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BLENHEIM PARK CRICKET CLUB
BPCC Match Day Reports
BPCC Match Reports 2024
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Our Season 2024
05/05 Elmhurst Win at South Lawn
At last, Sunday 5th May 2024 arrived, as had we on the South Lawn for our first game of the season. But not with the team sheet, opponents or weather anticipated as late as Thursday.
Elmhurst thankfully filled the void left at the last minute by a nameless team who could only muster 4 players.
Boardman - captain in West’s absence - lost the toss and so into bat we went. We had reached 3-0 in the 6th over when Chairman Hughes decided it was finally time to get on with it, only to sky one straight back to the bowler.
Although Parker was no.3 – often watchful and cautious himself - our tentative start came to an abrupt end with his second scoring shot, a lofted off-drive back over the bowler’s head for 6. That was one way to see off the openers!! Maybe he should have more sleepless nights. Or change more nappies?
9-1 off 7 quickly became 61-1 off 15 as Boardman, and especially Parker tucked in to the change bowling. They were ticking along nicely until Boardy came unstuck, bowled for 15. New boy ‘KP’ Patel was next in line and he shaped up nicely too, finding boundaries and putting on another 46 with Parker before being adjudged lbw for 20.
It was something of a pity that Elmhurst’s opening bowler ‘Hari’ had finished his opening spell and therefore did not get the opportunity to bowl to our new wicketkeeper / batsman, Khrishan. It would have been a heaven-sent gift for any match report writer along the lines of ‘The batsman’s Holding, the bowler’s Willey’. We play Elmhurst again last match of the season …
With 10 overs to go the usual flurry of wickets fell before Weedon arrived (possibly not the last time we hear that phrase this week) and tee’d off, biffing 12 off 9 balls. Parker had remained at the other end throughout, although now somewhat hampered by somehow tweaking his ACL which doesn’t actually exist (go figure).
Attempting to stand and deliver in the latter stages of his innings but being adamant he didn’t want a runner or any ice, he was finally run out with a direct hit for a belligerent run-a-ball 84 (twelve 4’s, one 6). Dah diddley qua qua you might say. The innings – exactly half our total - not only kept us in the game but possibly also made us favourites, especially as Stan had scythed the last ball of the innings to the mid-wicket boundary to take us to a credible 168-8 off our allocated 35 overs.
Given last years fixture when Elmhurst were all out for 81, we were quietly confidant at tea but with an ageing and less agile team than we have been used to in recent times, and the lack of a 5th ‘recognised’ bowler, there was still room for some doubt.
After initially taking some stick from the crackerjack opener, Walker found his line and length (as always) and he and Weedon began successfully clawing the game back in our favour again. Weedon was on fire and quickly rattled the stumps. Twice. Walker took revenge on the opener having him lbw and Elmhurst had slumped to 19-3 after 6 overs. Walker continued to probe away and was further rewarded when a lofted off drive was clutched above his head at mid off by P.Spearman (insert your own tedious height related ‘quip’ here).
Spearman (P) and Angol were the back up bowlers and initially not much changed. Elmhurst progressed vigilantly to 65-4 off 20 meaning they required 104 off 15, under normal circumstances leaving the home side as hot favourites. But significantly no further break through had occurred and the batsman were well set with a 5th bowler still yet to be let lose.
There was an interesting passage of play as Elmhurst’s no. 5, Hawkes, faced 2 of the 3 Phils on show from the pavilion end. Presumably thinking this meant it was Phil-yer-boots time he larupped straight drives back at each of them in turn, no doubt fully expecting boundaries to be recorded. However he hadn’t counted on hands and ankles inexplicably getting in the way and not only stopping the ball but also miraculously not breaking in the process. On both occasions the Phil in question took a couple of minutes before bravely finishing their over.
Alas, though, the lack of bowling options was coming back to haunt us, and the batsmen were beginning to score at the required rate. This despite nearly every other shot being directed at McCrisken who never let anything get by him.
Weedon was brought back in to the attack from the Walker end and soon dismantled the stumps for the 3rd time sending Hawkes back for a perfectly timed 76. At 150-5 and Weedon with one more over there was still a glimmer of hope but Kibble came to the wicket having earlier impressively scored the game whilst fielding. A couple of hard hoiks to leg later and it was all over.
Shout outs to Finn Spearman who at 10am that morning was set to be ‘studying hard’ for his forthcoming exams for the rest of the day but managed to fit in a quick cameo for us, and Tom Warwick who only turned up to watch his mate’s debut and ended up fielding on the boundary for 35 overs and impressed with his one-handed pick-ups and throws.
Also shout outs to all who made this game possible in a difficult week weather/fixture/team selection wise. A lot of hours were spent on the wicket and pushing covers on and off. Thankfully the effort paid off as a cracking game of cricket ensued (regardless of the result) and was completed just before the rain returned (again).
It was good to be back.
BPCC 168-8 (35 overs) Parker 84, Patel 20
ECC 170-5 (32.1 overs) Weedon 3-17, Walker 2-23
Rhino
Elmhurst thankfully filled the void left at the last minute by a nameless team who could only muster 4 players.
Boardman - captain in West’s absence - lost the toss and so into bat we went. We had reached 3-0 in the 6th over when Chairman Hughes decided it was finally time to get on with it, only to sky one straight back to the bowler.
Although Parker was no.3 – often watchful and cautious himself - our tentative start came to an abrupt end with his second scoring shot, a lofted off-drive back over the bowler’s head for 6. That was one way to see off the openers!! Maybe he should have more sleepless nights. Or change more nappies?
