1st
v Charlton Kings 29 08 09 Not for the first time this
season the two team either win together or lose together,
thankfully this season the wins have been more prevalent. Today
was good day after last week's loss to Apperley, who were always
a sleeping giant capable of beating all before them this year
but rarely did. Ian did his finest to produce another high
scoring track and lightning outfield, only complaint were from
the fielders chasing the disappearing ball.
Yet again George's opening spell was missed but Knockers and
Moore continued to perform well with Moore actually getting
amongst wickets for his toil.
CK started strongly with
Chris Burrow (80) leading the way again along with fellow opener
Chris Day (50). CK gradually gained the ascendency as the second
change bowlers struggled to contain the runs . Thankfully Moore
came back on for a second spell and grabbed 3 wickets to knock
the wind out the tail end with a less than expected 204 total
posted.
At last the team on paper batted as we would have liked all
year, albeit the bowling wasn't the strongest we have faced this
season. Nitin, Guy and Andy Moore all reached the 30's but
everybody contributed in the run chase. Run rate was maintained
throughout with a steady flow of boundaries, only 42 runs were
scored in 1 and 2s. With overs in hand we did our best to make a
hash of it losing 2 wickets with the scored tied. Dan entered
the arena at No10 and he Chinesed cut the first ball straight to
a fielder. His second ball swish somehow spiraled over the head
of the same fielded behind square to win the game and it's
rewards.
Calculators at the ready!!!!! After confirmed results and some
button pushing meant the poor form of long time leaders
Cirencester and our run of results ensured we overtook
Cirencester and into 3rd spot, by 0.01 of an average. THAT'S
CLOSE!
Scorecard |
|
2nds
v Cam 29 08 09 So, farewell then Division 6, at least for
one year anyway not that I wish to sound defeatist about next
season but it pays not to tempt fate in this, or most games. How
many times have we said to ourselves or others, ‘I haven’t been
bowled for ages ‘and the next minute all the timber is uprooted,
me and my big mouth etc etc. This point brings me neatly to
Saturday 29th August and to Cam CC’s ground whose
name is Everglades. Any comparisons between Florida and down
town Cam lived solely in the mind presumably of the Disney
struck Dursley Councillor who named it so. Fat people in shorts
may find a home here perhaps: figuratively speaking my season
could have sunk into the swamps if we had lost. Having done my
research I found that no team batting first had won here all
season and Cam had won every toss, bar one, and elected to bowl
each time. Their firsts needed to win, the football season was
upon them thus I could be quietly confident with my team of a
result here despite its fortress reputation.
I win the toss and elect to bowl. ’Oh good’ says their captain,
Guy, who has been a decent man to play against in all other
meetings between us. That rattled me completely; I was expecting
a rather downcast reaction, anything but that. Nonetheless I
tell the boy’s history is with us now, we are favourites; they
look slightly puzzled by my erudition but drag themselves out to
field with the same enthusiasm as dental patients. Two and half
hours and 226 runs later they return, the bowlers having had the
equivalent of tooth extraction, the rest mentally querying
firstly their status as favourites in this game and secondly my
fragile state of mind. We bowled pretty well I thought on a flat
slow wicket. Paul was very solid, Coops bashed it in trying all
the time, and Symie was great; the rest of us struggled a bit,
more of my one over later. We lost Charlie Buse with 6 overs to
go just to give this game that authentic Second’s feel of ten
crips dotted about in the last stages of human decay all wishing
they were on Duncan’s couch, if they could actually summon up
the strength to get on it anyway.
Two and half hours and 230 runs later we are the winners and
Division champs. Never in any doubt was it really, in cricket
statistics don’t lie: do they? Charlie Harris is a prince of
batsmen, in this company at any rate. In the early stages he had
great support from Toby and from a man who should have been
batting higher for much of the season in Ben. Our openers, the
previously solid, now off form George and a promoted Dave Green
did not start us off too well though the run rate never dropped.
The great ark royal of our batting sailed on again, striking the
ball when and where he chose, his bad back now amazingly healed.
Ben’s aggression was perfectly timed and then, glory hallelujah,
Duncan, to use the famous Colemanball’s, opened his legs and
showed us his class. We all knew he had it in him but it was
great to watch as ball after ball was slapped over the boundary;
game over as even Charlie was forced to watch and applaud.
Cam’s captain was very generous after concerning a disputed
stumping not given by the somnolent Pars. Guy had been a good
captain throughout, beating himself up as I would about being
unable to defend the 226, though privately I thought he made a
crucial error late in our innings when he bowled himself. (I was
fined by George for the one over I had bowled but he failed to
note its experimental quality or that it took a key wicket OR
that I had the sense to take myself off… kids huh!!!)Back to the
Shire and to lots of Doombar and a frisky curry, silly photos of
a great bunch of lads, champagne from Green, hugs and kisses
(that Symcox boy is a health hazard); next year it will be very
different but lets enjoy our today’s, they are very rare; for
old captains especially so.
Scorecard |
1sts v Apperley 23rd August
2009 Apperley are a team to be wary of despite
their lowly league position. We have been bowling well all
season but with useful Leekes and others against us and no
George firing down his 10 or so overs we had to hit the ground
running.
Apperley innings ebbed and flowed with Rowan Leeke top scoring
with 56, the rest all chipped in with double figures apart from
a couple who failed to the wizardry of David's (44-3) spin
bowling. Unlike previous weeks the economy of the bowling wasn't
there. Dan and Andy Moore (33-3) did well with there opening
spells but on a per usual quality batting track, the remaining
overs went at a rate of around 5 an over. Matters weren't helped
with 5 dropped catches of varying difficulty and strange
calling, Ian called for one from his keeping position, it just
drifted closer and closer to Guy and despite a last gasp dive he
was left sprawled out still 15 foot short of where the ball
landed. As records proved the 197 wasn't too bad of job done by
us as scores here regularly pass the 200 mark.
The challenge of chasing 197 total, higher than our bowling
attack usually allows, should still be within our reach. Guy
(36) and Trev aded 52 for the first wicket when the full toss
epidemic struct. Both of them and Ian all succumbed to the pie
ball, or rather humble pie for us. Ken and Prakash (26) dug in
with a 69 run partnership and stopped
the rot but the innings lost the early advantage we had built
up. Despite Ken (48) returning to hitting boundaries for fun
like we used to see him do every week, the mountain to climb got
steeper and steeper. Andy Moore (28) was the last role of the
dice and boundaries did come but tight bowling be the returning
Rowan Leeke dashed our hopes. 8 runs short seems so close but
yet so far away as the innings closed.
Scorecard |
2nds v Apperley 23rd August
2009 The penultimate game of the season, a must win
20 pointer at least, against the second from bottom club, what
could go wrong? I win the toss, they have ten men, boys mostly
and old fellas, it’s a no brainer, we bat first. However such is
the paranoia of captains that you ask yourself, as I did, how
can they win, they can’t bowl us out cheaply and score what it
takes with that team against our quality bowlers and batting
that goes all the way down? Nah! On Friday, sat in the wing of
the OCS, I wondered how a batting line up that seemed to be
playing so strongly, could suddenly fall apart to Broad and
Swann in such a short space of time. Later it was clear that
Broad got very late movement and Swann was in his element; but
the image of processional failure leaves any captain with cold
fingers around his heart when he sends his team out to bat.
Sure enough the in form George clipped a first over ball to
square leg and Pars survived only for a short time, momentarily
breathing became a little difficult. This lack of oxygen eased
quickly when Andy and Charlie depressurized the situation with
calm hitting into lots of gaps sparsely populated by aged unfit
cricketers. Andy should have got a fifty but lost faith; Charlie
sailed on easing his way to a pretty chanceless ton before
letting a septuagenarian get his wicket. A rattle from the late
middle order with Al getting in his full ration of leg side
swats and Duncan batting well but not quite getting the measure
of the situation, got us to a target perhaps 20 or so less than
we should have achieved.
Coops was not the man he has been up to now. Overextending,
trying too hard, it was the quicks equivalent of the yips. He
did not bowl too badly, he simply became subject to his own
demons. To be fair they played him well, Apperley players are
used to good batting tracks; all his and everybody else’s bad
balls went for four. At the other end Charlie was consistent
apart from a rash of no balls at head height. Nonetheless they
were up with the run rate and the previously fanciful notion of
them overtaking our score was taking on a new menace. We had
only two wickets in the bag, they were 140 odd with a run rate
that was viable when a decision to bring back Charlie and put
George on from the top, sealed the game. The end came very
quickly thanks to these two and slow bowling to kids who
generally self destruct against it though that is not always the
case as many of you know.
This was probably the last time I will ever captain a game
against Apperley and Brian Leeke in particular and that is
rather sad, bringing to an end an association going back over 25
years. As I watched my son Joe keep wicket to Shane Warne during
the lunch interval on Sunday at the Oval, the day before his
brother Tom told me about bowling to Jonathan Trott and Graeme
Smith when they were both 18 and Tom 21 in SA , I realised I
have a lot to be grateful for in this game and how much I owe to
Brian. That particular old fella was a major contributor in my
early days when we were all pretty clueless, not much has
changed I hear you say. I am not sure I want to be playing at 72
but then he was always a very good player and a fit man; I doubt
that would apply to me now, in 15 years time or, for that
matter, ever.
Scorecard |
1st v
Poulton 15th August 2009 First visit for some and long
time for others we went to Poulton hopeful of a another win
against the Div 1 new boys. The omen was good as Ian yet again
lost the toss but this normally meant we ended up winning. The
returning Steady had the big boots of Guy to fill and partnered
Trev in the opening spot. Poulton's young opening bowlers looked
sharp and caused a few problems with sideways movement. Steady
(17) went just before we notched up 40 which brought Ian to the
crease. The partnership with Trev blossomed with the momentum of
the game going our way until Trev (32) missed a straight one.
Nitin was left wondering how the not so agile Will Bathurst
caught him after he smacked a full toss and departed for 0. Ian
passed 50 and played a....crap shot best describes it, he was
caught whilst wailing " Oh Nooooooooooooo". Andy James and Higgy
were then brought into the attack with their occasional spin, to
turn (excuse the pun) the game around with wickets regularly
falling. With a potential 200 on the cards we eventually did
well to use up all the overs and reach 144 all out.
Yet again the wizardry of Knockers (and with no swing-amazingly)
and the charging George bagged early wickets to decimate the top
order, looked like Oldlands all over again. Dan conceded only 9
runs in his 12 overs, he and the team did have their No.3 to
somewhat thank, despite showing good defensive technique for a
youngster he batted out like the 5th day at Cardiff.
Surprisingly the tail ended seemed to show more urgency and
scored more freely and ran really well. Enter the Andy's. Hieron
bagged 2 wickets, one ball was so slow the batsmen played at it
2 or 3 times and still missed it. Moore (22-4) fired up from
Prakash running him out (Usain Bolt wouldn't have made it)
mopped up the remaining wickets and thwart any Poulton fight
back. Emphasizing our bowling prowess this season another win
was achieved with the opposition all out for 92. Oh Oh...not to
forget, Green took a catch and not so surprisingly Nitin had 2
and a stumping.
Scorecard |
2nds
v Kings Stanley 15th August 2009 Two games to go, one big
hurdle out of the way though Kings Stanley was something of an
anti climax. We have not beaten them in the league ever so this
result had a certain piquant flavour. Winning the toss and
having learned that Rob had struggled to get a side out I
assumed that they were weak and so put them in. Greener and I
had decided to use last weeks first team wicket as it had played
well, was lightly used and was in the middle of the square, I
hate the pressure of strips close to the top boundary and I am
not alone.
So the Cold Slad Express, bristling with aggression and a very
severe scrape of his barnett , all he needed was a swastika
tattooed on his forehead to complete the image, elected to pound
down the hill. A rather more genteel but equally effective Paul
Harris put down ball after accurate ball at the other end. Last
weeks heroes duly did it again, Coops hissing and spitting
though his first spell, Paul grinding them down in his 12
exemplary overs. Aided by some good fielding and Allen’s dirty
tricks behind the stumps we were almost through their top order
for very little but then came one of those little shocks I like
to spring on others. The late middle order batters were two guys
who had not played for a while but were very good players not
that long ago. A resistance movement began to appear and needed
eliminating PDQ. Credit where it’s due some very nice shots were
played mainly off the perspiring Symmy. Bringing back Coops and
a run out effectively ended any hopes of a revival. Ben’s
closing spell was excellent and wrapped them up for 126 and
maximum bowling points.
