Where does one begin for a game such as this? Perhaps I should start at 14:10 hours, 10 minutes after we should have commenced battle, but yet we were still awaiting the arrival of a set of stumps. Several solutions were muted, one being going to Bluewater and purchasing a new set. My favourite though was to break into the woodwork block and set to work redesigning Woody's bat. Plenty of wood in that beast to create a set of stumps!

Anyway we got off the mark at 20 past the hour. Freeman and Herd opened to a lively set of opening bowlers. Match that up with some variable bounce in the wicket, it certainly did spice things up. Herd was the first victim of Birchwood, a larger than life character (About 6'8" of pure bowler!) He was cleaned bowled with a full length delivery. Valentine was soon to be the next victim of Birchwood, when a length delivery climbed on him, resulting in a caught and bowled for just the one run.

Hill then came to the wicket and I'm sure that both he and the rest of the team were hoping he would repeat the performance of last year. He didn't disappoint! Before he really got going though, he and Freeman had a little breakdown in communication, resulting Freeman being run out. Shame, as Freeman had looked the most settled of the Beechwood batsmen. Enter Williams first to face Old Pilots only spinner.Exit Williams bowled in the same over.

Savory was the next man in. He liked facing the spinner and quickly amassed 12 runs in one over made up of three fours. At that point I was convinced this over was going to be the 'Champagne Moment' as Savory slashed with venom. Regrettably there was one slash too many with him being caught at point off the last ball of the over ...bugger! Meanwhile at the other end Hill was gradually finding his touch getting pleasure out of making the opposition ferret in the undergrowth in an attempt to retrieve the ball.

McCrea made a very quick zero and departed. Woodward replaced him to provide valuable support to Hill, allowing him to go about his work. Yet again he just fell short of his fifty with a invaluable 48 after being caught behind. Cooksley, Robinson and Boss helped Beechwood occupy the crease for a further 30 minutes, edging our score up to 112 before that variable bounce reared it's ugly head once more resulting in another caught and bowled seeing off Woodward (with a responsible 16) and ultimately closing the innings Oh well....at least it gave us something to bowl at. But first, time to fill our empty bellies...........

Tea over and our bellies are still empty. I wonder if they have a Home Economics Department at North West Kent College! If so I feel the person making that tea should enrol on a crash course, and they should pay particular attention during the lesson on how to butter bread. Ron Kelly was feeling very nervy when the vultures gathered around his packed lunch, made by the lovely Lynn.

Old Pilots started their innings carefully, having a good look at the opening partners of Woodward and Valentine. Both bowlers demonstrated good pace and line but without success. As the innings went on, Farid decided to play positively taking a view more chances and started hitting the boundaries. The other opener, Richards, took the more cautious route! Time for a change as the Beechwood heads were dropping. Hill came on to replace Valentine and eventually Boss replaced Woodward. Farid was in no mood to hang around and set to work on the two new bowlers hitting boundary after boundary. Out of a score of 98 at this point he was 82. The tide was about to change...........

Farid had already decided that he was charging down the wicket to Boss on every given opportunity. He got away with it for a while but it was inevitable he was going to be stumped. This happened when Old Pilots needed 15 runs to win with 9 wickets available. Chenery came in to carry the torch but was caught in the deep by Freeman off Boss, scoring just 8. Only 7 needed now..... won't be long!

In the meantime Savory had replaced Hill and was loving the conditions, getting movement both ways off the pitch and creating merry hell in the heads of the opposing batsmen. Bevis was Captain Kirk's first victim, with Hill taking the catch on zero. Boss then chipped in with another wicket, that of the opener Richards. He had amassed a total of 6 in 1 hour 27 minutes. Again Hill took the catch one handed which was blatant showboating and selfishness looking to maximise his fantasy cricket score. Shame on you Brad!!!!

Bevis senior came to the wicket, a player who has always done well against Beechwood. With only 5 needed for victory surely we should be in the bar very shortly. I wish I could say that due to a fantastic bit of fielding Bevis Senior was run out, but I can't! The ball hit was hit back to Boss off his own bowling, he tried to stop it with his foot, failed at this but did knock it onto the stumps catching Bevis out of his ground. Champagne Moment time!!! But hey, this was only incidental thy only needed 4 at this point.....

I think Savory was feeling a little left out at this point. He came up with an absolute jaffa to dispatch the next batsmen, cleaned bowled. Hang on one second we could win this! Not wanting to be outdone, the Boss/Hill combination works again. 3 now needed for victory. Anything you can do...
Savory then accounts for another wicket with Robinson looking comfortable in taking the catch. God this is getting exciting!!!!!

2 wickets remaining but surely Beechwood can't pull this one off. Boss had other ideas. A leg side delivery grazes the willow and Roberts Junior is Boss' fifth victim being caught behind. Jugtastic! One more wicket for one of the most remarkable victories in Beechwood history. Sadly not to be as Birchwood hits a four to secure victory for Old Pilotonians. What a fantastic team effort though in making sure that we did not give up without a fight. Well done to all involved, a bloody good days cricket.

Beechwood:
Boss, Cooksley, Freeman, Herd, Hill, McCrea (w), Robinson, Savory, Valentine, Williams, Woodward (c)