9-1 off 7 quickly became 61-1 off 15 as Boardman, and especially Parker tucked in to the change bowling. They were ticking along nicely until Boardy came unstuck, bowled for 15. New boy ‘KP’ Patel was next in line and he shaped up nicely too, finding boundaries and putting on another 46 with Parker before being adjudged lbw for 20.
It was something of a pity that Elmhurst’s opening bowler ‘Hari’ had finished his opening spell and therefore did not get the opportunity to bowl to our new wicketkeeper / batsman, Khrishan. It would have been a heaven-sent gift for any match report writer along the lines of ‘The batsman’s Holding, the bowler’s Willey’. We play Elmhurst again last match of the season …
With 10 overs to go the usual flurry of wickets fell before Weedon arrived (possibly not the last time we hear that phrase this week) and tee’d off, biffing 12 off 9 balls. Parker had remained at the other end throughout, although now somewhat hampered by somehow tweaking his ACL which doesn’t actually exist (go figure).
Attempting to stand and deliver in the latter stages of his innings but being adamant he didn’t want a runner or any ice, he was finally run out with a direct hit for a belligerent run-a-ball 84 (twelve 4’s, one 6). Dah diddley qua qua you might say. The innings – exactly half our total - not only kept us in the game but possibly also made us favourites, especially as Stan had scythed the last ball of the innings to the mid-wicket boundary to take us to a credible 168-8 off our allocated 35 overs.
Given last years fixture when Elmhurst were all out for 81, we were quietly confidant at tea but with an ageing and less agile team than we have been used to in recent times, and the lack of a 5th ‘recognised’ bowler, there was still room for some doubt.
After initially taking some stick from the crackerjack opener, Walker found his line and length (as always) and he and Weedon began successfully clawing the game back in our favour again. Weedon was on fire and quickly rattled the stumps. Twice. Walker took revenge on the opener having him lbw and Elmhurst had slumped to 19-3 after 6 overs. Walker continued to probe away and was further rewarded when a lofted off drive was clutched above his head at mid off by P.Spearman (insert your own tedious height related ‘quip’ here).
Spearman (P) and Angol were the back up bowlers and initially not much changed. Elmhurst progressed vigilantly to 65-4 off 20 meaning they required 104 off 15, under normal circumstances leaving the home side as hot favourites. But significantly no further break through had occurred and the batsman were well set with a 5th bowler still yet to be let lose.
There was an interesting passage of play as Elmhurst’s no. 5, Hawkes, faced 2 of the 3 Phils on show from the pavilion end. Presumably thinking this meant it was Phil-yer-boots time he larupped straight drives back at each of them in turn, no doubt fully expecting boundaries to be recorded. However he hadn’t counted on hands and ankles inexplicably getting in the way and not only stopping the ball but also miraculously not breaking in the process. On both occasions the Phil in question took a couple of minutes before bravely finishing their over.
Alas, though, the lack of bowling options was coming back to haunt us, and the batsmen were beginning to score at the required rate. This despite nearly every other shot being directed at McCrisken who never let anything get by him.
Weedon was brought back in to the attack from the Walker end and soon dismantled the stumps for the 3rd time sending Hawkes back for a perfectly timed 76. At 150-5 and Weedon with one more over there was still a glimmer of hope but Kibble came to the wicket having earlier impressively scored the game whilst fielding. A couple of hard hoiks to leg later and it was all over.
Shout outs to Finn Spearman who at 10am that morning was set to be ‘studying hard’ for his forthcoming exams for the rest of the day but managed to fit in a quick cameo for us, and Tom Warwick who only turned up to watch his mate’s debut and ended up fielding on the boundary for 35 overs and impressed with his one-handed pick-ups and throws.
Also shout outs to all who made this game possible in a difficult week weather/fixture/team selection wise. A lot of hours were spent on the wicket and pushing covers on and off. Thankfully the effort paid off as a cracking game of cricket ensued (regardless of the result) and was completed just before the rain returned (again).
It was good to be back.
BPCC 168-8 (35 overs) Parker 84, Patel 20
ECC 170-5 (32.1 overs) Weedon 3-17, Walker 2-23
Rhino
Minster Lovell Vs BPCC
BPCC Vs Minster Lovell (home) Sunday 12th May @1pm
A ramshackle bunch of ageing veterans, crocks and soon to be crocks, along with Edgar Easterbrook gathered together to take on local rivals Minster Lovell last Sunday and with such remarkable similarities with the previous game, last weeks report could almost be republished with only minor adjustment (if indeed it was lucky enough to get published in the first place). There was one critical difference though, that being (spoiler alert), the result!
As with last week:
We batted first.
The openers went relatively cheaply.
No.3, Simon Parker achieved another 80-odd before being run out again. He managed one 6 and a plethora of 4s as per last week and then also managed to injure a leg (again) before the end of the game.
This weeks new wicket keeper / batsman, Deeps, entered at no.4 and also shaped up well with the bat as did KP last week.
The standard mid order flurry of wickets then occurred before a late innings rally – this time Edgar E taking on the mantle from Weedon.
P. Spearman ended 1 not out at the end of inngs and again went on to catch one at mid-off in the 2nd inngs. The first ball he bowled also went for 4.
We set a decent total without being bowled all out which looked competitive enough.
Walker again (but unusually) got the wickets he deserved, and the majority of the runs scored off him came in his first two overs.