Chasing low totals with a stellar line up like mine always
brings to the fore other issues like how does everyone get in
the game. I thought I would try Kent and George opening again to
see if some magic would rub off on Kent; alas all that rubbed
off was his name from the score book, a first baller sent him
back and off on a grumpy pilgrimage around the boundary, he was
not to return until the end. Andy started brightly and then was
out playing a shot only a man in form should play, that ain’t
Andy. Ken, along with a serene George who plays with so much
composure on good tracks, scored at a decent clip until Ken
confused himself, his bat and his pads and was out LBW. The
denouement swiftly followed as that bully Al P came out and
clattered his way to the win with George on an unbeaten fifty
which included a really sweet 6 off the division’s top bowler.
The best part about Kings Stanley was Dave King coming up to me
after and saying well done, that’s respect from a very good
player I have known for a long time. They were rueful in defeat
but also philosophical, they knew that in all likelihood their
best side out would not have won. It will be, assuming the
weather and that we beat Apperley next week, a shoot out at Cam,
perhaps depending on the number of losing bonus points they get
should we beat them. If I only I knew what team I will have at
Cam but I live in hope and for me personally prayer that Bristol
Royal Infirmary don’t intercede between now and then.
Scorecard |
Cranham Feast Tournament 9-08-09
An early start to Sunday's Cranham Feast, with Birdlip 13
expecting an early finish as well. Stroud's Paul Frape won the
toss as put Birdlip in (good job too as Nitin was still to
arrive). James Buse edged a couple of 4s before getting cheap,
meanwhile Kent clipped Stroud's strike bowler for 6 over square
leg (suprise suprise). Toby chipped back to the bowler for a 3
ball duck. Ben Symcox started off scratching around, then got
his eye getting 74. He was supported by Lloyd, Tom Mahendran,
Nitin and Jamie Gittins. Birdlip scored 133. Stroud started well
before Tom M got a couple of wickets to start the panic amongst
the batsmen. Knockers got a couple as well. Toby Harris did his
impression of A Hieron to get a wicket. 13 required off last 2
overs: Knockers took 1-4 and there was a run out too. 9 needed
off Toby to win, it came down to 4 needed off the last ball with
all fielders back. 'Mad' Dave was the most economical bowler
(4-0-18-0). BIRDLIP WON!!!
Cranham cruised their afternoon game against a touring team from
Camberley, chasing 62 to win.
The Final:
Knockers won the toss and elected to bat, much to the disgust of
his team. Tom M had gone to London so George came into the team
for him. Buse and Kent opened again, but again did not build a
platform. Toby went in @ 3 and looked to make amends for the
morning's game. He got support from Ben, then Nitin, Lloyd, Dave
Green. Toby damaged 2 cars behind the pavillion with a couple of
his 6s, also endangering the children's race. Toby scored 86
(later picking up the batting award of £25). Birdlip scored 158
against B & C Overs, J Pockett, J & C Job!!!
Cranham were looking comfortable with Keith Daniels & J Job,
after 10 overs they were 70-0. 'Mad' Dave bowled several
no-balls and Jamie several wide, before Knockers had a go for 2
overs. Toby's first ball bowled Mr Daniels, bringing J Pockett
to the wicket. From there on wickets were thrown away. 32 needed
off the last 2 overs, Knockers bowled the penultimate over,
conceding 9, but dismissing the dangerous A Pockett. Toby again
bowled the final over. It came to 19 required off the last ball.
Birdlip - 158, Cranham 140!!
BIRDLIP BEAT STROUD & CRANHAM IN ONE DAY!!!
It has been noted that Cranham are down for our 6s, so I guess
they will be out for revenge. |
1st v
Oldlands 8-08-09 Oldlands arrived to our hollow
turf as the form side after a string of good result that
propelled them to the upper echelons of the table. Skipper
Greener wandered out for the toss and good to form lost again!!!
Wot a tosser or not. The coin was probably still settling when
they decided to put us in on damp track. Ian's should have had
more faith in his wicket specially after DP had seen more of the
roller then the other half over the last 24 hours.
Dave Walton again proved a thorn in our side removing both Trev
and Ian with caught behinds fairly early on, but both had played
some good shots proving the wicket was playing OK, just needed a
little bit of patience. After a few, or rather a lot in James
Parsons' case, snippets of good fortune, Guy and James gradually
built a substantial partnership (93) . With second change
bowlers and a spread field they both scored freely till Guy went
on 58 with James going on to 67 adding another 59 with Nitin
(26). We certainly didn't expect to get 214 before play and this
season we have proved
anything over 200 is well within our capability of defending.
What followed after tea compared to England's middle order
competence with the bat. George (4wkts) and Dan (2wkts) ripped
through some inept batting by a normally competent Oldlands
side. Ron (3wkts) joined in the fun, Andy Moore was unusually
hardly required and DP wrapped up their innings with only 58
scored.
With Cirencester winning and maintaining top spot, Cinderford Oldlands and us are separated by
less than 1 point average below
them.
Scorecard |
2nds v
Nine Elms 8-08-09 Yet another variant of BBCC 2’s turned
up for this game, each one has been a bit more exotic than the
last. For the first time we had Charlie and Paul Harris, the
Chemical Brothers as that is what it takes to keep them out
there and on top of their respective ailments. There are times
when I swear I can hear a rattle of pills as we go out on the
pitch. As it turned out the game was basically about these two;
that would come as no surprise to those who know them. How in
God’s name a club like Nine Elms functions in this era beats me
but it does serve as a timely reminder of the huge benefits we
all get from playing at a club like Birdlip. I remember a very
long time ago when my first club was just like this, some
enthusiasts, ropy teas in sheds ,cold or no showers and very
questionable pitches. It is hard to be tough on marking them
when you know the game needs the Nine Elms of this world.
I lost the toss and they duly put us in on a wicket which looked
like top soil rolled out, producing a curious spongy crust
effect. A senior player of theirs, half apologetically told me
that big scores have been put on out there (and so have very low
ones as my research told me). My watch word to the batters was
patience, take your time and see how the pitch behaves. Against
reasonable bowling on a helpful wicket we did not get a lot of
runs but we did score at three an over and we did not give
wickets away with one or two glaring exceptions. Kent is in no
form at all, you have to feel for him, George as always kept the
book moving on with shots clipped away here and there until
unluckily out. Prakash, our three bat, was positive though,
along with Al, perished to a slow bowler playing big shots when
smaller ones, as Duncan and Charlie showed, may have been a
smarter way to play him. The rock of our innings was Charlie,
aided by Duncan and later Ben. As all long time BBCC boys know
Charlie is a class act, on a difficult pitch he made batting
look a simple business, just playing each ball on its’ merits.
Duncan also revved up, perhaps harried a little by a resurgent
Charlie, but played an intelligent innings, one he likes to play
on this sort of pitch. Thanks to Ben’s big hitting at the end we
got an unlikely 181.
What followed was a series of executions, some a little
prolonged but all inevitable, each victim duly dispatched and
bundled into their respective grave. Each new batter might as
well have had a blindfold and a last request to make instead of
the futile bats they did carry out. Needless to say neither Paul
nor Coops would let go of the ball until they had either 5
victims apiece or were bowled out. Apart from one catch, all the
rest were bowled or LBW, none of our other bowlers got a look
in. On a good track these two would have been hard to keep out,
it was by far the best spell of sustained accurate bowling we
have seen this year. Our chances of promotion rest on the
quality of the teams we can put out for the remaining games, it
is that simple. As the Ruardean and Newent games showed it
doesn’t take much to lose a game and it is damn hard to win
them, having players who can make that vital difference is the
key.
Scorecard |
Sunday XI
Vs. North Cerney 2-8-09 The
opposition won the toss & did exact what Birdlip wanted, put us
in! We got off to a shocker.. Kent departed for a 4 ball duck.
Greener got 20-odd before skying one for a regulation catch by
the keeper (he admitted later he should have put a 1 in front of
his score). J. Buse got another 20-odd as did 'The Rector' and
Toby. Knockers promoted himself to 6 for a 3 ball swish before
hitting a wide to point (0 runs). Tom Mahendran & Jamie Gittins
got a good stand going (49 & 38 respectively). Josh Roberts
batted well to get his top Shire score. Ben Symcox looked good
for 2 balls before chipping back to the bowler before Rory
Roberts helped his brother to a total of 226.
Birdlip started off badly with the ball. Josh & Knockers got a
bit of biff before a pie from Knockers removed one opener then
Jamie got the other to hit the ball to Skippy (Knockers). His
heart was in his throat after dropping 3 @ Frocester. Knockers
dismissed Cerney's overseas player for 3 and then gave up the
ghost. Knockers brought on the charity bowling after a direct
hit from Toby made it 5 down. Greener's figures flattered the
fact that it contained so many no-balls (5-3-3-2). Rory 'The
Lion' Roberts collected 2 wickets to make it 9 down. Ben 'The
Beast' Symcox bowled a pile of s***e for a maiden and Kent
bowled several balls to mop it up for less than 80.
If only every game was this easy!!!!!!!! |
1st v
Cirencester 25-7-09 What has become top of
the the must win games for Greener Saturday's clash turned out
to be classic with one team left very disappointed. With a damp
track Greener was keen to insert them but yet again the Queen
failed to face the right way for him. After a couple of weeks of
stout resistance, Trev went early this time which brought Ian to
the wicket, full of determination and that northern grit. Always
a successful hunting ground, vie Ciren, Ian (38) showed the
wicket was not an iffy damp one, but one of his best batting
strips of the year as he bludgeoned 8 quick fire fours. Then
"what was that" echoed from the pavilion as he brought his own
downfall for 38 with an abysmal shot. Toby chipped in with 17
before his long legs failed to beat the infamous Partridge run
out. Nitin (31) who seems happier and more effective at No.5
this year helped to up the tempo as we looked to post our best
total of the year. At the other end, carrying his bat, opener
Guy produced his best innings so far, and boy did we need it. By
the end he was dancing down the track, hitting sixes, taking our
total to 238 and his tally to 109no.
In reply Cirencester showed why they had been front runners for
most of the season with a composed run chase with solid display
throughout the top order. rich Hudson showed class till Moore
had him caught behind. Fellow G Williams (64) opener never
looked dangerous but just stayed there and compiled runs. Trev
caught him at the second attempt off his own bowling , with the
ball threatening to smack the umpire between the eyes at a rate
of knots, another partnership was crucially broken. Nick Rutter,
Price and Dan Hudson kept the momentum going and all but
Knockers went for above the required run rate, some more than
others and they were well reminded afterwards. Despite Moore
bagging 2 more wickets, Andy Heiron 2 as well, Cirencester
showed their batting depth to the full and marched on towards
their target. The reached it's climax, the rain swamped the
ground ,22 needed of two overs. Ron kept his head and went for
only 5 so Moore despite suffering the Cotterell crick in the
neck in previous overs was given the final over, 17 needed. Bang
4 straight back past him not a good start. Nerve was held and a
failed attempt to hit 6 off the last ball gave us a nail biting
win. Performances of the day was Guy's unbeaten century and
Dan's 12 over spell with an economy rate of just 2.58, less than
half the next best.
Scorecard |
2nds v
Ruardean Hill 25-07-09 Shorn of a few regulars, I still
had a team I thought capable of beating Ruardean, a team
hovering in the relegation zone, and as it turned out I was
right. Fresh out of hospital but now able to breathe, we left
with my medical support crew of Jenny and Rose, whose concern
for my welfare was touching but misplaced. I really looked
forward to this game. In the past I have loved the ground, the
atmosphere and the players but the reality was not quite a match
for my rather naïve expectations. I hit planet Earth with a
heavy crash some six hours later.
Winning the toss on what looked like a good if soft damp pitch
suggested we bowl first. Alas what followed was a captain’s
nightmare. My best medium pacers could not control the swing; in
Prakash’s case he was a month off his last game and was just
plain rusty. Charlie, Gawd bless him, tried but just was not
happy. They both went for a collective 29 wides. So I put Steady
on who, on last weeks showing, bowled good lines at a decent
pace. He went for almost 8 an over, the score board by now had
gone into overdrive. I was desperate and wanted to get Jack
Evans in as soon as possible. For three overs he was my best
bowler and then, out of nowhere, the poor boy had a total mental
collapse. Eventually I had to get his father on to the field to
take him home. Jaysus, ten men for three quarters of the game
now beckoned. Darren stopped me from bowling because Jenny had
told him about my chest drain; he actually threatened me so I
was forced to have him bowl my overs of spin until Prakash came
back. At the other end Jamer bowled some very odd but successful
stuff. It was at times so slow that batsmen got out through lack
of patience. Despite recovering somewhat we still wound up
facing a mountain of 251; oh bloody hell!!!
A score of about 230 was par on that track and we set about
getting the total with some gusto. Steads and Kent got us up to
the run rate but then Kent played a really silly shot and was
bowled, Andy slapped one to gully and so to the crease came our
Dar. While he was there our chances were always alive. Steady,
having played so well, just ran himself out easing up; why, why,
why? Al, as always, put it about but was subject to an incident
I did not really see which left him cold with anger and had a
big effect on the game later. Dunc played some nice stuff: in
the circumstances he knew what he had to do but nicked one.
