowling well in Chatham in wet and windy conditions, the Royal Engineers were all out for just 150. SSgt Jhajj doing especially well with figures of 4-19. In response, a good start from the opening batsmen was followed by a middle order collapse. In the end we crawled over the line to finish on 151 for 8 with only 2 overs to spare.

Up next was the Royal Signals. Fielding a strong side, the Signals posted a respectable score of 211 all out, with Cpl Joseph being the pick of the REME bowlers taking 3-45 from his 10 overs. After a very early wicket, skipper LCpl Fletcher cruised to an impressive 121 not out from 106 balls, ably supported at the other end by both LCpl Pirie (38) and Sgt Boynton (42 not out). This saw the team cruise to victory, chasing the total down for the loss of just 2 wickets.

Momentum was now with us, and the next hurdle was the Royal Artillery. Arguably the strongest opposition we would face this season, who themselves had been unbeaten throughout the year. As per usual, the weather was playing havoc throughout the day, however, pulling out all the stops, we managed to get a game going with 21 overs per side. Batting first, 2 early wickets brought Lt Naker and WO1 (ASM) Dixon to the crease. Knowing overs were reduced, they certainly were not hanging around in upping the run rate. Lt Naker scoring 50 from 46 balls and WO1 (ASM) Dixon scoring 76 from 51 balls. REME finished on 160 – 3. In response the Gunners batted well edging ever closer to the target and requiring 9 runs from the last over. Up stepped Cfn Candler for the last over of the match. An incredible piece of death bowling saw 2 wickets fall in just 3 balls, and the opposition falling 5 runs short on 155 – 7. With other results going our way we had done all within our power to push ourselves to second in the table with 1 game remaining.

The final game saw the team travel to Cove to play the AGC. A must-win game to give ourselves the best opportunity to reach the Power Cup Final. With a full squad available, on paper, the team was looking as strong as it could be. We batted well – a quick fire 42 from LCpl Fletcher and 75 from Sgt Boynton saw the team finish on an impressive 281 all out. Some very tidy bowling never allowed the AGC to get into their stride and they were bowled out in just 31 overs for a total of 119. The pick of the bowlers for the day were Cfn Candler (3-16) and Cfn Powell (323).

Unfortunately, other results did not go our way and the Corps just missed out on making the final. A tough pill to swallow but an exceptional turnaround from the squad, who are eager to put things right next season. A pre-season tour to St Lucia in 2022 should also help us get over the disappointment!

Before signing off, it is appropriate for me on behalf of the Chairperson of REME Cricket, Col Phillips ADC, the committee and players to thank the REME Charity and Carwoods Motor Units Ltd for their continued and invaluable support to REME Cricket once again this year. It is hugely appreciated.

Textbook long barrier from Cpl Watts during the warm up