We struggled for a 5th bowler.
Early breakthroughs were achieved but then the oppo’s middle order looked ominously stubborn.
The captain brought himself on in a final act of desperation.
So, filling in the blanks;
The afternoon was so glorious that a 40 over match was agreed upon and after the early demise of Boardman and Cox, Parker & Malhotra set about rebuilding. And rebuild they did. In his first innings for the club, Deeps played some stylish shots against some often decent bowling (some dross too but run with it). Thinking his score was in the 30s he played one shot too many and departed for an excellent 46. He can play again. Together he and Parker put on 91 at 6 an over and Parker remained at the crease whilst a clatter of wickets fell at the other end. 142-2 became 171-6 with only 5 overs left. 200 would be the minimum target at this stage but we needn’t have worried as Edgar E was next man in and he didn’t waste any time in tucking in to those who had been team\club mates not 24 hours before. Meanwhile Parker’s rich vein of early season form was continuing until he ran out of puff again on 82. In a further quirk of fate, Parker’s PB for Blenheim came at Sheepscombe 2 years ago where he reached 88 and … was run out. No nervous 90s for him – more anxious (and tired) 80s.
Easterbrook ended up 38 not out having been at the crease for just 5 overs and hit three 6s and two 4’s to take us to 220-7 off our 40 overs.
Minster made a steady start reaching 31 in the 9th over before Walker struck, catching one off his own and soon followed up by rattling the timbers of the other opener. By then Angol had also come to the party courtesy of a Spearman catch which somehow seemed to re-arrange his rib cage in the process. Walker continued and bowled the young opposition keeper to leave the visitors reeling at 50-4 off 15. Easterbrook was then let loose, and Minster were soon reduced to 64-5.
In the early passages of play Bartlett had pulled up with a suspect quad – bad news for him and the team as he was likely to be called upon to send a few overs down.
Alas, we were under no illusion at this stage. Inside info suggested tough times were ahead for the Blenheim bowlers and with Spearman and Easterbrook coming to the end of their spells and with Walker bowled out, and Bartlett and Parker injured, options looked thin on the ground. With about 100 required off 10 and two very capable batsmen at the crease (along with injured and ageing fielders), the tide was turning in Minster’s favour. In the final over of his spell Spearman speculatively appealed for an lbw that may just have been missing leg. A little high too maybe? Regardless, it was given (by Minsters umpire) much to the surprise of everyone, not least the bowler himself. We now had an opening but there was still batting to come and desperate times brings desperate measures. Yes, West brought himself on to bowl! Meanwhile Easterbrook matched Spearman in taking an lbw in this last over (a much more straightforward decision all agreed).
West wasted no time in weighing in with wickets himself. In his first over he managed to propel the ball just fast enough to dislodge the bail whilst the batsman inexplicably looked on. Then in his 3rd (after being carted for two maximums off the first two balls) grabbed another as Cox held on at mid-on. In 3 overs
West now has as many wickets this season as the last two recipients of the bowler of the year trophy put together in their 29. Stan, we have work to do!!
With 9 down but dangerman Ayris still at the crease, and 63 still required off 4, Bartlett along with his dodgy quad was finally given a trundle. 3 balls and an Easterbrook catch later it was all over. We had beaten Minster by 48 runs. Bartlett, by his own admission, had participated fully in 5 balls all game – 2 with the bat, 3 with the ball. But he had taken the final wicket to seal the game.
Throughout the afternoon catches went down that the fielder would expect to take but this is sport and we are all human. It happens, its part and parcel of the game and not normally something to dwell upon in the match report. However, it wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the comedy moment of the match and a big contender for the season already. Cox was brought on to bowl and – given that he has not been prolific in the wickets column in more recent years – must have been delighted to see the batsman waft at a shortish one outside off that looped up gently and obligingly to Phil Boardman at point. He didn’t even have to move. 9 times out of 10 Boardy’s girlfriend, Sarah, would have taken the catch. The two new daughters born to team mates this last month (congrats again) would have had a fighting chance of holding on. But not butterfingers Boardy!! In and out it went quicker than a pig at a synagogue. After we’d stopped laughing, we tried to give credit to Phil for this passage of play as being tactical (knowing the quality of the batting to come) but we all really know the truth of the matter. Someone is going to have to perform badly really well to beat this one. It was on a par with West throwing the ball over the boundary a few years back. Or Angol trying to stump a batsman before the ball had passed the stumps. Or, for pure comedy (and going back further) Henman’s quip from slip to struggling young fiery opener Ollie ‘Blady hell Ollie I don’t go that far on my holidays’ as he bowled his 3rd wide in a row. Yes this too will go down in the annals of Blenheim folklore.
BPCC 220-7 (40 overs) S Parker 82, D Malhotra 46, E Easterbrook 38*
MLCC 172 ao (37.3 overs) N Walker 3-19, M West 2-25, E Easterbrook 2-32, N Bartlett 1-0, P. Spearman 1-37, S. Angol 1-43
A ramshackle bunch of ageing veterans, crocks and soon to be crocks, along with Edgar Easterbrook gathered together to take on local rivals Minster Lovell last Sunday and with such remarkable similarities with the previous game, last weeks report could almost be republished with only minor adjustment (if indeed it was lucky enough to get published in the first place). There was one critical difference though, that being (spoiler alert), the result!
As with last week:
We batted first.
The openers went relatively cheaply.