Prakash tried to make up for past misdemeanours and kept us
there with Dar for a while. I got out after having got into a
bust up with their captain, their very silly bowler and a still
very mad Al P umpiring at one end. Al was right but I lost
concentration and was bowled. The very brave innings of Darren
came to an end so Jamer and Charlie had a bit of fun at the end
but we were 15 runs short. To say that we had no right to get
that close was, in some respects, true; they dropped so many
chances Dar used up a whole season of luck. I felt Ruardean did
play a bit of a high fast game with us but Norm was out there
and saw nothing amiss so maybe I am wrong; it has to be said
that their captain was very good with Jack. Could we have won
and did we deserve to lose? Yes we could and yes we did. On the
other hand with ten men who, with some exceptions had not played
that well, we got 9 points against a team somewhat beefed up to
avoid the drop. There are always positives if you want to see
them and Jack will be back, a wiser boy than he was on Saturday.
Scorecard |
2nds v
Newent 18-07-09 It’s been an odd week in
the life of a cricket captain who has always had a rather
cavalier attitude to personal health until he realised he
couldn’t breathe very well. At Bharat I wondered whether I had
lung cancer, as was suggested by those who should know these
things and therefore probably I was playing my last game. Now a
week later playing against Newent I knew that I had pneumonia
and had to go into hospital urgently: how happy can a man be
with that news? I was ecstatic!! And we won a really good game,
what a great send off to the thoracic ward at Gloucester Royal.
As expected they put us in on a dampish wicket but I some
confidence in my team which I felt had balance and could do it
all. James Parsons and George got us off to a good start until
James’s idea of a quick run suggested this genetic weakness that
exists in father and son was likely to shed tears. Sure enough
George is run out prompting me to tell James to calm down before
he goes through the whole team but he top scored on 70. What
followed was a steady progress, a 100 by 25 overs leaving us to
wonder what a good total might be. Thanks largely to John
Partridge, supported by Andy Ward, Alan P and a laboring Pars,
we got to 200; but was it enough?
Ominously the wicket dried out to a good even pace, the sideways
movement had reduced, 200 was not likely to hold up. Nonetheless
Charlie, Ben and Paul bowled really well, keeping them pegged
back. However we could not get out the opener and young Jack
Cowles, who batted superbly and to my mind made one of the best
innings I have seen this year. It seemed as though we were
ebbing away, the game was going away from us, they still had
every chance of winning with lots of wickets in hand and less
than 100 to get. Deciding that taking the pace off was the
answer, I had spin at both ends and this got rid of both
troublesome batters, James P again, and also put them under run
rate pressure. Timing the return of Charlie and Ben was also
critical and, thanks to these two, plus defensive field
settings, we won a thriller, notably getting two run outs in the
process.
I had to go early but not before thanking their captain for a
really good game and having to apologize for my lack of
attention when umpiring. I let George off the hook as he was
probably run out but I was so busy thanking my good fortune for
being on the pitch I didn’t see their keeper run him out;
mercifully James barbequed him moments later. Afterwards I did
hear mutterings of us cheating, as in batsmen not walking. A
very celebrated test match player has just brought out a book
and the big moment in the book is when he gave himself out in a
match against Sri Lanka. He says a voice in his head said ‘Go’;
his team struggled to speak to him and after always treated him
as mad and dangerous to know. In test match cricket it’s a
different and almost unique kind of courage. All I can say is I
am very glad I am still in a position to be able to make that
choice and go, after all it’s only a game; isn’t it? |
1st v
Cinderford 11th July 2009 The batsmen made REALLY hard
work of it. Chris H failed to bother the scorer and his array of
pens & pencils. Other 'batsmen' walked to the middle and soon
walked back (Uncle Tea-bag excluded as he got a respectable 35).
It was left to the tail to wag. Fez got some runs!!! Though not
enough. Knockers lost his usual spot of 11 as Buse Junior was
playing and responded by upsetting the
cousins/brothers/sons/fathers of Cinderford. 103-8 off about 39
overs. He took a wild swipe at his first ball which threatened
to put him on his fat arse. 2nd ball disappeared to extra cover.
This forced their skipper to drop fielders back to the boundary.
Knockers somehow top-scored through route a) - slogging; then
route b) inside edging the ball from outside off to fine leg.
Georgie was encouraged to join the fun, then Buse Jnr further
put the bat in. Final score was 169-9. Birdlip's bowlers started
with mixed success but the rain intervened to annul the game.
Comment of the game was again from Knockers. Opposition's opener
got an inside edge for 4 to fine leg which he applauded and told
anyone listening that it was a genuine shot as he had played the
same one earlier. |
|
2s v Bharat 11 July 2009
I reminded my team of a game last year at lowly Saracens who
came within a whisker of beating us on a day much like this one.
Had it not been for a rearguard action by the tail, we would
have lost before the rain came in. The reason I reminded them
was that we were 102 off 38 overs with 6 wickets down, the sky
was blue ,the sun shone down on some very ordinary batting on an
admittedly tricky track. The logic was simple when winning the
toss. I had been advised to bat first, I would have liked to bat
first, my team wanted to bat first and yet ..and yet. I also
knew that they had some very decent bowlers, the ball would very
likely do things, my batters were not posting big form out there
and I trust my bowlers to win me games more than I do my
batters.
George is undoubtedly a class act. He plays shots all round, the
score board moves on and he is good between the wickets but he
plays and misses a lot. What a contrast with Pars at the other
end who does not play and miss much but does not have a range of
shots and is a bit sketchy between the stumps. The mix of these
two produces runs from one end but your heart is in your mouth
and no runs from the other end but you wishing your heart was in
your mouth. George gets 28 off 12 overs, Pars takes a long time
about it all though it was excellent bowling.
Andy Ward’s batting has now become a bizarre creation of his
own; he specialises in getting out to embarrassments. This week
it was bowled off his appendage which was not suitably packaged
in a protective cover. The result was a pained batter leaving
the crease who then doubled over creased by the pain. We laughed
a lot, he managed a rueful smile; or was it a grimace. From
there on it was Dave Green trying to get the run rate up, Roger
also tried but failed, Duncan did as Duncan does, always
leaving you wishing for more but not failing either. When the
noble Dave perished, Symie kept on bashing effectively as only
he can, and so in a late flurry we nearly got 150.
After tea the sky to the west now took on a reassuring shade of
dark grey and black; Al P smugly reminded me of his predictions
as he did a year ago; he was unconvincingly right then and he
was just the same now. After a spell of really good bowling,
particularly by Paul Harris, it rained .Paul was well supported
by Ben, who also hit some very good length and line at times,
bowling to a 7-2 which I like to use. What have we learned from
this? Quite a lot but we need to keep in focus the league as it
develops and adapt teams accordingly; it may well come down to a
horses for courses approach, players who cannot play that sort
of game will struggle. |
Wed XI v Glos Winget 8th July 2009
Drama at the Spa ground. We pegged them back to a low target,
then gave Glos City hope by losing 3 key wickets in 2 overs.
Farmer Pars was talked into charging the bowler, poor Kent went
1st ball and "I am" Green also gifted them his wicket! All hail
the Heirons, Malfoy Harris, Ent Griffith and Georgie Porgy!!!
Question.
How can Kent take 2 hard catches then drop the easiest? Why
leave it so late to win? |
2s v Frampton 4th July 2009
You hear a lot about ‘having a plan and sticking to it’ in
sports like tennis and golf. These plans are designed to beat an
opponent, viz Roddick v Murray or defeat a golf course, Woods
being sans pareil. I had a plan, as I do most weeks, depending
on the toss, my team strengths and the opposition. The plan,
with my excellent bowling side, was to win the toss, bowl them
out cheaply and get maximum points. I had doubts about our
batting; an out of form Pars, loss of my in form three and four
bats and Darren Cookes first appearance this year, made me think
we could not set a big enough target. It is also a sporting
truth that you always need a plan B, more of that later.
And so we bowled on a good pitch with an ersatz wicket keeper
who had persuaded me that he was a very good choice. The thing
about Coops is that although he has bags of confidence he also
has an excess of it. He dropped their opener when he was on 0,
slapped away at the ball and left me with bowlers who were
fretting about my poor decision. Changing to Lloyd was a good
move but a tad too late. Plan A began to unravel as they made
runs and we took few wickets despite very tidy bowling. We
grafted away, slowly getting through them despite some truly
appalling fielding by me. What has happened that has turned me
into a circus act? Norm muttered ‘lack of practice’ at me, he is
right as always. Charlie bowled really well, Symmie ran in for
12 overs despite blisters and the cost of the effort; he was,
apart from 9 wides, damn good. I admit I flogged him but I
wanted the last 6 overs from Charlie at that end. Jack Evans had
a different game to play this time but was unlucky with a missed
stumping. If his stock ball was a bit quicker he will always
trouble batters in this league. Paul was back to his best,
praise be.180 was not enough, or was it?
George Smith was my ace in the hole. Parsy duly got out for a
duck and so George became the pivot of the innings, a part he
played very well. But Dave Green began to hit it and stayed on
hitting it. He did not get 50, leg byes robbing him but he was
just what we needed, really a top effort. Meanwhile George kept
on doing the right thing at the right pace at the right time. In
comes arguably the best left hander in the club, Darren Cookes.
I have always been a fan since he was a kid and still am. George
was bowled, more by fatigue than anything else but he got his
50.Dar just smashed them out of the game, playing big shots and
some real classy drives. Coops, irrepressible as ever, assisted
and so we got the winning runs in some style.
What was Plan B? It went like this. Please God, can you let
someone score the runs, anyone I don’t care. I promise to be
good and not get hissy with her indoors and etc etc. I know what
you are thinking but the supernatural still has a big part to
play in any game, especially one involving a lapse catholic as
captain. Just be grateful that I am willing to use every means
to win a game, even appealing to that great umpire in the sky,
who is more likely to give you a fairer shout than an LBW to
Parsola. |
1st v
Frampton 27 06 09 Dan and George carried on from last
week and ruined the opposition's start, again, both openers gone
for ducks. D Huxstep rallied with 28 until Guy caught and bowled
him, Guy eventually picked up 4 middle order wickets. Dan added
to his early tally with 3 wickets in his second spell to end
Frampton's innings, his figures were spoilt though with a late
onslaught from numbers 8 and 9. K Palmer who Ian had no
knowledge of, strolls in wearing a white t-shirt and looked like
a 'make the numbers up guy from the pub', Trev knew what coming,
he'd seen him dispatch Knockers to neighboring fields before.
Thankfully the boy's from The Shire held seven catches,
including Palmer on 26 (and counting up in sixes and fours) off
Dan, with minimum failures.
Frampton's opening bowlers offer a stern test as league
statistics clearly show, so caution was needed by Guy and Trev.
Solid start was achieved but with 45 on the board Trev went and
Guy followed after he moved onto 35. Ian showed us some of his
top drawer batting, his 39 cemented the innings and would have
pushed home the result if he stayed in for a little longer. Form
was proven by opening pair C Barnfield and D Huxstep with
economical figures to keep Frampton partly in the game combined
with the middle order wobbles, Toby H (great catch), David P
(hit everything on the way though before hitting the stumps) and
James P (least said the better) all failed to trouble the
scorers. What was a solid start and boost by Ian turned to
nervous finish, wickets falling and full pot of 48 overs to do
necessary running out. Who could keep a cool head? Step forward
Nitin, a patient 31 done the job and it was fitting that his
straight drive for four secured the win. |
2nds v
Frampton 27 06 09 Just when you thought it was all over,
after last week’s crumbling of the physiques of star players
amid the hubris of defeat, we lurch forward to Ken Griffith’s
starring role as the 7th Cavalry. Will they come in time to save
the wagon train from the Indians who are whooping and a
hollering around and around the beleaguered pilgrims? At 11am
the relief column informed me that it was stuck in traffic on
the M25.So I elect to play with 10 men and see what comes over
the hill; after all it’s only lowly Frampton, how can they win?
A rain affected wicket gives a team that can bowl more than a
bit a punchers chance if they can put you in; they did just
that. None of our top four batters passed 13, all perishing to
the effects of a wicket which allowed extravagant movement off
the pitch and thus preyed on the judgment of the batters. What
lessons each might have learnt from the ordeal none can say,
except that Andy Ward thought he was at Edgbaston and was made
to look as silly as Strauss when he left one alone to Warne in
2005. You need either to play forward and hit down the ground or
cut wide balls to the sides, you don’t play across the line
against variable bounce and pace.
General Custer got 64, the next best score was Duncan who did
play down the ground. That he was not out 28 was a testament to
his organization and shot selection. His innings with Ken ,
aided by Kent and that fine no risks player Mr Extras ,who made
a half century, got us to 208.
