OLD Vigornians unveiled welcome improvements to the King’s School Worcester cricket pavilion during the annual President’s Day match.
The surviving founding members of the club from the 1948 season, Max Nicholls and Wally Cullis, officiated as a new clock, flagpole, honours boards and other renovations were officially revealed at New Road.
The improvement work was paid for from a legacy by Ray Godsall, a stalwart of the club in the 50s and 60s, who passed away several years ago.
Around 100 people turned up to participate, including all-time batting and bowling record-holders Dave Mendham and Brian Brain respectively. Sixteen current and former captains of the OVs cricket club and King’s School were present, including eight who participated in the match.
One former skipper, John Wadley, flew in from Australia.
The match was a hard-fought 40 over-a-side affair.
OVs batted first and posted a formidable 249-9, despite four wickets from president Phil Mackie and three for Charlie Annable.
Paul Judge fell for 97, Osman Fiaz made 57 and Hiten Patel scored 50.
In reply, the President’s XI struggled to keep up with the required rate and lost wickets at important times.
Patel caught Nick Firth for 50 and then picked up three wickets to cap an excellent all-round performance.
Tom Cluett and Tom Wilde bowled well at the death and, although Phil O’Neill made 43 and Richard Jones (42) kept the momentum going, the President’s XI were all out for 213 and finished 36 runs short.
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