No.3, Simon Parker achieved another 80-odd before being run out again. He managed one 6 and a plethora of 4s as per last week and then also managed to injure a leg (again) before the end of the game.
This weeks new wicket keeper / batsman, Deeps, entered at no.4 and also shaped up well with the bat as did KP last week.
The standard mid order flurry of wickets then occurred before a late innings rally – this time Edgar E taking on the mantle from Weedon.
P. Spearman ended 1 not out at the end of inngs and again went on to catch one at mid-off in the 2nd inngs. The first ball he bowled also went for 4.
We set a decent total without being bowled all out which looked competitive enough.
Walker again (but unusually) got the wickets he deserved, and the majority of the runs scored off him came in his first two overs.
We struggled for a 5th bowler.
Early breakthroughs were achieved but then the oppo’s middle order looked ominously stubborn.
The captain brought himself on in a final act of desperation.
So, filling in the blanks;
The afternoon was so glorious that a 40 over match was agreed upon and after the early demise of Boardman and Cox, Parker & Malhotra set about rebuilding. And rebuild they did. In his first innings for the club, Deeps played some stylish shots against some often decent bowling (some dross too but run with it). Thinking his score was in the 30s he played one shot too many and departed for an excellent 46. He can play again. Together he and Parker put on 91 at 6 an over and Parker remained at the crease whilst a clatter of wickets fell at the other end. 142-2 became 171-6 with only 5 overs left. 200 would be the minimum target at this stage but we needn’t have worried as Edgar E was next man in and he didn’t waste any time in tucking in to those who had been team\club mates not 24 hours before. Meanwhile Parker’s rich vein of early season form was continuing until he ran out of puff again on 82. In a further quirk of fate, Parker’s PB for Blenheim came at Sheepscombe 2 years ago where he reached 88 and … was run out. No nervous 90s for him – more anxious (and tired) 80s.
Easterbrook ended up 38 not out having been at the crease for just 5 overs and hit three 6s and two 4’s to take us to 220-7 off our 40 overs.
Minster made a steady start reaching 31 in the 9th over before Walker struck, catching one off his own and soon followed up by rattling the timbers of the other opener. By then Angol had also come to the party courtesy of a Spearman catch which somehow seemed to re-arrange his rib cage in the process. Walker continued and bowled the young opposition keeper to leave the visitors reeling at 50-4 off 15. Easterbrook was then let loose, and Minster were soon reduced to 64-5.
In the early passages of play Bartlett had pulled up with a suspect quad – bad news for him and the team as he was likely to be called upon to send a few overs down.
Alas, we were under no illusion at this stage. Inside info suggested tough times were ahead for the Blenheim bowlers and with Spearman and Easterbrook coming to the end of their spells and with Walker bowled out, and Bartlett and Parker injured, options looked thin on the ground. With about 100 required off 10 and two very capable batsmen at the crease (along with injured and ageing fielders), the tide was turning in Minster’s favour. In the final over of his spell Spearman speculatively appealed for an lbw that may just have been missing leg. A little high too maybe? Regardless, it was given (by Minsters umpire) much to the surprise of everyone, not least the bowler himself. We now had an opening but there was still batting to come and desperate times brings desperate measures. Yes, West brought himself on to bowl! Meanwhile Easterbrook matched Spearman in taking an lbw in this last over (a much more straightforward decision all agreed).
West wasted no time in weighing in with wickets himself. In his first over he managed to propel the ball just fast enough to dislodge the bail whilst the batsman inexplicably looked on. Then in his 3rd (after being carted for two maximums off the first two balls) grabbed another as Cox held on at mid-on. In 3 overs
West now has as many wickets this season as the last two recipients of the bowler of the year trophy put together in their 29. Stan, we have work to do!!
With 9 down but dangerman Ayris still at the crease, and 63 still required off 4, Bartlett along with his dodgy quad was finally given a trundle. 3 balls and an Easterbrook catch later it was all over. We had beaten Minster by 48 runs. Bartlett, by his own admission, had participated fully in 5 balls all game – 2 with the bat, 3 with the ball. But he had taken the final wicket to seal the game.
Throughout the afternoon catches went down that the fielder would expect to take but this is sport and we are all human. It happens, its part and parcel of the game and not normally something to dwell upon in the match report. However, it wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the comedy moment of the match and a big contender for the season already. Cox was brought on to bowl and – given that he has not been prolific in the wickets column in more recent years – must have been delighted to see the batsman waft at a shortish one outside off that looped up gently and obligingly to Phil Boardman at point. He didn’t even have to move. 9 times out of 10 Boardy’s girlfriend, Sarah, would have taken the catch. The two new daughters born to team mates this last month (congrats again) would have had a fighting chance of holding on. But not butterfingers Boardy!! In and out it went quicker than a pig at a synagogue. After we’d stopped laughing, we tried to give credit to Phil for this passage of play as being tactical (knowing the quality of the batting to come) but we all really know the truth of the matter. Someone is going to have to perform badly really well to beat this one. It was on a par with West throwing the ball over the boundary a few years back. Or Angol trying to stump a batsman before the ball had passed the stumps. Or, for pure comedy (and going back further) Henman’s quip from slip to struggling young fiery opener Ollie ‘Blady hell Ollie I don’t go that far on my holidays’ as he bowled his 3rd wide in a row. Yes this too will go down in the annals of Blenheim folklore.
BPCC 220-7 (40 overs) S Parker 82, D Malhotra 46, E Easterbrook 38*
MLCC 172 ao (37.3 overs) N Walker 3-19, M West 2-25, E Easterbrook 2-32, N Bartlett 1-0, P. Spearman 1-37, S. Angol 1-43
BPCC Vs Checkendon (home) Sunday 19th May @1pm
BPCC Vs Checkendon (home) Sunday 19th May @1pm
‘The Blenheim Estate is set in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, covering 12,000 acres’
Most of this was experienced by players, supporters, and officials prior to Sunday’s visit of Checkendon as we parked near and far in our attempts to locate an entrance to the South Lawn whilst a fun run denied anyone parking in the designated area. Who knew? You just can’t get the matchday managers nowadays!
After a delayed start (see above) the game was a slow burner as we batted first (again) and started cautiously (again).
By the 10th over we had reached 39 before Boardy was adjudged lbw for 18. We needn’t have worried though, as next man in, Talbot (J) - back in the fold after a brief hiatus - biffed and bashed a blitzkrieg of boundaries. A little over 10 overs later he was castled for a belligerent 46. The run rate naturally slowed somewhat on his departure and, as is customary this season, a slew of wickets followed and 113-1 became 139-4 with Reay, and new boy Jacobs also in the shed after brief cameos. Cox, who had hitherto glued the innings together, finally went for 41 in the 29th over leaving us 143-5 with only 6 overs left.
We needn’t have worried though as next man in, Easterbrook (Ed) had free range and obliged with a smorgasbord of sixes (six of them in total), spraying the oppo to all corners (again). He also added a couple of fours for good measure. Phenomenal flogging.
West weighed in with a breezy dozen and our last 6 overs realised 67 runs, of which Easterbrook scored 52 – bringing up his half century off the last ball with another big one, leaving us on 210-6 off our allotted 35 overs.
At tea, the mood was one of optimism (again) as a decent total had been set (again) and the oppo, by their own admission, were not at their strongest.
Maybe it was complacency, maybe over confidence, but after an early breakthrough from Weedon, excellently caught at slip by Cox, we seemed to switch off and go through the motions, almost expecting wickets to come our way by default. Well, they didn’t for some time and with fielding not always as good as it could have been, and several extras conceded, Checkendon progressed to 68-1 off 10 and therefore ahead of the rate.
Walker took the 2nd wicket but runs continued to flow and after 15 the visitors had reached 93. But Angol pitched in with an lbw and when Easterbrook bagged a brace including top scorer Warren for 51, it seemed the backbone of resistance was broken.
Around this time, we also had another contender for comedy moment of the season. The batsman whacked Angol in the general direction of West, only for both of West’s left feet to be wrong footed as the ball spun viciously (or deviated slightly depending on your viewpoint) in the other direction and raced away to the boundary for four. Posting on Twitter (now known as ‘’X’ formerly known as Twitter’), West stated that he had been ‘done like a skipper’.
This week’s guest keeper / batsman, Jacobs, then came to the party stumping one off Angol and completing a run out for good measure.
Spearman cleaned up 9, 10, Jack as cheap as chips with a flush of sorts - a bowled, another Jacob’s stumping (he can play again), and a caught thanks to a perfectly positioned Talbot at cow corner.
So, a convincing win by 90 runs in the end and made all the merrier by an absent Parker supplying a jug in recognition of two recent 80’s, Oxford gaining promotion and of course the safe arrival of a new (is there any other type?) baby daughter (it is unknown which order of importance these events should be listed – Ive given it my best shot). [Ed – either way that surely warrants 4 jugs?]
Now, did someone say chips …?
BPCC 210-6 (35 overs) Ed Easterbrook 52*, J. Talbot 46, M. Cox 41
CCC 120 ao (27.1 overs) P. Spearman 3-5, S. Angol 2-17, Ed Easterbrook 2-24, N. Walker 1-28, Weedon 1-33
‘The Blenheim Estate is set in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, covering 12,000 acres’
Most of this was experienced by players, supporters, and officials prior to Sunday’s visit of Checkendon as we parked near and far in our attempts to locate an entrance to the South Lawn whilst a fun run denied anyone parking in the designated area. Who knew? You just can’t get the matchday managers nowadays!
After a delayed start (see above) the game was a slow burner as we batted first (again) and started cautiously (again).
By the 10th over we had reached 39 before Boardy was adjudged lbw for 18. We needn’t have worried though, as next man in, Talbot (J) - back in the fold after a brief hiatus - biffed and bashed a blitzkrieg of boundaries. A little over 10 overs later he was castled for a belligerent 46. The run rate naturally slowed somewhat on his departure and, as is customary this season, a slew of wickets followed and 113-1 became 139-4 with Reay, and new boy Jacobs also in the shed after brief cameos. Cox, who had hitherto glued the innings together, finally went for 41 in the 29th over leaving us 143-5 with only 6 overs left.
We needn’t have worried though as next man in, Easterbrook (Ed) had free range and obliged with a smorgasbord of sixes (six of them in total), spraying the oppo to all corners (again). He also added a couple of fours for good measure. Phenomenal flogging.
West weighed in with a breezy dozen and our last 6 overs realised 67 runs, of which Easterbrook scored 52 – bringing up his half century off the last ball with another big one, leaving us on 210-6 off our allotted 35 overs.
At tea, the mood was one of optimism (again) as a decent total had been set (again) and the oppo, by their own admission, were not at their strongest.
