The pitch was green with one Valence-esque boundary, Capt Woody lost the toss (like all good BCC captains) and Beechwood were inserted, with Pilotonians hoping to chase 180ish.

The Beechwood innings was built around the controlled technically-pleasing innings of 73 not out from Freeman and the breathtaking brutality of Brad Hill's 72, the batting beast of Beechwood !

Kelly & Freeman opened up and were soon playing 'chin music' composed from the bowling of Bevis (jnr). After a rapid 29 (by their standards) Kelly was caught at the wicket off Bevis (jnr's) surprise delivery, the one pitched in the batsman's half!

Howard followed and the score was taken to 52 before he was lbw, the adjudicator being Capt Woody (if only he went to the bar as quickly as his finger went up). Salmon joined the fray and took the score to 80+ with several decent strokes before chasing a wide one that even Adrian and his telescopic reach would've struggled to hit, the fielder taking a decent catch.

Enter the Beast, Hill and mayhem ensued with an innings of Botham-esque brutality that included a 23-ball fifty, this guest reporter has rarely seen such clean hitting in any form of cricket. The beast departed after a stand of 100+ in only 11 overs, one ball after a sub fielder who shall remain nameless managed to carry a clean catch over for 6!

Robinson entered and quickly departed before McCrea with a fluid cameo joined Freeman in pushing the score along to 239-6 in only 40 overs. Freeman carried his bat for a well paced innings where he accelerated at the right times and supported the beast in an entertaining partnership to say the least.

Pilotonians replied positively and after the first few overs were up with the required likely run rate, McCrea pegged them back with 2 quick wickets, before Cooksley came on and the runs dried up (yes I did write that). Woody tried to make things happen by bringing on the Beast, which resulted in the runs flowing freely again. Savory replaced McCrea and bowled a teasing length & line with Woody returning from the other and now getting some late swing as well as bounce and movement from the wicket.

Both however were well dealt with by Bevis (snr) who batted very well for 80 not out and snuffed out any sniff Beechwood had of forcing a victory.

With the game meandering to a draw Freeman had his annual over, Capt Woody kindly letting him bowl with the short legside boundary, Bevis (snr) thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The Pilotonians finished on a respectable 178-4.

Team: Cooksley, Freeman, Hill, Howard, Kelly, McCrea, Morton (w), Robinson, Salmon, Savory, Woodward (c)