So after the glorious but rare setting of high summer Otford last week, would we be treated to another week of beautiful weather at Limpsfield for the arrival of Sheen Park? Well the answer to that is yes…and there was even some pre-match entertainment! Not from Colin Robinson but instead from Limspfield and Oxted CC who played a father-son match from the looks of it, not as good as Joe whacking Stu’s bowling about though…sorry Stu!
For this match we imported one of the finest bowlers from overseas, nope not a Pakistani, Aussie or even a Safa…but a Canadian! Our good friends Emlyn and Jo were over from Graz to watch the thrashing of the Aussies and they had a spare day on Sunday to come along. This was Emlyn’s first taste of grass but we had along assured him that grass was better than Astroturf…even Rodney from Only Fools and Horses did too!
We had time to show Emlyn the pitch before hand, then show him the rest of the facilities, then show him the hills, he had a warm up on the pitch, then we were all speaking about Austria in the changing room, then we got changed, then we listened to the Ashes for a long while…then we wondered whether floodlights were needed in case Sheen thought we were playing a day/nighter…but they eventually turned up and we started the match at about 2 ( 1.30 start guys!) Although it would be unfair to rib my fellow Saturday cricketers without acknowledging that their regular skipper Mike Ashbery was there before any one else!
Unfortunately for the hung over section of SPCC they were in the field first after Tony had won the toss and you know the rest…It was one of the hottest days of the year so far and in the absence of Keith I decided to wear my solitary jumper as a tribute…and to ‘style out’ the moobs…anyway to the cricket! Tony and Ade opened the batting and Mark Gibbons opened from the non-pavilion end (I forget what number the A road is). After a decent over Kieron Pearce was on that the pavilion end where I was umpiring and I was amazed by the pessimism before a ball was bowled! There were some big appeals…some would say close calls…some would say not so close. Of course I have no problem with appealing as I am a bowler (well I try to be), in fact the sheen boys were very considerate to their bowler Keiron….appealing long enough for him to begin praying to God in the midst of the beginning of Ramadan! In all seriousness though guys…just because I play with you all on a Saturday doesn’t mean that the umpire should be subject to ‘moronic banter’…
Tony and Ade went on built a good partnership taking us up to the first of two drinks breaks. The partnership ended on 66 however as our old friend Dodgy (Prashant Patel) bowled Tony for 31. Honorary Beechwoodian Mike Noblett was in next and set about a 49 run partnership with Ade, whom was the next man out (46) to a catch from Dusty (David Deakin)…yes Dusty…it was a decent catch from the bowling of Razor for most people…but Dusty will be the first to admit he never expected to take it, so when he did I must admit that even I celebrated for him! Brad was the next man in and with Mike accelerating the scoring Brad was off strike for most of the time and succumbed to dodgy for 6 leaving the score on 138-3. Hamish was in now and was looking to push on the score towards 200…playing a couple of beautiful shots off of razor. Nobby was next out, bowled by Ashbery for a well made 36 of only 46 balls too. Emlyn was in next for his first knock on a grass wicket and was unfortunately bowled by Ashbery first ball! How far did you travel Emlyn??? I came in to face the hat-trick ball and left it, but Mike soon snagged me the next over as I played early on one and skied it to Gibbons in the cover…let it be noted that I was getting a lot of chirp…even from the 12 year old wicketkeeper! But it was all in good jest and I do look forward to those throw downs one day Gibbo! Lee Morton was the next man in and he and Hamish brought the score to a decent 172 – 7.
A wonderful tea followed, this week supplied by Savors. We then set about defending our total. Hamish bowled from the non-pavilion end and I followed form the pavilion end…I bowled dross and was given some sound advice from the Sheen boys…and possibly even Mike Ashberys daughter about needing to get back in the nets! Oh if only I was woody….only in the bowling sense…Hamish bowled a steady spell without reward and was replaced by Savors whom initially went without taking a wicket in his first spell. Emlyn replaced me and took the wickets of Amir (10…with a fantastic catch from Steve!) and Mike (7) in fairly quick succession to begin his grass wicket career on a good note and get some revenge for the first baller! Meanwhile, Steve had replaced Chris at the non-pavilion end and snagged the wicket of Sean Quinn…stumped by Morton for a 40. This left the score on 73-3. At this point my good friend Pratik and the Bushman Garth were in, we knew how dangerous these two were so to get them out early was imperative, however, his did not happen as Pratik hit a quick 23 before Chris snagged him, caught by Steve and Garth hit an unbeaten 40 to see them home with Razor also whacking 34 in no time…including two sixes off of the white elephant of Beechwood??? Answers on a postcard! Oh and in the meantime Mark Gibbons got a duck again bowled by Chris and caught at slip by Tony…maybe I'll have to give you some throw downs matey ;-)!
All in all a good day with some good cricket and some good banter! And that annoying trend of winning away from home for both teams continues!
Beechwood:
E Bates, Cooksley, Culhane, Freeman (c), Hill, McLachlan, Morton (wk), Noblett, Robinson, Savory, Warner
Final words from the DoC:
An enjoyable game between two old foes - winning isn't everything! |