Maybe it was complacency, maybe over confidence, but after an early breakthrough from Weedon, excellently caught at slip by Cox, we seemed to switch off and go through the motions, almost expecting wickets to come our way by default. Well, they didn’t for some time and with fielding not always as good as it could have been, and several extras conceded, Checkendon progressed to 68-1 off 10 and therefore ahead of the rate.
Walker took the 2nd wicket but runs continued to flow and after 15 the visitors had reached 93. But Angol pitched in with an lbw and when Easterbrook bagged a brace including top scorer Warren for 51, it seemed the backbone of resistance was broken.
Around this time, we also had another contender for comedy moment of the season. The batsman whacked Angol in the general direction of West, only for both of West’s left feet to be wrong footed as the ball spun viciously (or deviated slightly depending on your viewpoint) in the other direction and raced away to the boundary for four. Posting on Twitter (now known as ‘’X’ formerly known as Twitter’), West stated that he had been ‘done like a skipper’.
This week’s guest keeper / batsman, Jacobs, then came to the party stumping one off Angol and completing a run out for good measure.
Spearman cleaned up 9, 10, Jack as cheap as chips with a flush of sorts - a bowled, another Jacob’s stumping (he can play again), and a caught thanks to a perfectly positioned Talbot at cow corner.
So, a convincing win by 90 runs in the end and made all the merrier by an absent Parker supplying a jug in recognition of two recent 80’s, Oxford gaining promotion and of course the safe arrival of a new (is there any other type?) baby daughter (it is unknown which order of importance these events should be listed – Ive given it my best shot). [Ed – either way that surely warrants 4 jugs?]
Now, did someone say chips …?
BPCC 210-6 (35 overs) Ed Easterbrook 52*, J. Talbot 46, M. Cox 41
CCC 120 ao (27.1 overs) P. Spearman 3-5, S. Angol 2-17, Ed Easterbrook 2-24, N. Walker 1-28, Weedon 1-33
BPCC Vs Bibury (home) Sunday 26th May @1pm
Bibury paid their first ever visit to the South Lawn this week and for the 2nd week running players came from all 4 corners of the park to assemble on the South Lawn after officialdom had denied or deviated from the agreed path. Regarding match day management – its time to vote for change (please).
For the first time this season we bowled first up after West won the toss and the game started as it continued throughout – at breakneck speed. Bibury had come out all guns blazing for this truncated 30 over thrash (due to widely predicted imminent thunderstorms).
Walker’s 3rd ball of the innings was so plumb the umpire’s finger was up almost before the bowler had released the ball. Two overs later he struck again as Bibury’s shot-a-ball policy backfired leaving them at 9-2 after 3.
They had raced to 58 by the 10th over by which time Easterbrook (Snr) had entered the attack and he immediately created chances. His first over alone may have contained 2 catches – the ball just evading the fielders square of the wicket before racing away to the boundary. His second over saw success though - rattling the timbers - and was also the 2nd and final maiden of the day following Walkers earlier (both were, indeed, wicket maidens).
From then on wickets fell at a steady rate as we dodged the showers and played okey-cokey with the covers as they were wheeled on and off 2 or 3 times during the 1st innings (accurate records don’t exist as some numpty forget to bring the scorebook).
58-1 became 87-7 off 17 as the Bibury’s baz-ball approach continued come what may and although their run rate was good the wickets column was by now very much favouring Blenheim.
During this passage of play we saw an Easterbrook full-bunger pulled powerfully to mid wicket where a grateful Finn took an excellent catch above his head (no height jokes required).
For the 3rd time this season P. Spearman snaffled one at mid-off off Walker, replicating the 2nd wicket. Bartlett trapped one in front and Easterbrook the younger castled his oppostite number.
Bibury re-grouped and with no.8 Carmen in particular batting lower than his ability would suggest a further 43 runs came before the next wicket fell.
This came by way of a phenomenal catch by man of the moment, Simon Parker. Stationed at wide long-on after Spearman had already been dispatch there twice, Carmen – apparently fancying this dibbly-dobbly nonsense - attempted a 3rd bash and picked out Parker perfectly. It was hit hard and flat (again) and Parker did superbly to get into position quickly before juggling it over his head and reclaiming it facing the baying fans from Bibury and with his back to the field. Surely catch of the season?
Well, maybe. After the game, a steward’s enquiry/inquiry (the pedants amongst you will know which one it is – the rest wont care) was held to discuss whether or not it’s a truly great catch if you first fumble it for artistic merit before clinging on just inside the rope. One for the Philosophers to ponder over when we meet them later in season perhaps. Either way, it was at the very least a very good catch.
Another Spearman wicket followed and at 3:06pm Angol wrapped up the innings – an lbw that the batsman had attempted to hit at 2:58pm then waited as the ball trapped him in front on the anchored back foot. He’s not the first to succumb in this way to Stans slow bowling scam and he wont be last. But he should still be embarrassed.
So we needed to chase down 142 in 30 overs. Fortunately, Bibury were all out within 27 overs thus keeping the required run rate to less than 5 on a pitch not giving any value to batsman given its damp outfield.
In a ploy to avoid the big black cloud now lurking over Bladon, we went straight round, and tea was taken after 11 overs of the Blenheim innings. By then we had lost West for 9 but the total was a healthy 55-1 with Boardman and run machine Parker at the helm.
After tea, the cloud had thankfully bypassed us, and the early evening became light and bright. A handful of boundaries were interspersed with diligent running as Boardman and Parker took the score to 87 before Boardman was bowled for a well timed 41 (five fours).
