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SPCL 2 - Successful return for off-spinner Charlie
Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo) - 18 August 2002
Hampshire's Charlie van der Gucht is back playing cricket - just 13 months after suffering horrific injuries in a road accident last summer.
And he even celebrated with a wicket as he helped the Hampshire Academy take another step towards the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 championship with a 32-run win over Old Tauntonians & Romsey.
Van der Gucht, 22, broke both his legs and was on a life support machine after being hit by a taxi in Twickenham last July.
But, little more than a year after his accident and after courageously battling his way back - and landing a 2.1 history degree at Durham University in the process - the left-arm spinner took his first positive step towards a comeback in the professional game.
Van der Gucht bowled a full 12-overs and finished with satisfying figures of 1-34.
"I was really pleased with the way things went, but it was obviously very tiring, particularly the fielding aspect," he confessed.
"It was the first time I had stood around for three hours and I came off from fielding totally drained - but nonetheless pleased.
"Playing again was an important physiological barrier to overcome, but I've done it and now I'm looking forward to next week's match (against United Services) with the Academy team."
The Hampshire youngsters certainly had their work cut out beating a tenacious OTs side.
Although three of the top order failed, Irfan Shah (55) gave the innings momentum before becoming Max Smith's third victim at 94-4.
Martin Bushell (60) shared key middle-order partnerships with David Wheeler (31) and Tom Burrows (34) as the Academy advanced to 233 all out, Nick Wood (3-56) and Jeremy Ord (3-59) sharing the spoils.
There was even an opportunity for Van der Gucht to bat, but he was run out for four.
"Batting really was weird. It was the first time I'd held a bat for some time and I got myself run out when I fell over after my spikes got caught in the pitch," he laughed.
Charles Forward (60) fired OTs' response and with Smith (49) his partner, took the reply to 104-3 before Wheeler's direct-hit throw ran the latter out.
Van der Gucht bowled his 12 overs in mid-innings, having Keith Trodd caught by Luke Merry.
"The first eight overs were fine, but the last four were a physical drain. "But it was something I had to get through," he said.
The Academy gradually chipped their way through the batting after that, the Romsey club finishing with a creditable 201-8 ... and van der Gucht returning home knowing that he had taken his first positive step on the comeback trail.
Second-placed Easton & Martyr Worthy kept in touch with a five-wicket win over Winchester KS at Cockets Mead.
Mark Stone (4-25) and Shaun Green (3-36) took the credits as WKS were bowled out for 118 (Raj Naik 28) - a total Easton passed after losing five wickets in an unconvincing run chase.
Simon Williams (96) and Mario Mohamed (72 not out) shared a 169-run opening partnership as Trojans trounced weakened United Services by eight wickets at Stoneham Lane.
But the victory had little significance as fellow strugglers Rowledge and Hungerford also won.
Zimbabwean Warren Gilmour hit 52 of the US total of 184-7 (Jamie Donaldson 3-33), but with only one recognised front-line bowler in their ranks, the visitors were never able to curb openers Williams and Mohamed.
Newly promoted Rowledge boosted their hopes of survival with a 20-run win at Lymington, who lost their way after Danny Peacock (76) and Aaron Heal (39) were parted.
Chasing 195-9, Lymington were cruising at 90-1and still in the driving seat at 132-3 when Peacock was bowled by Chris Yates junior, who finished with 3-28.
Apart from Matt Molloy (26), Lymington's middle-order fell apart against the three-pronged Yates attack and slumped to 175 all out.
Earlier, Nick Morant (48) and Chris Yates jnr (37) produced a useful third-wicket stand for Rowledge, whose 195-9 owed much to Jeff Anning (30) and Chris Yates senior (26).
Peacock's off-spin yielded 4-30, but no other tangible reward for Lymington.
Sparsholt are not entirely out of the woods after losing by six wickets to second-from-bottom Hungerford.
Despite a useful new-ball spell by Paul Warren, Tim Richings (26), Larry Cook (25) and Ollie Kelly (21) eased Sparsholt into a useful position at 93-2.
But only Tim Simmonite (41) of the later batsmen made an impact as Alistair Tuttle (3-36) and Jason Williams (3-57) reduced the visitors to 171 all out.
Former Sussex batsman Nick Wilton (35) fired Hungerford's response and set up Danny Williams (54) and Steve Wyatt (57) for a century partnership which settled affairs.
© SPCL / Daily Echo / Mike Vimpany
| Players/Umpires | Charles van der Gucht, Irfan Shah, Warren Gilmour, Daniel Peacock, Christopher Yates, Jeffrey Anning, Paul Warren, Timothy Richings, Nicholas Wilton, Steve Wyatt, Daniel Williams. |
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |