So...it's off to Addington Village for our annual visit and guess what?... We don't have anything like enough players to take part... There was talk of calling off but some canny negotiating by the DoC resulted in Addington agreeing to loan us enough players to fulfill the fixture. Upon arrival we are introduced to Ray Reeves, Ian Healy and eventually Paul Russell who were the unfortunates press-ganged into helping us out. In a very rain-shortened season thus far, it's rather worrying that these were to be the 24th, 25th and 26th players we would use to date...if you think that doesn't sound many, compare it to South Beckenham who've used nine!
Beechwood won toss and returning skipper Hill had no hesitation in electing to bat on an unusually warmish day. Freeman and Makin opened up for Beechwood and a steady start was made with Beechwood reaching 25 before Keith edged behind. Hill was next in and both he and Tony had some interesting moments when confronted by a proper leg-spinner in the shape of Addington's Shaw. Both were able to deal with him in their own way though...Tony, using his feet and working him away to the on-side, Brad... well, standing and delivering, basically, and this he was able to do to good effect, hitting one enormous six before eventually mis-cueing one off the persistent Shaw and being caught in the ring for 24. 52-2 and loanee Reeves was next in and he was looking okay until he played down the wrong line (against a relative!!) and was bowled without scoring. McCrae was next to the crease and he and Tony started to put together a partnership which would at least assure Beechwood would have something to bowl at. These two battted together for nearly an hour before Ian was out with the score at 132, Ian scoring a well put together 28. The wheels came off a bit after this though, with Colin, Ian Healy and Tony all falling with the addition of just one more run, Tony scoring 56 which was a good effort considering he wasn't really up for it at the start of play. Oh, and Keith has ditched the trigger-finger for a slow-death type signal it would appear... Anyway, next loanee Russell and Savory nudged the score up to 162 before Paul was out off the last ball of the innings.
After a splendid tea, Addington set about their run chase. Ian Healy and Brad opened the bowling and were confronted by the openers Roxburgh and Gada. Gada, veteran of 17 first-class games in his native Zimbabwe looked most impressive, and indeed it looked as if these two might have got the job done on their own. The introduction of Savory and McCrae at least checked the scoring rate but still no breakthrough was made. 90 without loss when 20 overs was called then, both batsmen set and only a lengthy interruption to retrieve a lost ball hindering thier progress. Surely Addington had this one in the bag...so it appeared until three overs in to the 20 when Gada steered Ian to Paul Russell at slip for 61. 98-1 and Beechwood back in with a shout of saving the game if they could keep it tight. However the regular fall of wickets meant that beechwood were given a sniff of victory, Ian clean bowling two of their most dangerous looking batsmen, Roxburgh being one of these, Keith effecting two stumpings and Russell snaffling one more in the slips. Addington had limped to 132-7 with four and a bit overs to go.
Youngster Dibble was standing firm though and new bat, interestingly named Mark Gibbons, who joined him briefly looked like he still had ideas of winning it for Addington but these were scuppered when Healy judged a catch nicely in the deep. Into the last over then and Beechwood would need two wickets for victory. New bat Minchella was looking solid but with two balls left and fielders surrounding the bat he screwed one up into the point region, McCrae dashing out of the slip cordon to pouch it. There was to be no fairytale ending for Beechwood though as Milson kept out Savory's last ball and Addington closed their innings on 139-9 with impressive colt Dibble still there undefeated. Who'd have thought that it would be Beechwood rueing the time spent looking for that ball!? With Savory and Macca in particular settling into such a groove it meant that the luckless Cooksley and Boss had no opportunity to weave their magic but everybody in the field supported the bowlers well; Ian having the handsome figures of 3 for 18 off 12 overs and it was great to see a return to this sort of form.
This was a fantastic match that very nearly never took place so well played to all involved, particularly the guys who helped us out, all of whom played their part, and the Addington team as a whole for their very sporting attitude to the afternoon...and to Steve, who had the vision to put it all together. Ian won the raffle again, unsurprisingly, this in spite of Tina having 15 of her own tickets drawn! Let's hope we've got some bods available for Merstham!
Beechwood:
Boss, Cooksley, Freeman, Healy, Hill (c), Makin, McCrea, Reeves, Robinson, Russell, Savory
Final word from the DoC:
A very unpredictable finish to an enjoyable game, and once again many thanks to Ray, Paul and Ian for helping us nearly achieve a memorable victory, and to Mike Clarke for ensuring the fixture went ahead. |