And so we have yet another reprise of the opening spells of last
week, this time Matt Peplow was the stricken bowler. In future I
am going to demand a doctor’s note from my opening bowlers
confirming they are fit to play! But all the while at the other
end Charlie Buse was the terminator. An easing pitch still
offered some sideways movement and Charlie was so good, apart
from wides and no balls. His six wickets were decisive and he
was well supported by Kent and Andy Hieron. I chose to bowl
after the never wozzers got out, leaving myself the real
batters; a luckless choice as usual. No rhythm again and so
capped a poor day for me on the whole.
Our extras count still continues to hurt us and must be halted
if we are to win this league, which we can. All the right bits
are out there it’s just a question of putting it all together
when it matters. The second half starts next week against this
rather demoralized outfit, the real test starts then when we
must put them down with a thump not an apologetic smile. |
1st v Charlton Kings 20th June 2009
Opener Guy Partridge (57) shared a valuable stand with Toby
Harris (57) enabling Birdlip to post a reasonable total. They
scored wisely and battled through a few tight overs when
Charlton Kings came back into the match. Chris Hieron (21no)
held firm to end as wickets fell around him and with a lusty
blow for 6 by George James in the last over, 200 was reached
Charlton Kings top order who have enjoyed reasonable success
since their promotion were soon sent packing as George James hit
top form with the ball. George along Dan Knock made better use
of a lively wicket than their hosts and after 14 overs the score
was 13 for 3. Both George (33-4) and Dan, who bowled up the
slope without reward (he felt it on Sunday), shut Charlton Kings
out of the game. Andy Moore and James Parsons bagged three
wickets apiece to put end to the innings on 131. N Mitchell (52)
always posed a threat, dispatching 6 sixes and C Day batted well
for his 45. |
2s v Cam 2s 20th June 2009 If you
have to suffer in such a game in such a manner, then it’s best
to suffer it all in one big go. Three of this team were at the
Ball the night (and morning before); didn’t it show!! Two
members, in fact our opening bowlers, had back and side injuries
within minutes of each other. That leaves 6 others of whom two
were carrying long term injuries, leaving four fit players, one
of whom had not played any serious cricket for weeks and another
had to leave to go to work at 6.45pm!!. With this I still
expected to beat Cam, actually that was at the start of the game
but it was still possible until the last three overs.
There is an apocryphal story of Denis Compton turning up at
Lords in his DJ still pissed. He lay down, put a paper over his
face and asked to be woken up when he had to bat ; he scored 74.
I turned up in my DJ ,still a bit pissed and tried to get the
match organized, sort out Ball issues and sober up fast. I
dropped the key catch, bowled without luck and was not out zero
needing two sixes off the last two balls. Denis ,where the f**k
were you?
Jaysus! what a start. I wanted to bowl because I had the Cold
Slad Express, who promptly pulled a muscle in his side and
bowled most of his spell off three paces. He still took four,
should have had five and won us the game. Paul, my most reliable
and economical bowler, was drain like and went for a shed load
before pulling up with back spasms. Thank God for Charlie Buse
and Andy Hieron who gave us some stability, My spell concluded
with their umpire advising me not to buy a lottery ticket. Andy
Ward, also luckless with dropped catches , added a new legend to
himself, and will forever be remembered for being admonished for
his remark to a short mouthy batter who belted his high toss no
ball for four ; to whit ‘you jammy little c**t’
That they only got 200 with a very short boundary on one side on
a fast outfield was a tribute to Coops, Ron and Charlie and
still meant we could do it.
Alas the curse of the Ball struck again; Pars couldn’t hit
himself with the bat let alone the ball. Andy H perished to a
snorter but Andy W played very well and kept us in the fight.
After Charlie went, run out on his way to the pub, Al P played
yet another great innings in a losing cause. Roger stuttered,
John P looked great but also very short of practice and spooned
one up. In comes Dunc, also light in practice and form. He and
Al did all they could but key overs went by without a
significant move to up the run rate. Our early slow start was
hurting us now. Yet we still were in it, needing 21 off three
overs and four wickets left. Dunc is run out, Coops and Paul
bowled first up, game over.
Our two losses have come about in games we should have won. As
bad as that is I know that this team, when it sorts itself out,
can win this division and will not throw away games again.
No-one has beaten us yet, we have simply lost matches through
our own fault and we have beaten the top two teams already .So,
reasons to be cheerful, one ,two, three……… |
2s v Apperley 13th June 2009 Yet
another scramble for players produced a team that contained only
one player who has played all matches so far, myself. Oh for
something resembling a settled order, maybe soon I hope. I had a
decent bowling side out but one of indeterminate batting form,
excluding Andy Heiron so ,winning the toss I elected to field.
This was on the assumption that their strength lay, if anywhere
,in their batting .Cancelling that out on a good if slowish
track, was the objective .Also I knew they had men capable of
grinding out a win if we in turn did not get a good target on
the board.
Paul Harris produced his best spell to date,11 overs ,3 for
7,match winning stuff. He was ably supported by Ben Symcox and
an improving match by match, Matt Peplow. For some reason I
could not get any rhythm and bowled the first 7 run ball in my
life, a no ball 6.We then had an experimental period giving the
returning Duncan C-Mitchell a chance to see if his injury forced
him to mince into the crease but, to use that old gag, he opened
his legs and showed his class before being forced to retire with
a twinge. This allowed me to switch ends and I had a better game
there. In the meantime Apperley fought on but then gave away
three run outs with suicidal intent This was also the result of
the pressure of sometimes brilliant fielding by all, notably
Andy H ,Ben S and the boundary bullet arm of Tommy O. On that
point it is unnerving to have the stumps suddenly explode beside
you when the batter is safely home. I am going to give that boy
a siren when intends to throw.
Plan A duly worked and so we chased 122; I could not see how
they could field or bowl as well as us but they tried to. This
was not a day when Andy H should have got out for 3, Plan A
suddenly looked shaky. We never needed to look at Parsy’s score
we just looked at the overs, the two hardly differed. He had a
rush of blood and nearly got himself out but his 44 was the axis
on which we won, take nothing away from that. Dave MG (might dub
him Sprite one of these days) came and went, as did Dunc,38 – 3
off 15 overs. The irrepressible Tommy O became repressible,
running himself out, something he was to do twice over the
weekend: the score moved on 19 runs in 11 overs, mmm!!! Much
pacing up and down by me, irritating everyone around, they kept
telling me to sit down or bugger off. Why worry, the game was
all over in the next nine overs as Rog and sprog one burst
through the tape. Lloyd had a good day behind the stumps and
played some really nice shots, one to watch for the future I
think though he bungled my instruction to get us the batting
point. Seems churlish in the circumstances I know but not many
guys get the winning runs and clutch their heads in dismay over
what they have done. Ah well!!
It was sad in a way to see Apperley so poor, a club I have known
for 25 years. Brian Leeke, at 72 ,still displayed the cricketing
qualities I have admired for such a long time , a lesson for
anyone who wants to learn it. He was generous to me as usual
and, as usual, tried to blag me £50 for the teas on the
principle that history dictates that I leave Apperley in some
way poorer that I found it. Whilst I did not have 7 stitches in
my face, a busted ham string or a run out short of a maiden 50
,there was also no time for 3 card brag , next time maybe: win
or lose I hope so. |
1st v Oldlands 30th May 2009 With a
good start thanks to Andy Moore and George James we made our
host struggle to score freely. George caught and bowled their
opener with the score on 10 but after that, luck on the wicket
front was on their side, we had to wait till Andy's last over to
pick up a couple more wickets. Several unsuccessful calls for
LBW's and airbourne shot landing just out of reach didn't bode
well. Despite a row of Partridges on the on-side for much of the
remaining overs, albiet two fine catches from John, our hosts
rallied and quick runs in the last six overs boosted their score
to 185. We went in feeling we had missed our chances of
restricting them to a low score.
Out batting line up for task ahead was totally unrecognizable to
any game that preceded
this one. With bodies away Trev and Ian put time an thought into
creating an order that with some success we were in with a
chance. Messieurs' Walton and Colburn soon put that to the sword
with removing trump card David, the lynchpin of the innings,
George soon followed with our score only consisting of extras at
this point. The names on paper could still do the job, but as we
all know it doesn't always work in practice. Trev hung around
but unlike Oldlands the ball went to hand as he was caught by a
stretching one handed grab. James Parsons went to an even better
catch, 20 yard run along the boundary, a dive and one handed,
merely inches off the ground. Yet again the tail put the middle
order to shame with Andy Moore top scoring, he should of had
more if he hadn't had a rush of blood. He, James and John P, who
James sent him on a run that Linford Christie would have
struggled (a direct hit at one stump!!!), looked to give us
hope, but it was a false dawn with lady luck squarely in their
court. |
|
2nds v Nine Elms 30th May 2009 Extraordinary
day, statistically the most odd I have ever seen, but what
performances from individuals , each in their own way taking the
game to Nine Elms. Turning to the stats: if you concede 46 runs
in the first four overs and you give away 41 extras including 25
wides and 4 no balls i.e five extra overs, you should lose and
the loss should be humiliating. Not only that but electing to
field first was, in hindsight, an error that I got away from.
But a team of relative strangers always creates a doubt and we
did not seem to have a batting line up that could post a 200
plus score. A hasty consultation with the senior players
suggested we should find out what we had to get, taking the
punchers chance, given that we had Dave Cooper as a strike
weapon with a new ball.
Shock and awe followed as the opening batter showed no fear,
each delivery to him seemed to have four or six written on it.
He was fed some dreadful deliveries despite Coop‘s thunderbolts.
The score board took on a life of its own, jumping up the tens,
my team, those that could bear to face me, took on the resigned
look of men about be sent over the top to certain death. But
then the gods smiled and Matt Peplow got a dolly wicket. Coops
ran in on fire; sure we gave away wides , leg byes, no balls but
he was bloody quick. My exhortation to him ,’ Coops , get the
fat c**t or we will lose’ was not out of the Mike Brearley Art
of Captaincy but a leg stump Yorker saw the end of our
potential nemesis. Dave’s 12 overs ripped out their heart,
taking four top order batters. He was ably supported by George
Smith , some excellent fielding , especially Dave Green, and a
tidy spell from me before that other revelation came on to bowl.
Jack Evans is a very talented 13 year old off spinner with bags
of confidence, shunting my fielders around before I had a chance
to remind that him that I was captain, albeit an inferior
spinner as it turned out. He bowled with control, turn and
changes of pace plus a wrong un to take three wickets all
bowled, no spinner wants more; sickening personally but great to
watch and manage. With George and Matt cleaning up behind him,
despite a late flurry, we were left to chase a mere 168.
Now the gods smiled again as George Smith, opening with Andy H,
produced a superb display, playing shots all round the field.
Andy just dogged away knowing he might have to play another
game, the mark of an intelligent cricketer. That he was 66 not
out, scoring big runs at the end against a weakening attack, is
testament to him. George tired and was out on 47, LBW, one of
three out of our four wickets. Andy Ward came back quickly,
despatched the same way, muttered something about Norm being our
top wicket taker but it was a good call, Al also but he was very
unlucky with his decision from their umpire. Roger still does
not know here his stumps are, and so he left Dave Green and Andy
to see us home.
Their captain, Rob, suggested that his team did not bat on that
wicket but we did. Maybe, though in my mind it was a win forged
by sheer determination, which itself arose from a growing belief
inspired by great bowling, a modicum of luck and the ability of
key players at key times. Whatever team I have next week doesn’t
matter, the feel of winning is infectious and will be there as a
reservoir for us all to dip into when we need it.
Judgy was hard but fair, a bit like Norm really who mercifully
was not there to be fined, the prejudicial temptation for Andy W
to depart from his otherwise generous nature might have been too
much for him. |
Rudwick 29th May 2009
Fine weather
and the afternoon off work to play cricket under the guidance of
Tom then after a tidy win our skipper then cooked the burgers,
what could be better.
Rudwick started quickly then slowed then raced to 202 somehow,
at one stage we thought we needed to ease off the the bowling, a
lesson to be learned there. Trev bagged 3 quick wickets to quell
the middle order while Chris and Andy Moore bowled tidily
Tom P and Kent looked like proper batmen as the farmed runs of
the openers building up a solid start. As bowling changes come
so did the top order depart. With still more the half the runs
required Trev found form and ably assisted by Roger, Lloyd and
Keith Broadstock to us to the brink of victory. Keith
(his own admission)
ran out
Trev for 83 but redeemed himself by hitting
the winning runs.
|
|
Upton St
Leonards 23rd May 2009
What a toss
to lose, neither me nor Upton’s Captain will ever know whether
if he had put himself in the result would have been different ;
part of me suspects that we would have lost. As it is we
reluctantly batted on a pitch that boded ill in terms of bounce
and carry and that it would not turn much if at all. My ersastz
opener( and hapless stand in keeper), Andy Hieron started
brightly but played over a straight one and a care worn Parsons
allowed himself to be fired in front by Jamer. I liked the way
Andy Ward batted , composed and with discipline, he it was who
held up the middle. Al showed the beginnings of a return to
form, Painless ran himself out before we could write his name
down in the book, all this in front of his adoring family and
Tommy O couldn’t find the gaps, (maybe there weren’t any so a
lesson to be learned there I think.) After Wardy went we were
treated to the Chris and Ben show consisting of solid fours down
the ground by Chris and three sixes by the honky tonk cowboy in
the pick up truck. This bravura innings from Ben ,plus Chris’s
solid whacking , startled the Upton team who looked rather
desperate and must have wondered what a Birdlip tail was; it was
Jamer and me who didn’t bat. So 172 to get on a deteriorating
wicket looked to have turned the odds in our favour.