Hitting out and/or getting out was the order of the day, along with pushing the ones and twos. We had the comedy moment of the day with Finn and Simon doing just that, although in this case the comedy worked in our favour. Parker pushed one onto the square and they set off for a risky single only for it to turn into 3 as not one, but two sets of overthrows were gifted. It was Keystone Cops meets Benny Hill. Despite this, at Finns demise - failing to loft one over mid off – we found ourselves slipping behind the rate and now needed 44 off only 6.3 overs.
That said Parker was still there, and we still had two Easterbrook’s, Bartlett, Jacobs and the other 3 who never bat so the game was still very much in the mix.
As always Edgar didn’t mess about and a quick fire 19 (13 balls) saw us back on top before he too was caught and we now needed 21 from 21 balls (you do the maths [or if American, ‘math’ singular]).
Bartlett was next in and regardless of his dodgy quad (see report from two weeks ago if you can find a copy) and Parker surely tiring at the other end, the scampering between the wickets continued.
The 28th over saw the game turn convincingly in our favour again. 14 came off it, including the only 6 of the innings (Parker) and a further boundary (Bartlett). We were almost there now with only 7 off 2 overs required. Four were taken from the 29th over and four balls and 3 frantic singles in the 30th saw us home. Bartlett timed his innings perfectly with 9 off 9.
Parker at the other end has not been gotten out by any bowler yet this season, has scored over 200 runs, took the catch of the match if not the season (to be confirmed - see above) and by carefully pacing his way to 47 not out he even managed to avoid any jug buying responsibilities. This guy really needs to buy a lottery ticket.
So, a great game played in great spirit in-between showers and one in which every player played a part. All 6 bowlers took wickets, the batsman all contributed, and the fielding was generally very good.
On a day when no play was possible at Worcester and only 6.5 overs in an ODI at Taunton, we can consider ourselves undeniably lucky to have gotten such a good game in.
BCC 142 ao 26.5 overs N Walker 3-21, P Spearman 2-23, J Easterbrook 2-36, E Easterbrook 1-8, N Bartlett 1-17, S Angol 1-29
BPCC 143-4 29.4 overs S Parker 47*, P Boardman 41, E Easterbrook 19
Bibury paid their first ever visit to the South Lawn this week and for the 2nd week running players came from all 4 corners of the park to assemble on the South Lawn after officialdom had denied or deviated from the agreed path. Regarding match day management – its time to vote for change (please).
For the first time this season we bowled first up after West won the toss and the game started as it continued throughout – at breakneck speed. Bibury had come out all guns blazing for this truncated 30 over thrash (due to widely predicted imminent thunderstorms).
Walker’s 3rd ball of the innings was so plumb the umpire’s finger was up almost before the bowler had released the ball. Two overs later he struck again as Bibury’s shot-a-ball policy backfired leaving them at 9-2 after 3.
They had raced to 58 by the 10th over by which time Easterbrook (Snr) had entered the attack and he immediately created chances. His first over alone may have contained 2 catches – the ball just evading the fielders square of the wicket before racing away to the boundary. His second over saw success though - rattling the timbers - and was also the 2nd and final maiden of the day following Walkers earlier (both were, indeed, wicket maidens).
From then on wickets fell at a steady rate as we dodged the showers and played okey-cokey with the covers as they were wheeled on and off 2 or 3 times during the 1st innings (accurate records don’t exist as some numpty forget to bring the scorebook).
58-1 became 87-7 off 17 as the Bibury’s baz-ball approach continued come what may and although their run rate was good the wickets column was by now very much favouring Blenheim.
During this passage of play we saw an Easterbrook full-bunger pulled powerfully to mid wicket where a grateful Finn took an excellent catch above his head (no height jokes required).
For the 3rd time this season P. Spearman snaffled one at mid-off off Walker, replicating the 2nd wicket. Bartlett trapped one in front and Easterbrook the younger castled his oppostite number.
Bibury re-grouped and with no.8 Carmen in particular batting lower than his ability would suggest a further 43 runs came before the next wicket fell.
This came by way of a phenomenal catch by man of the moment, Simon Parker. Stationed at wide long-on after Spearman had already been dispatch there twice, Carmen – apparently fancying this dibbly-dobbly nonsense - attempted a 3rd bash and picked out Parker perfectly. It was hit hard and flat (again) and Parker did superbly to get into position quickly before juggling it over his head and reclaiming it facing the baying fans from Bibury and with his back to the field. Surely catch of the season?
Well, maybe. After the game, a steward’s enquiry/inquiry (the pedants amongst you will know which one it is – the rest wont care) was held to discuss whether or not it’s a truly great catch if you first fumble it for artistic merit before clinging on just inside the rope. One for the Philosophers to ponder over when we meet them later in season perhaps. Either way, it was at the very least a very good catch.
Another Spearman wicket followed and at 3:06pm Angol wrapped up the innings – an lbw that the batsman had attempted to hit at 2:58pm then waited as the ball trapped him in front on the anchored back foot. He’s not the first to succumb in this way to Stans slow bowling scam and he wont be last. But he should still be embarrassed.
So we needed to chase down 142 in 30 overs. Fortunately, Bibury were all out within 27 overs thus keeping the required run rate to less than 5 on a pitch not giving any value to batsman given its damp outfield.
In a ploy to avoid the big black cloud now lurking over Bladon, we went straight round, and tea was taken after 11 overs of the Blenheim innings. By then we had lost West for 9 but the total was a healthy 55-1 with Boardman and run machine Parker at the helm.
