The first cricket match on this patch of turf was as an event to celebrate the visit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. She didn`t care for Blackcountry ways and kept down the blinds on the Royal train. But today the men from the two Counties sniffed the air and decided contact was possible after overnight showers and early morning drizzle.

Umpire Fryer called play at 2pm for a 45 over`s a side game. The Staffs Knot men, Jarvis and Marsh, came to bat through the picket fence, against the Worcester Pears opening attack of Soukup and Poole. Marsh was soon trudging off; scrutinising his bat as he left, looking for an excuse, for being caught by Rees off an out-of-form stab in the extra cover vicinity. Back to the nets Marshy! The score of 10 for 1 soon became 35 for 3, neither Fildes nor Szewczyk could get going and left their mark as a series of dots in the scorebook. Whatever runs accrued came from Jarvis who had compiled 33 off 40 balls received, only to be magnificently caught by Ford at slip jumping in basketball style with his left hand high above his head.
Harris had replaced Poole from the pavilion end and Pindi Matharu was lucky to survive his first ball which fell slightly short of first slip. The total was 45 for 4 after 15 overs The " knotters", if that`s the right word, were somewhat entangled. One might have been forgiven for thinking 150 would be enough but that is very rarely the case on a ground one third the size of a test match oval.

Perhaps at this stage one should give some credit to the Worcestershire team. Soukup bowled well from the Wood Green Road end and the cross breeze coming from over Brunswick Park helped. He bowled a good line and length and moved the ball away, a bat`s width, hence the catch by Ford at slip. Their ground fielding was excellent and wicketkeeper-Captain Walsh, struck the right balance between attack and defence, so necessary on a small ground. As a further example of their proficiency Pindi Matharu was caught by Robinson at deepish mid on falling backwards to take the ball in his right hand, inches from the ground with the score now 76 for 5. Ginger Jones came in with half the wickets in the can. The destiny of the innings rested on him and Henderson, who had struck three handsome drives to the boundary rope. The bowling attack had changed and Ford and Mills held the centre scene. Henderson tried to lift the ball for six over long on, he miss hit and was easily caught by Pedley off Mills for 18. Captain Bulpitt arrived with the total on 84 for 6. His message to Jones must have conveyed the thought that I will hang around while you get the runs. And so it progressed until he missed a straight one from Mills and was bowled for 3. Cotterill joined Jones but the batsmen were having difficulty establishing partnerships and Jones was caught at deep extra cover by Soukup off the bowling of 0`Driscoll for 36 off 37 balls in the 35th over. There were few gratuitous opportunities for him to show his range of strokes although he pummelled the fielders` hands with his powerful drives, two needing a plaster.

He could have been more patient, although patience is considered Ginger`s problem, bearing in mind the batsmen to come. Cotterill, batting at 9 seemed as though he had gained promotion from a customary number 11 spot. But one has to say he came up with some well placed shots with time running out. He finished several strikes with his right knee grounded as though he was practising for an investiture at the Royal Palace. He ran himself out in his excitement with the score board showing 153 for 9 in the 42nd over. King and Bal Matharu ran some quick singles and added 22 for the S.C.C.C. XI to close on 175 for 9.
Worcestershire County league XI went to their tea well pleased with their performance. No bowler was put to the sword, their ground fielding and catching first class. The Captain Steve Walsh had got the best out of his team with the ball. Did they have sufficient batsmen to pass 175 in 45 overs? Captain Bulpitt for S.C.C.C. thought 175 was enough.

Worcestershire had a incredulous start with O`Driscoll wrapped in a fandangle of arms, legs and bat the King of Spain would have appreciated. Umpire Walklett stuck to the laws of cricket and gave him out LBW. The opening bat Pedley and number 3 Rees, set about repairing the damage and they stuck to their task appropriately against the bowling of Henderson and Bal Matharu. The score reached 63 after 19 overs when Cotterill with his combination of wrist and off spin was introduced to the firing line. On his third ball he broke through and had Rees caught and bowled for 23 off 54 balls received. Pedley missed the reassuring presence of Rees and tried to play a reverse sweep to Bulpitt with the ball on middle stump, missed and was LBW. The score lodged on 69 for 3 after 23 overs. Drinks were taken at this point and the match had everything to play for. Another wicket quickly fell on resumption to Cotterill. He was enjoying himself, particularly as he was a late addition to the team. Combes and Poole stuck to the task well until Poole in a thoughtless moment risked the outcome of the match with a lofted drive to deep mid on when a controlled shot for 2 or 3 would have done as well. Why on earth would anyone try to hit the ball over a fielder`s head out in the deep? Unfortunately, for the Worcestershire County League, Poole tried and perished, caught by Henderson off Cotterill. Staffordshire`s hopes improved and were further enhanced next ball when Combes who had crossed, at Poole`s dismissal, was out well caught by wicketkeeper King off Cotterill. It was sad Cotterill was denied the chance of a hat trick. But he had his moments and finished his spell of 9 overs with 4 for 25. The total was 126 for 6 in 36 overs and the outcome of a S.C.C.C. victory seemed more likely. Captain Bulpitt had a problem. He had in the main 4 bowlers and two part-timers. Jones and Pindi Matharu were batsmen who bowled when necessary. Bulpitt had faith in Jones but having bowled 4 overs for 25 runs the Captain, after consultation, brought Pindi Matharu in to bowl at a critical point. He came up to local expectations, where he is known as golden arm and achieved the near impossible - but unfortunately Jarvis missed an easy catch at deep square leg and the pendulum swung Worcestershire`s way.

Bulpitt returned to the attack at the Wood Green Road end for first of his two remaining overs. He picked up the wicket of Ford for 2 off a well judged catch by Bal. Matharu at deep mid off, with the total on 131 for 7 It was a game open to both teams. Captain Steve Walsh was at the wicket and he and Soukup ran frantically before Soukup was bowled by Pindi Matharu for 6 with the score on 144 for 8, Henderson who had bowled the 40th over proceeded to bowl the 42nd over in which 11 runs were scored, including a legside wide which went to the rope. Pindi Matharu part-time bowler had to bowl the 43rd over. Mills knew he had everything to play for and took 10 off the bowler`s last two balls. Bulpitt went for 7 in his last over and the closest of games was snatched at the death by the lads from Worcester.