Upton did not think so having a first team player coming in down
the order to ensure the win should they have had need of him. At
102 for 2 we were looking less likely but still the bounce got
lower and slower : we kept at them making scoring difficult ,
putting them under pressure all the time. And we eroded their
batting taking steady wickets at crucial times. The temperature
out on the pitch went up in proportion to the heat in the game
(here I apologise to all, I even incurred the wrath of Norm, a
victim of a fired up captain, and Norm wasn’t the only one to
get the laser death ray stare. Mind you I had just been told
that our keeper was leaving us at 6.45, much to my horror so we
played with ten men for the last 11 overs or so) Hats off to the
bowlers, Paul was very tidy, as I was on the whole but it was
the Chris and Ben show again. Backed up by improving fielding,
as two run outs bear witness, a great throw from Tommy O in
particular, they with Paul in the closing overs, brought the
game to us. They broke the heart of the Upton team , sinking
their battleship in the process. Apart from an unfortunate case
of poor sportsmanship, this was a tough competitive game, but we
held our nerve and won deservedly.
By the way, future budding Moles had better get their dark
glasses off when they report our games or they just might find
their pencils planted somewhere to remind them of where their
comments should not come from. |
|
BBCC v Newent Twos 9th May 09 That
we won was a testament to very good bowling and excellent
fielding but we still made hard work of scoring 115; it rather
suggests we are not the best chasers or that we do not have the
right batters in the right place or that we do not yet have in
form batters or that ….read on.
The difference between last week and this is that the Newent
wicket was true with good bounce and so they put themselves in
expecting to take this advantage. They were denied by Knockers
who bowled maiden after maiden interspersed with the odd wicket
and Paul Harris who bowled with pace and carry, just back of a
length to make cutting and pulling difficult.The change bowlers
Ben Symcox ,Kent and myself kept the pressure on. If it had not
been for the inevitable sprog batter ,who incidentally had the
by now accustomed cheek to twat me back over my head, and a
stand and deliver bully, they would never have got past
85.Knockers suffered the indignity of a six ,big enough to match
his disbelief, Kent was mowed to the ropes in successive balls,
we were not used to such abuse, unless the you count the
squawking from square leg. But they never made 120 so a big
result was on.
Our very own Boycott ,sadly out of and touch and practice, went
to a great catch for 1 and so last weeks first wicket down
pairing resumed normal service. The Duntisbourne Baseball team
carried on where they left off, hitting homers until struck out
by the umpire and that sprog who was untested by a catch we all
knew was coming to him, that is everyone but Yogi Berra Buse. A
pity because Toby and James are both better than that. Andy
Ward, fresh off his ton last week, belted their bully for a huge
straight six. Hello, we all thought , do we have Busey’s older
smarter shorter tubbier brother here? For a while we did, he
played very nicely until overcome by the idea that he was
scratching around and then played one too many shots. Four
wickets down and 90 up, visions of last week appeared. Al
started well ,trying to avoid losing that other wicket but then
played on to that obnoxious little oik. Bugger ! !Roger and
Kent duly saw us home, everyone got in the game so that’s all
right then.
In two games we have failed to bowl out a side though the
advantage lay with us. Standards have been good where pretty
well all the catches have been taken and the bowling has been
there or thereabouts. It all suggests that future games will be
decided by the team which has the most nerve, determination and
depth when they come under pressure; our failure when we lost.
If we are to win tough games then we have a bit to find as they
say in horse racing circles. |
Sunday V Bristol Travellers
May 2009 Good
to see friendly cricket return to Sinclair Field on
Sunday against Bristol Travellers, who asked to bowl
first. Knockers asked John Jessop and Andy Ward to open the
batting. They started off well until a Travellers' youngster the vicar running for the
pavilion with his score on 7. Kent's innings was cut short by a brilliant
one-handed catch at slip. Ian Green joined Andy Ward at
the wicket and with Andy's growing confidence with
each boundary the score picked up rapidly. Ian eventually
departed for 100 and Andy carried his bat for 124no
Matt Roberts
picked up 3 wickets and despite some indifferent
fielding Birdlip bagged the win. |
|
2nds V Bharat 2 2nd May 2009
If there is one thing every Captain hates it is to lose game
where his team did everything to win and should have done so.
Bharat were resigned to defeat at 70 or 1 but all the cricket
demons await those who let complacency creep in. We were the
better team, more of our players would have got into their team
than theirs into mine. However the virtue of bowling on a length
with movement yielded 5 wickets for a gentle away swing bowler.
They gave away 4 extras in their fielding we gave away 2 byes,2
leg and 18 extra balls. That was probably the key factor in the
field. Their batting was disciplined but was as much as they
could do in the face of a good performance in ground fielding
and some excellent bowling in the middle and later stages.141
for 6 was a good effort on our part and they knew it was not
enough. Charlie was manful in his work and will come on, Matt
showed early nerves but he also will be a good player in this
team. A rusty Tom Roobottom has promise but the old stagers of
Timmy Wright and me had the best of it. However that old adage
of ten good balls came true.
Despite my warnings to our younger top batters about the
fragility of the later order they played with reckless
ebullience and some style it has to be said; very difficult to
be critical of given the circumstances. Much as you want to
dominate bowlers at the same time you also have to respect them.
Umpiring was a nervy business watching wild mows miss or edge
away over the slips. Andy Ward got a beaut and was very well
caught leaving the irrepressible Buse and Toby to belt the
bowlers with abandon. Abandon they did , they left themselves
open to the idea that someone else would get the winning runs
where experienced players might have played a little more
circumspectly when either one of them was out. I know Parsy
would not have thrown his wicket away but also that he would not
have scored the runs they did in the same way .Somewhere a
balance has to be struck. If you get in on a pitch like that
against bowling like that, you have done the hard work. And so
the tragedy I knew was latent became fact as we crumbled to
bowlers who started to believe. Only Dave Green and Matt Peplow
had anything to offer after the demise of the 5 Mile
wunderkinder.
So long as we learn from this I will take this defeat on the
chin. But when, as the fielding side, you have bowled your heart
out and fielded really well, when your team has done all that
was asked of it, played as well as it could, these are bitter
pills to swallow.
Finally my thanks to Norm for deciding that I hadn’t hit the
ball when perhaps it caught a bit of stray plastic off the edge,
but I am still not sure and for firing me LBW thus relieving my
guilt anyway. |
|
|
1st
v Tewkesbury 30th August 2008 Tewkesbury
batted first and started strongly but Birdlip found a good line and
length to bring the run rate to below 3 an over. Birdlip found wickets
were hard to come by with George James (12-4-21-0) bowling well without
just reward. Opener Simon Vincent (84) batted through to the last ball
when yorked by Dave Cooper. He was ably supported by Stuart Tame (38)
and John Allcoat (21no). S Prakash and Andy Hieron both picked a wicket
a piece with good economy as Tewkesbury reach a modest 189 total.
Birdlip lost a early wicket in reply but David Partridge and Ian Green
soon made headway and the run chase was on. Unfortunately both perished
in the twenties and little support followed and the innings petered out.
Steve Bowers the main thorn in Birdlip's side with 5 for 20. |
|
2nds v
Corse and Staunton 30th August 2008 ‘O
frabjous day, callooh callay’ as Lewis Carroll so uniquely put it in the
Jabberwocky, my beamish boys and I won a game we could so easily have
lost. The ramifications are that we avoid Gloucester Pakistanis next
year, we are back in a league which has teams I like but I will miss
playing against my brother, one of the first to ring on Saturday night
to see how we got on.
Nice to win a key toss and with Al’s agreement for a change, we put them
in. My second team talk of the season, so carefully rehearsed while
mowing the outfield, didn’t come out quite the way I intended. If anyone
was guilty of not doing what I asked of them all it was me. That we got
off to a dream start was due to combination of good bowling and some
undisciplined batting. Corse seemed slightly spooked by the wicket and
in no time at all Charlie had got three wickets and George one. These
two are a very complimentary pair, opening bowlers should hunt as a unit
and I very much hope to see them together again as often as possible.
However Corse did go at us, partly because after Charlie and George the
change bowling did not maintain the pressure apart from one magic ball
from Toby. Kent and I restored the game back to us though a young
batsman, Ben Morton, who was not out at the end, showed his olders but
not betters how to put a foot down on an innings. Wayward bowling and
some pretty ordinary fielding, certainly by one senior individual,
allowed them to get a score I would have regarded as useful, given the
start but not too challenging had I been their captain. We did not get
the full points being denied by that young man and some very stern
umpiring. The game was still on.
For the technically minded a reply of ‘win the game’, brightly stated by
an unshaven uncomplicated son of the soil, to the question of ‘what is
your plan?’ leaves a captain with mixed feelings. But Parsola is not
technical about batting, his plan is to stay there to the end and that
should be a winning formula. Duncan muttered something about having a
plan. Uneasy as I was, I trust the guys who do the job I picked them for
and so another carefully worked speech had been binned. It was a
stuttering start to our innings against goodish but not really
threatening bowling. If I am guilty of anything in what followed it is
the desire to be seen as excessively fair to the opposition, irked by
their inability to give LBWs. This is inspired by Corinthian rugby
heroes of my youth who would shake hands with the bully who had put in a
cheap shot on the blind side to make them feel a cad for doing so.
I fired Duncan. The ball did everything right but in hindsight, may have
been too high. He had survived quite a few appeals before, including one
to me that may have been outside the line, maybe not, moments before.
Off he went in a cloud of invective all aimed at his recalcitrant
captain; can’t blame him really. Busey came in and did what he does,
bang ,bang and gone, Al just bang and so to Ben Symcox, on debut. I have
known Ben since he was 14, he was a strong player then and still is, hit
good shots but got too bullish. Out comes our Flintoff derivative, Toby
Harris, same blond hair, no earring yet and no pedalo to play in but it
will happen. If Ben Morton, who had batted so well, bowled equally well
(he was the Corse top batter and bowler by the way), had caught Toby
early it might have been different. He dropped the only catch he has
dropped all season, badly splitting the web of his hand in the process.
That moment turned the game irrevocably to us. Tired bowlers gave way to
poor bowlers, allowing Pars and Toby to bash it to all parts to win the
game.
It has been a great season, one of the best in all my time at Birdlip if
not best ever. The reason it has been so good is that I have enjoyed the
company of pretty well everyone I have had the privilege of captaining
and also of the teams we have played. I would like to think that quite
few will be back with a real desire to do well next year, to improve
over the close season to being better players than they were this year.
However for some of us, for all the practice merely puts the inevitable
decay in remission but, what the hell, you kids will have take the
prizes from our cold dead hands: if you can! |
|
2nds v Hatherley &
Reddings 3rds 23rd August 2008 At last a
game and one that but for a slight error of judgment would gave been a
maximum 22 pointer. I have done the maths and if we beat Corse, getting
more than 18 and they do not score 10 points we are second providing
Chalford do not get 22 points. Its going to be some game next Saturday,
not for the faint hearted or those of a timorous disposition, but a test
of character and nerve; can’t wait.
And so to North Park and Richard Stewart’s depleted 11 where once again
a lost toss could have been decisive. That they put us in came as no
surprise, their best chance lay in bowling us out cheaply but we batted
almost to 11.To be fair to the home side they did bowl very well and my
too ambitious target was swiftly revised downward. Pars and Duncan could
not get on top of the bowlers, the track held all sorts of little
surprises, something you don’t expect there. It was a very steady start,
too steady for me; both openers would probably admit that they were
happy to see me go off as umpire in the first session. I hear Duncan
used the expression ‘avoiding the evil eye’, next week he could well be
watching a pitch side voodoo convention if things don’t go according to
plan.
Hatherley’s strategy started to work as we lost five wickets for not
much on the board, Busey ,Kent ,Chris H and Al not posting much between
them .However once more the faith in a long batting order paid off as
Toby and George put on 70. When Toby went George and Tommy Overbury got
us so close to the maximum points, George perishing in the attempt off
the penultimate ball. Parsola was hoping I would be run out off the last
ball so that my average would drop below his: was he serious, of course
he wasn’t…mmmm?
