Is there a better cricketing sight than Otford on a late spring Sunday, we are fortunate to play there (even if the showers blister your skin). Our opponents were Brasted who these days are a well balanced competitive outfit, who play the game in a good spirit.
So a hot day, Beechwood, an aging side with plenty of spin options, win the toss and bat I say, no say Bradders and the Doc who had a plan, bowl first and see how many of the ‘old guard’ expire from heat exhaustion!
Scott and Bradders opened up, Bradders couldn’t find his radar (probably still in St Petersburg) which was much to the liking of Brasted’s hard hitting opener who hungrily tucked into the buffet on offer. At 72 for 1 we were looking at chasing a sizeable score, Bradders then replaced himself with Mr Reliable (Savers) and the game changed. Scott found an excellent line & length with good pace too. Savers, well just the usual magic, confusing batters, keeper and umpire alike. He even had the plumbest lbw to a googly turned down, even I would have given that one out.
We were back in the game, the fielding also supported the bowling, special mention to Tariq for 3 good and 1 outstanding catches in the deep, the Doc also showed great athleticism for one of 20 stone plus (Just ask Fred his Dad). Bradders also managed to make his figures respectable by bringing on Ian for some punishment at the death, cheers Skipper says Ian! All the while the Brasted skipper batted positively to see his team to a competitive, but gettable 175.
Oh the joys of teas at Otford, where the fare is plentiful, unlike Limpsfield where the staple Swiss Rolls must be sliced by a cucumber slicer.
So to our reply, the ‘old firm’ got us off to a positive start, Freeman pulling well, at 99 though a tired looking (and feeling) Kelly chanced his arm once to often and was caught in the covers. So 76 needed off 13 overs at under 6 an over, could we chase down the score from a good platform?
It was not to be Warner, Tariq, Freeman and Scott all perished in the pursuit of runs against tight, controlled bowling from Brasted. Bradders who owed us some runs after the feast he’d served up earlier, batted aggressively with some lusty blows, but we were never really in the hunt, finishing some 17 runs from our target.
A draw was a fair result, in a good game played throughout in the right spirit by both teams. It was good to see the Boss, Warner and Hill clans, adding to the festival feel a sunny game at Otford can produce.
And so to the Bull where Brasted attended in good numbers, KHM and Colin held court in their unique style, Ronnie and Reggie started another extortion scam, sorry raffle for next year’s tour and Savers got in a ridiculously large round to celebrate his six for. Oh did I really see Colin heading into a net with a bat or was it the heat of the day?
Beechwood:
Cooksley, Freeman, Garnett, Hill (c), Kelly, Makin (wk), McCrea, Robinson, Savory, Sheikh, Warner
Final word from the DoC:
A keenly contested game of cricket that neither side deserved to lose. |
