"Plenty to write about this week, Savers!"
That was the parting shot through a Cheshire-cat grin from more than one team-mate as we said our goodbyes on Sunday. Whatever could they mean?...
Let's rewind a few days... we had an away fixture for a change this week - North West Kent College, Dartford-ish, to be not very precise - and after an initial struggle for players, an on-line battle-cry from The DoC, and some handy recruiting by Hamish and Scott, Beechwood eventually had an X1 to take on Old Pilotonions. Sunday, and Ian Burgess and Daniel Taylor were set to make their debuts following their recruitment, and vice-captain DoC won the toss and chose to field in this timed match on an overcast afternoon.
Bevis and D. Roberts opened up for Pilots with Larry and Scott getting the new ball. On 12, Larry enticed Roberts to snick one into Ian Mac's gloves and this brought S.Roberts to the crease to form an effective partnership with Bevis. Hamish replaced Larry, who was again bowling well, and promptly removed the other Roberts with a good'un. Bevis was well into his stride by now striking several boundaries and was only denied a further one by Larry's plums!! It was a dazed Larry who staggered round the outfield for a few overs before recovering sufficiently to pouch new bat Cheney, diving forward, leaving most of us worried that it might go through his hands! 100-3 then, and Bradley was given a few overs from Scott's end; meanwhile yours truly was auditioning for Carry On Campus with his fielding efforts before being ruthlessly hidden by the DoC immediately afterwards. 128-3, and I got the call to replace Brad and after a few quick wickets I was back off to do that fielding lark I perform so well. The dangerous Farid, languishing down at number seven for some reason, was at the crease by now and 146-7 found itself being pushed up towards 200, thanks to his swashbuckling efforts and although he perished for 44 in the last over Pilots were able to close their innings on 201-9 from 37 overs. Oh well, we stuck at it I suppose, it was hardly carnage out there and nobody bowled badly, but there were few passages of play where Beechwood were able to exert any prolonged pressure. For the record, Bevis top-scored with 76, Larry, Hamish and myself equally shared the nine wickets, with Scott, although wicketless, still getting through some more useful overs on his comeback trail. Also a special mention for Ian and his four dismissals behind the sticks, and to The DoC, for getting the show on the road and seeing it through to the end.
After tea it was always going to be interesting to see which batting order The DoC would settle on. There was to be a new opening pair with the two Ians stepping up to perform that role. "Burge" looked accomplished, throwing in the odd shovel-stroke, just to fit in with his new team-mates I presume, but the equally accomplished Macca was having a torrid time against the doughty James Doughty, enduring a succession of jaffas, some spitting ferociously and some seaming like fast leg-breaks before he faintly nicked one with Beechwood on 12. Hamish joined his mate in the middle and our Southern Hemisphere pairing rallied briefly with Ian, in particular playing some tasty strokes, encouraged by the ever vocal Stuart. Incidentally, it did seem a surreal image, seeing Stu padded up with Beechwood one wicket down... perhaps he's looking for an all-rounder spot on tour... Anyway, Beechwood had moved onto 38 before the afternoon became a little processional. Hamish was leg before and Ian, (20) holed out one run later. Bradley and Stuart attempted to fight back, Bradley hitting some sweet ones and Stu, effecting a glorious top-edged pull for four, which Carole immediately put up on the score-board - no waiting till the end of the over for her! Sadly for Stu it was all over when he practically walked for an lbw shout, and after a few quick runs from Dan, he and Bradley soon followed with yours truly following one ball later... this seasons target for me now is to get out after Ron has finished writing my name in the book! This obviously wasn't one of my better ducks as, I kid you not, three of last week’s oppo actually said "well batted" after the one I bagged then... or were they confusing me with somebody else I wonder...Anyway I still got to spend some time in the middle as I had to act as runner for the crocked Colin who was next in, (always a good idea having the team's "Falstaff" act as runner). Scott soon fell to the deadly Gibson, but Colin and Larry, helped by yours truly's speed over the ground, edged Beechwood close to three figures before Colin was caught in close. 86-9 and bags of time left for Pilots to wrap things up, but Beechwood ground out a few overs with The DoC playing probably two of the best strokes of the day before Larry was finally breached by the returning Doughty - on his way to a five-for, having bravely tried to stave of defeat. Beechwood were bowled out for 95 with five overs remaining. A shame we never held out but any other result would have been a travesty if we're honest. A bad day at the office then, with some having worse days than others but hey, what better therapy than to sit down and write about it, re-living it all over again!! Hopefully Ian and Dan weren't too put off by today's showing so that they can help us out again if the need arises and thanks to both of them again for helping us out today.
I'm off to buy some biscuits now; the flat seems strangely short of them of late!!
Beechwood:
Boss, Burgess, Cooksley (c), Culhane, Garnett, Hill, McCrea (wk), McLachlan, Robinson, Savory, Taylor |