Charlie and George bowled an exemplary line and length, with the junior
partner in the attack perhaps outshining his illustrious first teamer,
great to watch and easy to captain. Toby and Chris H came in as first
change, Chris being niggling without any luck and Toby being exactly the
opposite. In a low scoring game his three wickets went for almost 6 an
over, Chris went wicketless for less than 2 an over. Toby’s real ability
will show more when he achieves greater control, for the time being it
is a combination of magic and dross. Kent was a good change for Toby,
getting something out of the pitch to splatter the stumps when the
batsman had shouldered arms believing the ball to pass harmlessly by.
Big seam movement was always there for him and his two wickets were a
just return.
Just when a return to form is needed, and boy did I need it, a stubborn
batter was removed first ball by a classic off break (Al, don’t!!), the
irony being that he had removed Chris with an identical delivery.
Georgie took a fine catch to complete a great day for him and I wrapped
up the game by bowling the hapless number 11, the umpire’s comment being
‘if he had lasted the over I would have been amazed’ .A long chat and
gossip in the bar afterwards with Richard , who is also Hatherley and
Redding’s chairman revealed that big clubs have the same problems as we
do. Back to the Shire for a chilly, damp party, drink and dancing till
late, ideal preparation for a six a side don’t you think? Anyway at
least the Mole didn’t see me so , naff off O furry one.
|
|
Birdlip v Cinderford
17th August 2008
This match was poised
for a tight contest when the umpires drew a close to proceedings with 2
overs bowled of Cinderford's innings.
Opener Guy Partridge continued his good spell with the bat with 73no
which enabled Birdlip to reach a challenging 200 for 4 off their 39
revised overs. Ian Green (33), Ken Griffith (40) and Andy Hamilton (24)
all made useful partnerships with Partridge. Cinderford's ever accurate
M.House was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 9-2-31-2. |
Birdlip v
Stadhampton 18th August 2008 Trevor Holder (94)
just fell short of his century as Birdlip piled on the runs against a
weak Stadhampton side. Allen Partridge (65) scored quickly as did Max
Arthur (46) to reach an unassailable 252 for 4 at tea.
In reply the visitors relied on James Buse, who was loaned from Birdlip,
to offer any resistance. His score of 83 held the innings together with
K.Miller (22) the only other batsmen to reach double figures. Dan Knock
bagged 4 wickets for 20 as Birdlip went onto win by 109 runs.
|
Birdlip v
Apperley 26th July 2008 A commanding opening
partnership by Guy Partridge and Nitin Shetty of 175 helped Birdlip
chase down Apperley 208 with 10 overs to spare. Once they coped with
Apperley's aggressive opening overs Shetty and Partridge settled in and
knocked off the runs in a workman like fashion. When Shetty fell for 74
and Partridge 9 runs short of a deserved century the win was then a
formality. Ian Green and Ken Griffith guided their team home to
comfortable rare victory on Apperley's ground.
Earlier Rowan Leeke (56) and Alex Jenning (62) looked set post a high
score for the hosts on a good batting track. Both reached their half
centuries when Dan Knock (33-4) claimed both their wickets amongst his
four victims, which took the momentum out of the innings at time when
they looked to push on. Sam Wheeler (29) had a late burst but Apperley's
total proved well short in the end. |
2nds v Churchdown 26th July 2008
May I refer you all to Corse and Staunton and a philosophical question
posed there; what is losing and what is being beaten? If I was told
before our game this Saturday that we would post 244 batting first and
one of our bowlers would get 6 wickets I would have taken that as a win
scenario given our perceived abilities before the game. But, lo and
behold, as at Corse it was not to be .(It is worth noting ,in the same
context ,that Dymock chased 279 and won at South Park by the way).We
beat Churchdown , they did not lose, exactly as Corse beat us. We
dropped crucial catches and so did Churchdown, thus levelling out the
argument as in ‘if only we had caught so and so we would have won’. The
look on Geoff Gorman’s face was the same as mine after these comparable
defeats though maybe it was worse for me, having to take more personal
blame. That other truism, given elsewhere, that bowlers stop batsmen
winning was also demonstrated, for neither side, on a true wicket did
quite enough with the ball; combine that with poor fielding and so it
became a batters game.I have to say that I thought we were done for at
tea. George and Charlie had been manful, given their combined age of 29.
Lloyd bowled well, very well in fact, but Matt, myself and Ben were
somewhat toothless, though the runs were spread between all of us. Easy
catches were dropped, chances created and not taken and so 244 was a
bigger total than I have ever chased and overhauled. Parsola and I were
blessed, me far more so but then I decided I had to take the risks, not
your man at the other end. That he got 46 and I 72 rather proves the
point where, in a stand of 138, the edge of my bat was a destructive
instrument. Of the 72 only half of the runs were proper shots, if that.
(Ok Al , I hear you).
`The Churchdown boys hissed and fizzed at me as the ball flew off every
plane of my kashmiri willow 1000 rupee (£12) Mumbai street boy throw
away bat; eat your heart out Kevin Pietersen, no reverse handed stuff
needed at Sinclair. I was laughing half the time, even the keeper chimed
in with gentle mockery of my absurd good fortune: that he caught me was
only fair. The next five wickets fell for 41 but the rate never left the
mark. In to the crease came my unsuspected aces in the hole, Roger and
Ben and I still had Charlie and Lloyd just in case. These two
extinguished any hopes that Churchdown had with combinations of power
and great shots, better than anything else seen that day. They were
quick between the wickets and utterly convincing as a winning
partnership to see off the total with 4 overs to spare. T’was a famous
victory, Churchdown were gracious and a pleasure to have been with on
and off the pitch. Parsy burgers and cider seemed a very appropriate way
to end a warm game on a hot day, so much so that one or two seemed very
reluctant to go home. Their identity I promised to keep safe if they
left soon; they finally went in respectively, a Volvo estate and a pick
up truck |
Birdlip v Oldlands 19th July 2008 Guy Partridge
was left stranding on 60 not out as Birdlip's middle order collapsed
after being in a match winning position.
J Savage led Oldland's innings when asked to bat. Ably supported by B
Thomas (25) and N Grove (32), Savage helped his side to 194. Despite D
Walton's run push in the final overs the innings never reached a
challenging total for Birdlip to chase on a good wicket and fast
outfield.
Partridge and Trevor Holder gave Birdlip the perfect start with a 67 run
opening partnership in quick time. Then the wheels came off when B
Thomas (29-5) ripped through the middle order leaving Birdlip in trouble
8 wickets down on 109. With help of poor disciplined bowled and a
frustrated Partridge Birdlip's innings ended on 137 with 11 overs still
to come with Charlie Harris unable to bat from his injury during a
frugal spell of bowling earlier. |
2nds v
Down Hatherley 19th July 2008 Andy Hamilton (120)
hit a century on debut for Birdlip and batted Down Hatherley out of the
game. Supported by Duncan Cameron-Mitchell (48) Birdlip reach 211 in
their allotted overs with the loss of only 4 wickets
Hatherley lost their opener run out without scoring in reply but the 2nd
wicket partnership between Ross Imm (21) and Ben Mitchell (57) got the
innings back on track. The runs never came fast enough though and 3
wickets from Andy Ward took the sting out of the innings. Kent Partridge
and Phil James bagged 2 wickets apiece to back up Ward's efforts
reducing the host to 166 all out. |
Birdlip Sunday v
Bristol Travellers 20th July 2008 D Lockwood (75)
fought a lone battle for the Travellers with some fineshots. P Fairman
(38) helped him out as the innings closed but the 164 total proved a
very inadequate total to defend.
Ian Green (67no) and Max Green (51) made short work in reply and Birdlip
won with 16 overs to spare. SHOULD DONE THIS YESTERDAY |
|
2nds v
Saracens 5 July 2008 ‘Yeah, let’s do to them what
they did us and anyway it’s going to rain so at least we get a bat’:
that was Parsola bursting with childlike enthusiasm to crack some more
runs on the Sarries as he did last week. So sayeth all my senior players
(except one, more of him later) when I won the toss and, as always,
consulted them. Somewhere, deep in the vaults of my cricket experience
files, under matches labeled ‘These can make you look stupid ‘, the
voice of my sub conscious archivist cried ‘you’ll be sorry’. Anyway Dave
Green had a sprog with him that prevented him taking the field for an
hour or so if we bowled ,the sky looked like a Spielberg set for an
alien invasion movie, they were not the team we played last week, and
so, ignoring that mordant warning in my head, bat we did. As I went out
to umpire I swear Dave’s little mite gave me a reproving stare.
‘Oh my prophetic soul’ as the great bard had it. TP duly tossed away his
wicket, Duncan got a classic away swinger that he feathered and had to
walk, Roger defended his stumps with his pads again, Charlie Buse
thought every ball had four written on it, the second one had not, Dave
Green got an LBW to an inside edge, Harry perished tamely ,the score was
55-6 off 18 overs. As if that was the end of it, mais non. Al and I
sensibly agreed to see off the last overs of the openers but then he
promptly spooned one to mid off, cursing himself as he marched away ;
it’s a good job he didn’t hear me mouthing away at his retreating back.
Thank god for boys with brains who did as they were told. Lloyd was
excellent in defense , played some nice shots and did his bit before
going to a disputed catch. Coops never quite falls into the ‘did as he
was told’ category but he backs himself and that’s good enough for me.
With only Jamer to come after these two , things looked pretty bad. The
three of us doubled the score , got the overs down to 39 out of 40 when
Phil fell second last ball. Tea and no bloody rain.
Forced into a rare team talk from me, the boys nonetheless showed some
mettle in the field. The Cold Slad Express whacked it down, Charlie
bowled really nicely with no reward but the rain never quite got to the
quality needed. I am ashamed to say I resorted to slow over rates and
time wasting. At 75 for 3, the only thing Al got right all day delivered
us from evil, rain it really did and so match abandoned. Afterwards all
the old lags were saying they told me so but wouldn’t quite look me in
the eye. Duncan reminded me that he was the sole dissenting voice in
favour of batting; he wasn’t, the other one was saying ‘I have filed
this under You Lucky Sod matches because it won’t fit in the Back Your
Own Judgement Section but could get into Should Have Known Better, what
do you think? ’I didn’t. |
Birdlip v Kings Stanley - 28 06 08
Birdlip made the most of a strong
batting line up and skipper Ian Green made the most of some woeful
fielding. Green dropped on several occasions scored heavily before
ironically bowled on 96. Prakash elevated to No.3 added 96 with Green
for the 2nd wicket to lay a solid foundation to the innings. King
Stanley's Ireland (41-2) and A Jones (55-2) bowled with some success but
with little quality to follow Birdlip's batsmen piled on the runs. Toby
Harris (38) returned to form, James Buse on 1sts debut and Trevor Holder
all helped Green post a 264 total.
In reply Stanley's in form A.Jones was soon removed by George James
without scoring aided by a superb catch by Toby Harris. Prakash (2-29)
bowled his usual tight spell and first change bowler Charlie Harris
(4-37) bagged 4 well deserved wickets. S Wheeler (36) and G Dean (45)
batted aggressively to pose Birdlip some problems until Harris claimed
both their wickets. Andy Hieron (3-23) clean up the tail with the hosts
well short on 149. The win keeps Birdlip in 4th spot in tight division
with most the mid-placed teams having 50/50 win/lost ratio.
|
|
2nds v Saracens - 28 06 08 Things are taking a sinister turn
,teams are losing to teams who always lose, the hopeless are winning;
it’s going to be an interesting run in to the second half of this
season. Decisions ,decisions, what to do when you have three or four
number 11’s and a bowling set up that is somewhat unknown in quality or
form. Should have called heads last week, should have batted first this
week, didn’t do either. And so we fed a strengthened Saracens team ,
whose left handed openers gratefully scooped six after six to the short
leg side boundary. Setting a field for bad bowling wasn’t an issue as a
lot of it went into the field. We spent so much time looking for the
ball that it must have looked from the air like an outbreak of crop
circles. If these guys are second from bottom then they must have been
sedated for the most part of this season, for this Snow White of a team
were awakened by kisses from the princes of long hops and full bungers.
Having said that I was pleased with Lloyd Moore whose only fault was far
too many wides, Duncan did all he could and Darren did not bowl badly.
The rest of us were ranged between woeful to not good enough on the day:
to concede 47 extras made their task so much easier, as if they needed
it, and the fielding was on a par with the bowling.
