Brigands v Steep

Nestled in the Hampshire countryside, the village of Steep is home to The Cricketers Inn, a pub with deep cricketing roots. It was founded in the mid-19th century by Henry Ifould, a young entrepreneur who turned his passion for brewing into a business, supplying ale to spectators and players during cricket matches hosted by the Hawker family.

For a mid-week twenty-over thrash, Steep brought a youthful side to Broadhalfpenny Down, decked out in green and black and armed with a pink ball that offered swing and extra bounce under sunny skies.

Adam Jay getting ready for the first ball

Batting first, Brigands found the going tough. The pink ball proved lively, and wickets fell early. Adam Jay miscued an on-drive to mid-on, Paul Whittle was caught at gully, and three more batters were clean bowled in quick succession. At 60 for 6, the home side looked in disarray.

But Dave Henderson and Rupert Preece staged a revival. With intelligent placement and grounded strokes, they doubled the score. Henderson survived a stumping off a free hit, while Preece struck six fours and a towering six to lift the innings.

Robbie James added a composed 17 before being involved in a mix-up that saw last man Richie Hay run out. Extras top-scored as Brigands scrambled to 164 all out.

Hay and Wood opened the bowling, facing the challenge of defending a short leg-side boundary. Wood struck twice with full, swinging deliveries, but anything short was punished. Four sixes were launched into the Bat & Ball garden and even the car park.

Spin twins James and Henderson bowled uphill and applied pressure, keeping the required rate above eight an over. At the halfway mark, Steep still needed 90. That came down to 50 off the final five.

Zeb Jay took a superb low catch at midwicket, just in front of the monument. With 16 runs scored in the 19th over, Steep edged ahead. Needing just three off the last, Forster chipped a loose ball to Liam Shrehorn, who held his nerve with the catch. One wicket remained.

Henderson bowled a short ball which was struck straight by Harrison. Shrehorn sprinted from mid-off and launched into a dive, just missing what would have been a stunning match-winner for the Brigands.

As the sun dipped behind the Hambledon hills, players gathered for a well-earned pint and reflected on a match that went to the wire. Brigands, defeated on the penultimate ball, for the second time in four days.

You can either arrive at the game in your whites, or in your crocs