Having gone away to lick our wounds after the Broadway debacle, we return to Limpsfield for the visit of our friends and rivals Sheen Park, a team we have a history of raising our game against. With our more familiar looking middle-order restored for this one (but sadly, no Val), this was an opportunity for Beechwood to restore some pride back into its ranks. The toss, and Sheen called correctly, inserting Beechwood for whom Tony and Dean would open the batting in this 40-over match. As is often the case, Brennan gave little away with his opening stint, but new sighting Whittaker was equally tight, so much so that Beechwood had only mustered 12 runs from as many overs. It was tricky out there by all accounts and probably not fun to face, but it was no fun to watch either, with Beechwood batsmen in the hutch casting concerned eyes at the scoreboard as Ray The Numbers got to work (mainly on the overs), and Scott and Hamish emerging from the opening umpire shift looking as though they'd sat through one of Prashant’s recollections. (Sorry Dodge!)
The eventual introduction of Dusty was always going to release the pressure a little, but to his credit he found some bounce from the A25 End and Beechwood still had to be watchful as he wheeled away. With the score on 50, Dean grew tired of watchfulness, and was stumped as he tried to force Dusty away. Adrian came to the crease, and as you'd expect, the scoring rate picked up a little, but even he was very watchful towards Dusty, allowing several balls to pass harmlessly by off-stump, and it was only the occasional loose delivery that Beechwood were able to score from. Tony (39) was a little unlucky with his dismissal; Mike Ashbury clutching hold of one that he'd middled at short mid-wicket, but with Beechwood on 89-2 and 13 overs remaining, it was at least a platform for Beechwood to haul themselves towards a defendable score. Bradley joined Adrian but was a little out of sorts after his hols, and was perhaps unfortunate to time his arrival with the introduction of Mark Gibbons into the attack. Gibbo soon accounted for Bradley, then did Ian Mac with a jaffa, and when Ade holed out for 39 off Clarke, Beechwood were slightly against the ropes on 117-5 and just six or so overs remaining. Yours truly was out there with Hamish by now, and after we'd scratched around for a couple of overs I decided that I'd be the one to take a few risks with time running out. Dancing has always been a risky manoeuvre as far as I've been concerned, and my dance to go aerial proved no differently, resulting in an ungainly air-shot and the resultant stumping left us on 124-6 with three overs to go. The DoC joined Hamish and this pair swung and scampered their way up to 144 with a couple of untypical no-balls from Gibbo in the last over being most welcome. With the deck likely to improve in the second half, Beechwood were going to have to bowl to the best of their abilities in order to defend such a total, which looked twenty or so light with the naked eye. We would also need to be fit, mobile and sprightly in the field as well...not a good idea to have me on tea-duty then...
Sheen were never likely to be as pedestrian as Beechwood in their pursuit of our total as it was a lot less tricky out there now, but Scott and Larry kept things pretty tight initially. Both openers were eventually undone, falling to smart catches from Scott and Stuart and when Gibbo fended a Hamish steepler to The DoC at gully it left Sheen precariously sat on 48-3. Mike Ashbury and Pete Webster set about rebuilding Sheen's innings and were getting the job done without drama until a mix-up in the middle left Webster seemingly stranded, but Ian Mac untypically fumbled the return and Webster made his ground. It hadn't looked a critical moment at the time...would it prove to be in the long run? On 104, Ashbury, having looked comfortable throughout his innings decided to try and launch me into the bouncy-castle and Ian Mac made no mistake with the stumping. The DoC then got in on the act, effecting the dismissals of Hanz and Clarke, the first of which was brought about by a superb catch from Hamish out at deep extra-cover...going to be hard to top that this season. The match was ebbing and flowing constantly with Beechwood appearing to be in the driving seat at this stage but the arrival of next man Whittaker stemmed the tide. When he eventually got himself ready to face the balls we intended to send down to him, he was more than up to the task, and abetted by Webster, these two got Sheen over the line with two and a half overs remaining.
Although this was a defeat, it was an important performance for Beechwood on the back of the Broadway result and, if we're honest, the Tenterden display. The fielding was exceptional, with Stuart; twice as old as the rest of the side, fielding like somebody half that age, and Hamish's aforementioned catch being the highlights. Also, although we obviously hadn't batted or bowled perfectly, there was at least some character and application shown throughout the afternoon, and we presented a united front in the process. Off to Groombridge next, where, if I recall correctly, last season we put in a performance of similar note... Oh dear, now I come to think of it....
Oh, and by the way...well played to the Sheen guys...bring on the next one!
Beechwood:
Boss, Cooksley, Culhane, Freeman (c), Garnett, Hill, Kelly, McCrea (wk), McLachlan, Savory, Warner
Final words from the DoC:
A better performance, but don't think you're going to get any Muttley medals, we still lost. |