Faced with 308 we decided that 200 was the target and then, depending on
whenever we got there, only then we would have a go. As it turned out on
a great batting track we might have made more of a fight of it but,
being nervous of a long tail, made us a bit circumspect. Other than a
tyro leggie who went for 10 an over, they bowled very decently. We lost
only four wickets, three batsmen getting 50’s, and that with Danny and
Darren scoring two between them, to leave me wondering what might have
been. Roger got his maiden 50 and well done to him, despite an outbreak
of bumptiousness after the game. Duncan, also with a first club 50,
truly impressed showing the ability to pace his game and play a range of
shots. Parsola was Parsola and hit with some force and at a good rate
but still whinged that I cost him a hundred when he could have played
for the full innings instead of getting out going for a score, mmm!
Nonetheless a cunning plan is being hatched for next week when we play
them again, using that well known ploy of bowling straight. As is true
of all the games so far, they were a good bunch of men and maybe the
fair play award is going to be hard to place this year. |
|
BBCC 2’s v Corse and Staunton 21-06-08 There is an adage, among
many other self evident truths about cricket, that bowlers stop batsmen
getting the target they need; it takes ten balls to win a game and they
could be all in a row, runs aren’t so easy to come by. Another truth is
that everyone will tell you where you went wrong but no-one tells what
you did right; so very English. Losing the toss was not so bad given our
relative strength and to score 194 on a damp seamy wicket was a very
good effort, more runs than the Corse captain thought he could get. Our
recent stars failed but others stepped up, Duncan hit some great shots
as did the imperious Allen when we were in bit of trouble. After the
luckless Andy Ward departed Dave Green played his best innings so far
and got Toby going; when Dave was out Chris Hieron took over, these two
striking it hard and long. Ominously the wicket seemed to get that bit
easier to bat on , the finishing bowler at one end, who was a first
teamer and who consistently bowled very well, still went for 43 off his
last six overs. On the whole the Corse bowlers did not have a great deal
of luck, some poor fielding let them down and they were ,by far, the
best all round bowling team we have faced.
What happened next was a simple accumulation of a number of factors that
all point to a defeat. And yet we removed the top four batters for 41, a
testament to the blameless Knockers and Toby , whose opening spells
collectively gave away 39 runs for 3 wickets off 14 overs but all the
time the wicket became a better track. It was the first change that , if
anything ,cost us the game. Chris and I went for 55 off our 9 overs, my
bowling in particular got yippy which happens sometimes with a damp seam
.It is also true that we fielded poorly from thereon in and with
complacent field settings that were not reduced until too late, we let
them back into the game. The plan to strangle them on a high run rate
needed good accurate bowling, backed by good catching and throwing and
it was not there. All it takes is ten balls and we could only find three
more and a run out. Having said that I must give credit to those two
boys, they hit good balls as well as the bad ones. The batters coming in
after did to us what we did to them in the latter stages of our innings.
Despite bringing back Danny and Toby, with Duncan bowling pretty well at
the other end , the confidence we had given them in the second quarter
allowed them to belt it all over the place and so collect their maiden
50’s and win the game.
Charlie Hulls, who I have known for many years, said it was probably the
best game he has played in and seen at the ground ; on balance there
wasn’t much in it but the toss was a significant factor. Corse lost to
almost the same team we put 363 on, with almost the same team , we in
turn have won matches we could easily have lost and that is why this is
such a great game.
|
Birdlip
v Frocester 3rd 14 06
08
Skipper Ian Green won the toss and hoped to make
use of the humid conditions and asked the hosts to bat. Unfortunately
they went off at 5 an over with some textbook driving from A Bray (32)
and J Purchase (33). Trevor Holder came on first change and made a much
needed breakthrough, removing both openers in his short 4 over
spell.
This brought veteran John Evans (65) to the crease who worked the ball
around the ground for a well deserved half century. Aided by J Niblett
(20) he gave the innings a needed boost to post a 212 total. Guy
Partridge and Prakash bowled well with little reward picking up a wicket
apiece, Charlie Harris bagged 2 but Evans put paid to his economy rate.
Birdlip's start over shadowed their opponents with Nitin Shetty (79) and
Guy Partridge (35) adding 99 for the first wicket. But this is where the
advantaged stopped. Chris Partridge gave little opportunity to score and
went on to take 5 for 42, removing any chance of a Birdlip win as the
momentum drained from the innings. Lower order bats, George James,
Prakash and David Partridge all reached double figures but were given a
huge task after a middle order collapse. |
|
2nds
v Hatherley and Reddings 4th
14 06 08
Maybe this should have been billed and the Shire Two’s versus Pete Ferns
and 10 other guys who played a bit part here and there, some more than
others. To say that his innings should have won them the game would have
been a fair assessment; that they lost was because Toby finally produced
the ball of the game to bowl him and maybe that Pete got a bit misty
eyed getting his well deserved ton. Nonetheless if he had with him some
of the players I had they would have won but no-one stuck with him and
they all got themselves out or were got out. We did not bowl that well
and our fielding under pressure was not as good as it had been though we
caught well, with one glaring exception. Putting us in was exactly what
we wanted and Richard Stewart’s team went about their task in
workmanlike fashion. Maybe their opening bowling was flattered but it
was nice to see Parsola getting going much earlier and his 87 n/o was
the match winner. James duly injected some pace back into the score,
making Hatherley blink and worry as he does and a nice even partnership
between Pars and Toby kept us going. The minimum target was always 200,
TP and Chris Hieron made sure of that. The other mid order batsmen also
responded to the need to get a good total, nice to see the urgency they
placed on their role and the intelligence displayed; it’s what all
captains want. However Al and I thought 207 was very gettable and so it
proved to be.Chris
Hieron bowled very nicely but Toby struggled to find his rhythm, bowling
some very useful balls and some not so good. Al was wont to remark later
that we bowled only 20% on the stumps, usually a losing formula: any
width was put away by Pete Ferns with strong powerful shots square and
driven. While the star bat punished us one end at the other end batsmen
came and went, mostly getting out very cheaply. The run rate was always
with Hatherley but the wickets went to us at an equal rate. Jamer put in
a good little spell bagging two , one though with a classic Foxy leg
side full bunger straight down Toby’s throat but that was why he was
there. Chris took two more in his last spell, a fine reward for a good
player, leaving Toby and a perspiring Andy Ward to close the game out.
Their last man was in fact their opener, batting with a runner, so the
odds swung back to Hatherley until that ball. Richard Stewart was very
complimentary after and it was, despite an unsavoury couple of moments
on our part, a very well conducted game played like it should be. North
Park will be a sterner test. |
Birdlip v Cinderford St John 7 06 08
Although Cinderford are one of the top teams in the division,
Birdlip would have hoped to make a stab at repeating the win in the
forest last year. As the game unfolded in soon become apparent the toss
bared a big influence on the game. Asked to bat Birdlip soon lost early
wickets and following batsmen all looked to be struggling. Ken Griffiths
(33) and Ian Green (26) stopped the rot but runs failed to flow. Dave
Partridge (24no) saw his team to tea but we variable bounce and slow
outfield only 136 runs were managed. Cinderford bowled good line and
length and gave very little away, Craig Kibble the pick of the bowlers
(24-3)
Despite the conditions vastly improving after tea as the pitch dried up,
Birdlip's bowlers lacked discipline to make the home side earn their
runs. In form Nigel Cartwright (60no) carried his bat and with fellow
opener M Whitney (50) Cinderford cruised home with 10 overs to spare. |
|
2nds v Cinderford
St John 7 06 08
What happens when you travel to the Shire with a team of 10 consisting
of 5 boys of 16 or younger, a number of very senior players and a bottom
table position? What happens when you lose the toss and you bowl hardly
a wicket taking ball in the match? What happens when you concede 70
extras, more than your total batted score? What happens when you fail to
suppress Abuse, that your only chance was given, as it transpired, not
out when he was and that you dropped him several times? What happens
when you let the normally introverted Parsola loose? What happens is
that you stare out at the long and miserable vista of the 363 runs you
have conceded and you know that you have no hope whatsoever of getting
near the total. No one enjoys the humiliation of another team, at least
I don’t because I have been in that position myself more than once and
there is, or should be, a natural compassion for the plight of fellow
cricketers. To their credit Cinderford took their beating with a kind of
resigned defiance and those kids did not give up. Talking to Al P we
decided that declaration was not an option for all sorts of reasons and
so we watched the slaughter continue. Take nothing from James or Tom,
you still have to play the shots and get the score though I did hear of
a daft bet between TP and Buse as to who would be the first to a ton.
Any bookie would have closed his account on Buse at a 100-1 on. Abuse,
true to nature, duly got his hundred, waved to us and wagged two fingers
at Pars; a no contest in the context of another. Busey ran himself on
151, I think a record in the Two’s, when he himself had run out of the
strength to hit that ball anymore. Al P ,also true to Partridge habits,
flung his bat around when he played on ,prowled around the ground for a
while muttering to himself and anyone in earshot ,all because he had
missed out on the run fest. Our bowlers were exemplary, dismissing a
series of hapless batsmen with some good accurate bowling; it was
clinical and right for the situation. Matty found some form and now is
high up in the league bowlers with 10 wickets, Knockers, also with three
victims, swung the ball and is always a danger when he does. We caught
nearly all the catches ,one by Harry was top drawer, though some of the
ground fielding let down the bowlers and one spilled catch was
reminiscent of a performing dog act. How can you dive after you have
dropped it??? And so a jolly evening in the bar, with lots of banter
when the remains of the defeated first team dribbled in ; we wonder what
the selectors are going to do now as a somewhat twitchy Greener seemed
to going through a hundred team permutations a minute.
Apology Dymock 31 05 08
Al says I am wrong ,their batsman was run out because his bat was in the
air but Rog in unrepentant still; sanferryanne as they say in the
forest,it changes nothing |
|
Match
Report 31 05 08 Birdlip V
Cirencester
Birdlip won the toss and with damp track asked Cirencester to bat hoping
their bowlers would take the early initiative. It wasn’t long before Guy
Partridge bagged the first of his 3 wickets with Cirencester’s top order
making slow progress. The absence of regular skipper Nick Rutter who
found success here last year, was readily noticeable. Frugal bowling
from Partridge (20-3), George James and Trevor Holder (26-2) accumulated
11 maidens between them, with Cirencester through most of their innings
finding runs hard to come by. J Gilchrist (26) with some fluid leg side
shots was the mainstay of the early stages, posing questions of
Birdlip’s fielding positions with his placement. Toby Harris, given a
rare chance a long spell with Birdlip missing their opening bowlers,
made the most of his opportunity with 5 wickets and twice in a position
of a hat trick ball. As the overs ran down T Waters (23) batted with
urgency at No. 10, to help the tail gain valuable runs for the visitors.
Chasing 122 Birdlip quickly gained momentum and the partnership of Nitin
Shetty (36) and Trevor Holder (63) produced a 50+ opening partnership
for the second week running. Skipper Clive Gray mixed his bowlers around
trying to get something out of the game. Eventually with the score on
92, indecision by Nitin Shetty gave Cirencester a long awaited
breakthrough. Their good standard fielding was rewarded with a direct
hit run out with Shetty well short of his ground. Holder kept up his run
rate although Cirencester bowlers started to get more out of the wicket
and runs slowed from the other end. With 4 required J Denyer had Holder
caught behind by Clive Gray and soon Guy Partridge followed with no
addition to the score. After a couple successful overs for Cirencester
Kent Partridge guided the ball of his legs for 4 to seal a convincing 7
wicket win with 14 overs to spare. |
|
Match
Report 31 05 08 2nds v Dymock
Losing the toss on a damp
wicket often proves fatal for the inserted team and, at first ,losing
the game was the most likely result for us. As it turned out that was
the last piece of luck Dymock experienced as they bowled too well in
getting the ball to seam and swing but never close enough to the stumps
often enough to take the early wickets they needed. When Roger was out
,trying to force some pace into the abject run rate, we were 17 off 11
overs . With his trousers tucked into black socks ,in true village
style, and a hint of builders bum , our hero Abuse strode out to the
crease. All those qualities of the bowling which Parsola said was ‘doing
everything’ were as none to your man. Ah, the confidence of youth, as he
began where he finished last week with two signature boundaries. By the
16th over we were 52,even Parsons shed his terrors to leap
from 8 off 14 overs to 19 in the 20th.Al P continued the
assault with two successive sixes ; this further deflated Dymock’s
earlier chirpiness now to be replaced by unease. When both Al and James
departed, the latter failing again by 2 runs to make 50 (berk) things
still hung in the balance and we went quiet for a while until ‘Ron ‘
found the range. His 32 were crucial and so, with a flurry from the
tail, we got to 203, something we should not have been allowed to do.
