Aggers' visit to watch Henfield (as imagined by Brett Moore)

What a marvellous day of English cricket. Having watched England destroy Pakistan, I was driving to friends when drawn by the sound of leather on willow.
A scenic village ground, deep in the heart of Sussex, was the stage for an action packed cricketing feast between 2 county league sides, Henfield and unbeaten Cuckfield of the premier division.

Before a capacity crowd on the common, Cuckfield won the toss and elected to bat. Immediately they set off a voracious rate. Will Culver, fresh from a fine bowling performance the day before, bowled yet again with genuine pace and bounce, and a plethora of deliveries whistled past the edge. Unfortunately on a day where the bat had the upper hand, an inconsistent line cost him dearly as balls disappeared over the slips and high over the covers for four.

At the grandstand end the experience of seamer Mark Smith was for once not enough to stem the flow of runs, as the Cuckfield openers continued to pile on the pressure, and the boundaries. Despite Marks best efforts and cat like fielding from a young gullyman, Cuckfield's rapid progress seemed unstoppable as they raced to 60-0 off 7 overs.

Looking somewhat disheartened, Henfield needed inspiration, and right on song, up stepped their captain Malcolm Davis with decisive action.

First an inspirational change to take pace off the ball, saw the athletic Dan Stokes enter the fray. With unerring accuracy Stokes roped back the early scoring, as he settled to a consistent line outside off stump.

Daniel’s good work was backed up immediately by Davis himself, and as runs dried up, the inevitable happened. A signal so subtle it was lost to all but one man, and as young baby danced down the wicket, Patrick’s feet followed her like a dance scene from a movie. Telepathically reading Davis’s mind, the young look alike glided to his left to take the ball and bails for yet another mesmerizing leg side stumping.

From here Henfield turned the screw; Stokes and the Davis, striking with LBWs that roared back up the Lords-like slope. Then a seemingly killer below, a quicker ball from Stokes was too much for even the impressive Taylor who having opened the innings was holding the Cuckfields batting together. But the hurried pull was no match for Stoke’s climbing bouncer, and the home crowd purred with satisfaction and expectation as the ball chipped into the ever safe hands of Dale prowling at mid-wicket. Taylor had to depart for an exciting and quick fire 48.

Having bowled his age restricted overs, Davis switched in Parsons to replace him, and another double act was immediately revived. Like Warne and Gilchrist, they worked their cricketing magic on the middle order, Parsons taking his 88th stumping and incredibly Crampton’s 286th Henfield wicket (or was that the over way round?).

The crowd now in frenzy, were conducted to a crescendo by Will Culver. Back to his best, a one handed pick up and throw saw an easy single transformed into Rhodes-like run out.

Cuckfield, once cruising to a Herculean target were now struggling at 100 for 7. But all was not over yet for this delirious crowd, as yet again the tables turned. Enter Cuckfield's skipper M. Hough and J.Morrison, who began a swift and unexpected counter attack.

As a partnership blossomed, once again concern showed in the Henfield stands as Stokes completed his allotted overs and the threat of a huge total returned. With little else in the locker, Davis turned with reluctance to Moore, a man 3 years in the bowling wilderness. It was his second and most influential change.

From the first moment the ball left his hand, the crowd knew they were watching something special. The first delivery angled into middle stump before pitching and swing away to beat the bat and almost the keeper, as an amazed Crampton barely adjusted in time behind the stumps.

Two batsmen in form and full of confidence, were suddenly halted by swing and pace that left followers wondering if Jimmy Anderson really could have made it down from Nottingham so quickly.
With exaggerated movement and an impeccable line, the first chance was created, a thick outside edge that climbed to wide mid off, but could not be held.

This opened the door for a second Parsons wicket. Luring the young batsmen down the wicket with typical flight and guile, he drew a mistimed drive from the dangerous Morrison that was seized on by Moore.

8 down, and the pressure now back on the Cuckfield batsman, Moore continued the barrage of unplayable away swingers. Then an in-swing, out-swing combination proved too much for the number 10, and Parson repaid his bowling partner with a fine gully catch.

Not to be defeated Cuckfield's captain had one last stand. The shot of the day, he picked up early on another Moore away swinger, and with quick hands, heaved the ball over a vacant mid wicket and into a packed south bank stand.

But despite his lengthy lay off, Moore in full control of every delivery, simply adjusted his line. First he forced the skipper back with an unplayable length, building the pressure as he twice passed the edge with an ageing ball that continued to move like a ripe new cherry.
Then the sucker punch, a slightly fuller, wider delivery with a subtle reduction of pace was an invitation too irresistible for skipper Hough. Drawn into the stroke he immediately realized his mistake but could only sky the ball out to deep extra cover.
All eyes turned to Stokes. Coolly running round to his right, he quickly covered the ground required, and settled himself under the towering ball as it began its descent.
Without sign of pressure Dan steadied himself and with soft hands bought the ball down safely to his young chest to close out the Cuckfield innings for 162.

After lunch the excitement continued. Cuckfield opening bowlers started with pace and precision, but first team batsmen Richie Dale and Brett Moore looked comfortable, until Dale chased a wide delivery and chipped to cover.

Enter Howard Chick, another of Henfield's impressive all-rounders. With an immediate straight drive all along the common outfield, Chick announced himself as a man in form, and quickly began to build a winning platform for the home side.

Then looking comfortable and in position to cruise to victory, a mistake from Moore. Attempting to hit Hayward (a very talented young left arm spinner) against his prodigious turn, sparked the start of a mini collapse and an opening for Cuckfield to get back into the game.
Tom Paine, with a well deserved 1st team promotion looked in good form and raced to 5, until timing a straight push too well, and back to the safe hands of Hayward off his own bowling.
Quick fire wickets at the other end also tumbled as first Chick then Price fell to Taylors mix of pace and slow left arm, and the Henfield crowd again feared the worst at 82-5.

Enter Crampton and Culver, fresh from Saturday first team runs the pair never looked troubled, and the only doubt was whether enough runs remained for each to reach well deserved half centry.

With Crampton looking odds-on to get there, a mistimed pull saw him lose the strike to Culver, and with just 10 runs to win, Culver finished the innings in impressive style with four and six that must surely have flown way over the unbuilt north stand.

For the Henfield followers, a thilling game of cricket, with the usual ebb and flow of events that they have so often endured this year, but ultimately under the safe leadership of Davis, the right result for the Henfield Hawks.
For me, an unforgettable day, and a promise to return to this beautiful and entertaining part of the country more often.

J.Agnew

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Morning everyone

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