The Chearsley Cricket Club’s 2020 season enjoyed a happy conclusion as the Chairman’s Match took place last Sunday, replacing the Classic Car Show, which sadly did not take place this year.
By tradition, a Club XI play the Chairman’s XI and this year’s fixture was blessed with a gorgeous day with glorious sunshine and cloudless skies.
The Chairman’s XI was skippered by Nick Babington and featured a welcome return to the club by a number of former players, including our former skipper Neil Davies and Oxfordshire Minor Counties star Russell Haynes. Also in the team were Ian Houseman’s brother Michael, club coach, Leigh Tomlinson and groundsman, Paul Cherry.
The Club XI was skippered by James Veness and included Jordan McCrae, who recently joined the club, and a good sprinkling of youngsters including Ed and James Lloyd, Harry Lazaruk and Lucy Burnham.
The Club XI batted first and scored a very creditable 179 from their 35 overs with Jordan scoring a stylish 83 runs. The Chairman’s XI reached the winning total with the loss of just two wickets, with Neil Davies and Leigh Tomlinson both making good scores.
The match was followed by a BBQ and two special trophies were presented to the winners and allowed those attending to remember two great club stalwarts, John Tribe and Steve Vear. The John Tribe Trophy was presented by son, John Talbot, to the winning skipper Nick Babington and the ‘Player of the Match’ award, the Steve Vear Trophy, was presented to Jordan McCrae, by Karen Vear and granddaughter, Ada.
A bottle of Champagne, kindly donated by VP, Ian Perkins, of ‘Blotter’ fame, was also presented to Nick Babington.
