Oh well, with the excitement of the previous week still fresh in our minds it was off down to Fordcombe for our final fixture for 2007. It was nice to see the sun high in the sky after last years polar expedition (my, how our weather can change over the course of 364 days!). With Captain Hill summoned to work at the eleventh hour it meant a recall for all-rounder Woodward to join the returning Boss and McCrea, giving Beechwood a more "classic" look to it than it has of late. Stuart surprised Fordcombe when he changed into his whites as last year they assumed he was our groundsman! The olde house beyond the southern boundary still has a bleak and haunted look to it...one hopes that "Shaggy" Boss was able to resist the temptation of going ghost-hunting... Stand-in deputy vice vice-captain Freeman lost toss and was invited to bat first on an interesting looking deck, to say the least, and himself and Makin had to endure some extremely tight bowling from openers Denning and Keeler. This accuracy was abetted by some lively bounce early on so survival was the name of the game. After 10 overs, with just 20 on the board, Keith couldn't hold back any longer and holed-out to mid-on.
Tony was joined by Warner next, and Adrian was his usual watchful self, waiting to punish anything loose that came his way, but there wasn't much loose fare on offer to be honest and the score had still only reached 52 when Tony was out in the 25th over. Adrian followed just five runs later, top-edging one that stopped on him which meant that two new batsmen were at the crease, messrs McLachlan and Robinson. Now these two are starting to forge quite a reputation in the middle-order with an almost telepathic understanding, and people may have scoffed at my suggestion that they should never be separated in the batting-order, but there they were, four and five, and emulating their feats of the previous week. After all the orthodox batting that Beechwood's top-order had displayed, Colin decided that it was time for some unorthodoxy, and as he took guard for only his fourth ball, Fordcombe were already starting to post fly-slips and suchlike. The "SINGLE" war-cry was heard on many an occasion and some frantic running was starting to produce over-throws and mis-fields and these combined with some genuine strokeplay (mainly from Hamish) meant that the run-rate was starting to improve steadily. Somebody (I forget who) cleverly remarked that Hamish makes a good Wise to Colin's Morecambe, but the situation meant that even he had to play the odd agricultural hoik to keep the momentum going. As the partnership burgeoned, Colin started to gesticulate to Tina that he was in need of something. The ever loyal Tina dashed onto the pitch, armed with freezer-spray to which Colin rebuffed her with a bellowed "DRINK! DRINK! DRINK!" I thought he was going to treat us to his Mario Lanza impersonation, but no, it turned out he did just need a drink...
Hamish was struggling now, having found himself in the line of fire from a run-out attempt, and was struck on an unprotected part of the knee, and when he holed out Beechwood had progressed to 106-4. A 49-run partnership to follow last weeks fifty stand has surely cemented their places next to each other in the batting-order... I for one, will be disappointed if it hasn't. When Colin was finally dismissed for a breezy and entertaining 28 (just after an ill-advised left-handed stance!?!), it was in the hands of Woodward and McCrea to keep Beechwood's momentum going but this didn't really happen for them, and when Ian was adjudged to have nicked one it allowed Savory to go out and play a few council estate shots. Woody and Savory ran well together (sometimes!!), and after Savory ran himself out, Cooksley followed suit after a "calling issue" with his partner. Culhane joined Woody in the last over and when Woody was out towards the end of it Beechwood had closed their innings on 145-9 in just under 42 overs. Could have been worse... could it be enough?
Fordcombe laid on a plentiful and scrumptious tea with some to-die-for scones but I do have one minor criticism... their plates aren't big enough, especially to cater for some of the gannets in our ranks, although having said that, Stuart has developed a particularly impressive "stacking" technique... did well to reach his top portion...
Fordcombe's reply started as sedately as Beechwood's with some tight bowling from Woody and Larry. (Larry having to step up to the plate as Hamish's injuries left him unable to bowl, or even move by the end of the match) Woody was getting bounce from his end and Larry bowled a nagging line of away-swingers, and it was he who broke through earning the wicket of opener Greasley via a well-judged catch from Tony at mid-off. After that though it was pretty much one-way traffic, especially when the opening bowlers were rested. Townsend had joined opener Patterson and after a nervy looking start, started to lay into Beechwood's bowling. After an encouraging start, a rusty Macca had trouble gripping the various balls that were sent out as replacements, a very under-cooked DoC was hit into the neighbouring field on a couple of occasions and Savory sent down a pile of garbage to ensure his season finished with a whimper rather than a bang...Sorry. All of this meant that Woody's rest lasted a mere three overs and after the match was effectively put beyond Beechwood after a second wicket partnership of 111, he held it together to dismiss Townsend for 79 plus the next three batsmen... all in the space of eight deliveries... to finish with the figures 4-40. Patterson was still there though and after offering a chance to Robbo with the scores level, he clubbed the winning runs to finish undefeated on 46. What looked like a nine-wicket defeat at least turned into something slightly more respectable and at least Beechwood heads didn't drop as the game quickly got away from them... neither did Stu's volume, who found time to treat us to one final "treadmill" chase around the boundary edge.
Well played Fordcombe, as usual a friendly bunch of guys, and we appreciate the offering at the pub, thank you, and although this ended in a (heavyish) defeat this was an enjoyable game to play in... particularly our first innings. I'd just like to echo the DoC's words of praise to those who have helped out off the pitch this season, and to thank those of you who have had fun poked at them in these pages throughout the season and have refrained from thumping me! Cheers. See you around.
Beechwood:
Boss, Cooksley, Culhane, Freeman (c), Makin (wk), McCrea, McLachlan, Robinson, Savory, Warner, Woodward
Final word from the DoC:
A good end to a long season, good humour and spirit from all the lads - see you at the AGM! |
