Don't know about you, but when I was prompted to alter my clocks several weeks back, I'd have sworn it was to bring me in line with British summer time. I was contemplating this as I squelched my way across the Sheen Common outfield, greeted by the sight of messrs Cooksley, Woodward, Freeman and Deakin standing on what looked like a strip of rolled mud with tufty patches on the edge of the table. Wise move, thought I...Don't want to be standing on the pitch ear-marked for today with all this weather about...imagine one's horror when it became apparent that it WAS the pitch ear-marked for our use today! Another downpour accompanied McCrea's arrival, Ian decked out like somebody just off to trawl the North Sea. Still, we had an XI to take on Sheen Park, albeit an unfamiliar one...
After the torrents were over, it was eventually decided that we would transfer over to the all-weather pitch and that a 35-over match would be the order of the day. Vice-captain Cooksley won toss and elected to have a bowl. Opening the bowling for Beechwood we had the returning pair of Woodward and Valentine and a very welcome return it was too. Sheen openers Quinn and Benson were served some tight bowling from the off and with only six runs on the board Cooksley snaffled Quinn at mid-off, Woody the bowler. Ashbery was next man in and he and Benson started to rebuild the innings steadily.
McLachlan replaced Woody at the car-park end and initially found it hard to keep his footing. A reduction in his run-up and a request for Ian to stand up to the stumps brought about a change in fortune and although no breakthrough was achieved, he was regularly beating the bat with some controlled swing and cutters. Debutant Michael Noblett, another Kolpak loan signing from Sheen, was introduced in place of Val, but opting for seam instead of his preferred leggies, was unable to find his ideal line on the all-weather track. Savory replaced Hamish and almost immediately made the breakthrough, bowling Benson for 28 off his pads with the score on 61. The DoC replaced Noblett and bowled his leg-breaks to good effect and Gibbons in particular was having trouble scoring off the two leggies. Although Beechwood had bowled well, they weren't taking wickets and this meant that Sheen were able to chance their arm for the last 12 overs with so many wickets in hand and Sheen were able to score 100 runs off these 12 overs with the only casualty being Gibbons, stumped by Ian off Hamish in the last over for a well compiled 67, Ashbery finishing 60 not out and Sheen closed their innings on 197-3. Tea.
For Beechwood to reach their total, which was a fair one from 35 overs, somebody was going to have to play well and hope for no collapse at the other end. Freeman opened up with a promoted Warner. Sheen's opening bowlers were a little wayward and extras were top scoring when Adrian played on with the score 13... a bad day for Adrian as a closed for refurbishing "Plough" meant no ham and eggs afterwards!! Val was next in, and with a bit of his swagger and a few more extras Beechwood were well up with the run-rate. The introduction of Gibbons to the attack meant the end of Tony, caught behind with the score 61, just five of those coming from his bat, but he'd been a good foil for Val up until his dismissal. Another welcome loan signing, Garth Perkins was next in and started to out-score Val with two of his off-side boundaries, both all along the floor, being the sweetest timed strokes of the day. On 96 however, with Beechwood still well ahead of the rate, a needless run-out was sharply effected by Benson, with Garth short of his ground. Newcomer Noblett was next in and he was able to keep Val company for a few overs (Val had rather gone into a shell at this point) but Benson breeched his defences with the score on 109.
Robinson was next in, having heroically sped from his weekend in Cardiff to sub for Boris who'd injured his back staggering out of a golf clubhouse apparently. Colin was still a bit lagged by his exploits it would seem as he over-balanced to be stumped and give Benson a second wicket in the over. 110-5 then and next man McLachlan had much rebuilding to do with Val. Hamish toiled away for a few overs but after a few confident shouts was finally adjudged lbw with the score 122. All sorts were witnessing Beechwood's latest collapse...from Beechwood's past Pat Ogan, from all of our pasts Daley Thompson (+ dogs) and from some of our pasts...two members of the local constabulary!
Woodward was next in and Ashley, who fancies himself as a bit of a batsman this season, had plenty of time to show his worth. Val also started to emerge from his shell, determined not to throw an innings away having reached his fifty as has sometimes been the case in the past. The introduction of Khachadourian and Cunningham was a turning point in the chase for the total with Val being particularly brutal on Khacha, and Woody shovelling the odd single where necessary. A flurry of sixes from Val and in almost no time at all Beechwood had reached their total with Val finishing undefeated on a superbly made and practically chanceless 115 from 70-odd balls, and let's not forget Woody, 14 undefeated runs, responsibly compiled and a very valuable partnership with Val. Let's hope to see a bit more of these two for the season's remainder. It was tough on Sheen to come up against Val in this form and if we're honest they had outplayed us for most of the afternoon, but having been victims of not dismissing key batsmen all season Beechwood will gladly accept the win...especially Captain Cooksley!...
"Here comes the summer..."
Beechwood:
Cooksley (c), Freeman, McCrea, McLachlan, Noblett, Perkins, Robinson, Savory, Valentine, Warner
Final word from the DoC:
There are good captains and there are lucky captains, our captain was lucky enough to have Val in his side! |