Dymock came out
ready to go for it but then assisted themselves to destruction with a
series of perhaps bizarre decisions in the context of some good bowling
.Bizarre because I am convinced, as many were, that Abuse was run out
but Rog at square leg ump ,he say no .Their opener, in by the same
distance that James was out, was fired by a kid who I had got LBW
earlier .He then gave me an LBW to a man half way down the track : sure
the guy was probably out but no-one ever gives those, especially when
the bowler in question got you that way, unless you are someone who is
certain the victim is having an affair with your wife or a young man who
doesn’t know the rules. Their captain ,when he came out, eyed up the
miscreant with a look I have seen only when Clint Eastwood is about to
execute someone’s imminent departure from this planet. Phil and Lloyd
duly cleaned up the tail, making it a good day for ’ 006.9’.The only
disappointments were that as good as Matt was last week he lost his
rhythm this time out and couldn’t find it at all and that Chris Hieron
didn’t bowl but that is sometimes how it works out. Both will have
another day. Another very good game with some very decent men who took
their defeat with good grace ,tinged perhaps with a little bemusement as
to why ; but such is life in the seconds |
|
Match
Report 24 05 08 Birdlip V Frampton
Winning the toss we thought was vital, with patches of clover on a
length at both ends the pitch looked rather dodgy. The toss was won but
after inserting the opposition the pitch didn’t appear to hold any
gremlins, that was till we had the pleasure of batting on it. It spit
and seemed as though the locals turned a switch on after tea.
Driver Dickenson with red hair, resembling an ‘England’s Glory Match’
batted well with few mistakes and carried his bat to the final ball when
run out by Toby. It was another booming throw from the deep, what an arm
not always accurate though, one was so huge it cleared Nitin’s head by
20 feet, again from the far boundary. To give you an idea of distance,
probably the equivalent of 5 of Ian’s throws. Driver’s 111 combined with
a frugal bowling performance almost single handily put pressure on the
boys from The Shire. Coops and Prakash grabbed 3 wickets apiece and
George yet again slogged for 12 overs on the trot this time without
reward. Nitin added to his season’s tally with another superb catch
amongst his 3 victims.
Chasing 219 or 216 depending on what total we went by, (there could have
been trouble at the death), their opener put the wind up us with pace
not seen for some time, but luckily he ran out puff after 6 overs or in
Trev’s words “I saw him off” after hitting him for consecutive fours in
his last over. As with their last opening pairing Nitin (21) and Trev
past the 50 mark in reasonable time and a solid start was achieved.
Driver Dickenson’s introduction with bowling which would have been
welcomed in our ranks drained the hopes of our chances though. He had
Trev caught behind shortly after reaching his half century and conceded
only 28 of his 12 overs. Ken (22) and a flurry of 14no from George
offered some hope, but more in the chase for batting points.
Matters weren't
helped as for the second week running a poor LBW decision cost us a
wicket, this time DP who is looking to kick start his season was the
unlucky one. DP, Trev followed his firing with a 50 so look forward to
next week.
We crept passed the 175 before the dancing Coops had his stumps spread
by a full ball from the returning quicky to end the innings
|
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Match
Report 24 05 08 Birdlip 2nds V Cam
I wonder when the real second team will appear or maybe we have already
seen it; who knows? Thanks in part to guest appearances by first teamers
(two successful one not so) we have won our last two matches. That the
real umpf in the score was in our top 5, all regular seconds , suggests
we have something but with Charlie Harris coming in at 6 and bowling
match winning stuff confuses the situation. Nonetheless many positives
were to be taken out of this game because we have beaten the league
leaders and not just beaten them, duffed them up a bit .Those that
failed this time were not a worry and need not worry, the task was taken
on by others, the character of a good batting unit. And it was a another
damn good game.
Abuse and Danny P were, in boxing terms, two sluggers that stood their
ground and belted anything within range very, very hard. Pie after long
hop after full bunger were planted in the surrounding fields. We were
100 off 15 overs, neck braces were made ready for the umpires as sixes
crashed into the vegetation. Roger started to look like he was getting
going when BBQd , according to him , by an LBW decision; if he was right
it was an honest mistake; it is a risk you run playing off the back
foot. The Ginster twins were taken off and the game began to assume its
more typical character. Our stars both perished close together and with
Parsola and Al both out cheaply earlier on, we subsided somewhat to 196
when 220 was most likely. This later period was enlightened by the
elegance of Charlie and Duncan’s obvious quality against much better
bowling.
For us Matt bowled his best spell yet , straight and pacier, supporting
Charlie very well. Despite the fact that he took the opener with his
worst ball, the dreaded full bunger, this did not detract from the
general standard he established. I was congratulating myself on getting
rid of numbers two and three, their top batter by a distance, when Abuse
deflated my joy by announcing to the team that all I got were geriatrics
and kids. Dave Cotterell is a year younger than me by the way. In came
that awesome sight, a very large man , left handed and high on the grip,
eyeing up the short boundary .By this time they were chasing an
accelerating run rate and I knew that it was him or me. It was him.
Taking myself off I turned to Jon Atkinson, who pranced in with my plea
to bowl straight still ringing in his ears. ‘Don’t worry Foxy ‘ quoth
the Billericay White Lightning as 8 went off his first over; but he was
right .At the other end ,after Duncan had bowled a really nice spell of
military medium ,Charlie destroyed them though not without the tab of
fellow paedophile stuck on him by Abuse. Treacle also reminded me that
he is still a wonderful fielder , (and we in general were pretty good
again on the ground) ; his two wickets were well deserved, despite
getting slogged for three fours off his last over. Cam were very
generous after but the re-match will be interesting to say the least. |
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2nds against Churchdown 17-5-08
An away win
gained by good tight bowling , on the whole, and batting which, though
not chanceless, had the quality of being ,on the whole, positive. Three
toss wins in a row defies odds but then all gamblers respect the streak
effect and I am one. Damp wickets on cool May days are usually
significantly difficult to bat on , often because they are seamer
friendly ,do not come on to the bat and have odd bounce. To be fair to
Churchdown , with all the problems they have with Council maintenance,
they managed to clear the lumps of wet grass off the outfield just in
time. All you Birdlip boys should give thanks to the fact that you are
privileged to play on a ground as good as Sinclair Field created by the
men that do.
Putting Churchdown in was a ‘no brainer’ given that we had ’ Ron’ Hieron
and Andy Ward to open the bowling with Matt and myself as change. Duly
they struggled to put any score up and although wickets were hard to
come by at first, the possibility of keeping them to a score less than
120 was the objective. We failed by 10 runs but that was due to bad
luck, and maybe a spell of poor captaincy, more than anything else. As a
unit we bowled well, notably Ron and Andy. If we had got through their
top five quickly, they were dead in the water; we didn’t because I never
had the fielder in quite the right place and dropped two caught and
bowled.
One hit my leg, proving that 56 year old reaction time is all about self
preservation. Another inch or so higher and I would have been looking
for my nuts somewhere near my liver. The second was a low and painful
bang on the thumb, a case of stick or not. I have come to the conclusion
that I need to have two fielders close in to mid off /mid on for
rebounds (and maybe wear a box; was Ned Kelly really a scared spinner?).
James Buse should be renamed Jimmy Abuse such was his range of banter.
He , along with Andy Ward and Danny P ,kept up a level of chirp not seen
since the Marx Brothers. According to him the average age of my three
wickets was 9, they all blubbed when out and rang their mums to take
them home. My fielders made me laugh anyway, but they were pretty good
that day, should you think it was all a gas and no action.
And so
James abused their bowling, the silly sod getting out on 49. Tortoise
Parsons, abusing only the time he took to get 46 off 41 overs, along
with a more urgent Dave Green , (Dan’s flame briefly spluttered but
then went out ) got us to the target. Our three ducks were typical of
their owners, nuff said. It was another really good game, good fun,
great entertainment at times and it made you look forward to the next
time. What more can you ask?
|
Two’s V Down Hatherley 10 05 08
Whilst all is rosy and splendid in the Ones, the game as played in the
Two’s this Saturday reflected significant differences in quality to the
point that I wish I had kept Ross Moore on the team sheet as a bowler.
If you detect a note of some angst you would be right. Cricket, as it
should be played, is a simple game. You bowl straight and you bat
straight making adjustments as you go; if you can. Chasing 206 on a good
wicket with short downhill boundaries did not seem too many, I made them
perhaps 6\4 on favourites but when you have the much vaunted Ken
Griffith in your line up it shaded maybe 11\8 against. Alas he was
barely ready batting at 7 as we stumbled to 35 for 5, they played the
simple version of the game. AP told me , when I made my all too early
entrance at 8 with only 16 overs gone, that little was happening off the
wicket. From the club house you would have thought Lilley and Thomson
were flying in on a sticky dog such was the mayhem. Roger does seem to
collect odd ways of getting out. This time he played a full bunger, a no
ball, into the side of his face, went down like a shot stag and then
summoned ‘er Indoors (his not mine) onto the pitch for medical opinion.
She certified that his head was still attached and left the field.
Jaqui , if I spelt that right, is also a dentist and so was quick to
spot that dear old Rog still had a full set of knashers in working
order. Knash his teeth he did as he was bowled by a Yorker next ball.
James Buse went the same way, bunger and yorked. I also went to high
full toss, all of us from the same bowler but Al had spanked the same
ones for 6 and 4.What does that tell you? It was not bodyline, Roger was
not Woodfall felled by Larwood but it left an unpleasant taste
nonetheless. How many times have I heard Norman P say that the straight
full bunger is a dangerous ball to all but the in form batter? My
version of this well practiced delivery may at least have the redeeming
quality of guile and flight but then the likes of Al P should , but not
always (see stats) ,bash them where they should go . AP did their man so
much damage that he sulked on the bench for a while and that is the best
answer I know. Matt bowled well again, amid a welter of wides , slow
full tosses,half trackers and pea rollers, but he was unsupported most
of the time and that is where , in part, we failed. Even so had we kept
them down to 170 we batted poorly enough that a loss was probably
inevitable. Ken the talisman shambled off as he does , muttering as he
does ,something about ‘huh ,last week11, this week 10,huh huh huh.’.
Aghast I watched all of this as you might when you see Tiger Woods miss
the hole from inches ; with him and the blameless AP went our hopes.
Parsons and I eventually wound up in our underpants at 3.30am that
night, photos to follow but that rather said everything about the day.
|
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Two’s V Chalford 03 05 08
So the Mole is back, his coat is perhaps a shade of grey these days,
maybe he’s a little slower and certainly lower than before but he still
has those great qualities revered in journalists, accuracy, brevity and
the ability to tell lies as if they were the truth , all shielded by
anonymity ; taking the name of a blind rural pest is rather appropriate.
On to the new look Seconds or should I say, 2003 revisited with dash of
fresh faces .What a great pleasure it was to see Dan Partridge back .He
was in such great form ,not to mention his batting , which still has
that firework quality of the supremely confident and reckless loon that
he always was .A child bowled at Dan what he felt was good length ball
only to see it deposited on the roof of the club house for a huge six.
With every ball he had sent down previously, I noted the elfin
cricketer’s expectant face ,Dan gives hope to all. This brutal blow
puckered the tiny features into an expression of disbelief and dismay;
tears were not far away.I fully expect these two not to meet again for a
year or so.
AP and other senior players persuaded me to bat first when I had come to
bowl. If I had with me four known quantity on form bowlers I would have
but I did have some good batters for a change so what the hell and they
were, on balance, right. A combination of the Partridge brothers, Alan
and Dan, threatened to take the game into a positive position for us but
Danny and Alan live by the sword and duly died by it, perishing to high
swirling catches, as usual; but they cannot do it on their own .Dave
Green batted with intelligence and almost got into the real money with a
useful 13 .
What of Parsola? Patience has been his watchword, some would say that
most of his innings are marked by somnolence for those watching, that is
if any have an eye open long enough. However he won the batting prize
last year and he does a job .He may have the strike rate of an anaconda
which feeds twice a year but this was enough for now .I hear he thinks
he lost us the game, he did not but he might have been patient a bit
longer .Roger Moore made a fatal error of judgement however I expect him
to be in the frame for the batting award in October. A flurry by the
tail gave us something to bowl at but six scores of 3 or less tell the
story.
The quality of our bowling was always going to be the key. Lloyd
Moore,15 , on debut, was raw but he has real promise as a cricketer. He
took a great one handed catch, batted with some composure and so
reminded me of Coops at the same age. What he does have is a good
attitude which will make him a real force sooner rather than later. Matt
Roberts also conquered a few demons and settled down to bowl well. Being
a left arm bowler is a great advantage and he will come on. Phylis
amazingly sent down a high proportion of good balls having had no nets;
his figures do not flatter him. He and I, with Matt, got a grip on the
game. We would have won but for some unknown 15 year old who, coming in
at 8, proceeded to belt Matt and the two Phils, James and Dickenson,
over the rope in double quick time. This surprised not only us but also
their captain. On the whole they were the better team, in that they had
more batsmen and fielded better, yet the winning margin gives us the
most credit. So ended a great match, and it was a real birthday treat
for me. The thing I enjoyed the most was the superb atmosphere around
the team; if all the other games are like this then the 2008 season will
be one to remember. |
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