After tea, the cloud had thankfully bypassed us, and the early evening became light and bright. A handful of boundaries were interspersed with diligent running as Boardman and Parker took the score to 87 before Boardman was bowled for a well timed 41 (five fours).
Hitting out and/or getting out was the order of the day, along with pushing the ones and twos. We had the comedy moment of the day with Finn and Simon doing just that, although in this case the comedy worked in our favour. Parker pushed one onto the square and they set off for a risky single only for it to turn into 3 as not one, but two sets of overthrows were gifted. It was Keystone Cops meets Benny Hill. Despite this, at Finns demise - failing to loft one over mid off – we found ourselves slipping behind the rate and now needed 44 off only 6.3 overs.
That said Parker was still there, and we still had two Easterbrook’s, Bartlett, Jacobs and the other 3 who never bat so the game was still very much in the mix.
As always Edgar didn’t mess about and a quick fire 19 (13 balls) saw us back on top before he too was caught and we now needed 21 from 21 balls (you do the maths [or if American, ‘math’ singular]).
Bartlett was next in and regardless of his dodgy quad (see report from two weeks ago if you can find a copy) and Parker surely tiring at the other end, the scampering between the wickets continued.
The 28th over saw the game turn convincingly in our favour again. 14 came off it, including the only 6 of the innings (Parker) and a further boundary (Bartlett). We were almost there now with only 7 off 2 overs required. Four were taken from the 29th over and four balls and 3 frantic singles in the 30th saw us home. Bartlett timed his innings perfectly with 9 off 9.
Parker at the other end has not been gotten out by any bowler yet this season, has scored over 200 runs, took the catch of the match if not the season (to be confirmed - see above) and by carefully pacing his way to 47 not out he even managed to avoid any jug buying responsibilities. This guy really needs to buy a lottery ticket.
So, a great game played in great spirit in-between showers and one in which every player played a part. All 6 bowlers took wickets, the batsman all contributed, and the fielding was generally very good.
On a day when no play was possible at Worcester and only 6.5 overs in an ODI at Taunton, we can consider ourselves undeniably lucky to have gotten such a good game in.
BCC 142 ao 26.5 overs N Walker 3-21, P Spearman 2-23, J Easterbrook 2-36, E Easterbrook 1-8, N Bartlett 1-17, S Angol 1-29
BPCC 143-4 29.4 overs S Parker 47*, P Boardman 41, E Easterbrook 19
Match report BPCC vs Littlewick Green
It was a perfect summer's day on the south lawn. The wicket a road of staw hues, the outfield a chequered perfection baking in the June sunshine. Well that is what we imagined before we arrived. However, the truth revealed to each of us in turn as we arrived from varying entrances, shivering under windy grey skies, was a slowing of pace and a curse or three as it became all too clear...what the F**k is that?
Let me explain for the hundred and first (and last) time. Some of you will know the Palace is hosting a European summit in mid July, we became aware in the week before this fixture that it would be our final home game until August as the glass fronted temporary summit building will be encroaching significantly onto our outfield at the Walker end. This work should have started on the Monday after the game but some overeager workmen (clearly not English) decided to get ahead of themselves and had laid Steel plating over the Walker end, reaching all the way to the square.
By the time we saw this, teas were made and delivered, the opposition had already left on their hired Bus and too many wheels were in motion for us to miss out on our last opportunity to use the lawn for two months. So heads were scratched, cats were kicked, expletives used with gaye abandon as we put together a plan to get a game on. The result was a truly unique game format which I hope we never have to repeat, in summary: All overs to be bowled from the Pavilion end, the track was offset across the square to give the wicket keeper somewhere to stand, local rule of 2 runs for any impact of the ball with the steel deck (along the ground or in the air) and rope boundaries to remain as usual. We opted for 40:40 format and this arrangement turned out to be very quick to get through, with little time lost between overs.
What about the game itself I hear you ask as eagerly as a returning vice captain offers to open the batting?
Littlewick won the toss and opted to bowl and amazingly we started promptly at 1pm. This season our top order has by and large been strong and scored at a good rate, but everyone has an off week and this was it with Jake's first game of the summer resulting in a Golden duck (ball shot along the ground from a length), run machine Parker caught for 2 and Phil B also falling for single figures. Finn at four and James Talbot at five biffed a bit but Finn soon also fell after back to back boundaries to leave us reeling on 33-4 after ten. Luckily however when you need calm heads you have the skipper at six and James Talbot on hand, both renowned the world over for their calm zen like approach to steady accumulation of runs and sensible play,, so what could go wrong... Clearly nothing, with the score moving on to a more respectable 89-4 in the 22nd over before West finally coughed up a simple catch to the ring having looked both resolute and hungry for runs in equal measure (must be the new bat was the general consensus).
Now came the fireworks, with Edgar lurking at seven Littlewick were not the first side this season, and won't be the last, to regret thinking they had reached our long tail. Edgar and James cut loose, flaying the bowling to all parts with James climbing steadily to 61 before being run out and Edgar perishing soon after for a quick fire 51 in the 38th over. Some nice play from Dan and plenty of 2byes entries to the scorecard saw us finish the 40 overs with 208-8. The only other event of note being the 2nd Spearman duck of the innings.
A very enjoyable tea was taken in the relative warmth and shelter from the wind around the pavilion and there was much discussion about the plans for the next two months (more to follow in the coming days). The mood amongst the BPCC players who remembered the last season was positive, remembering the last LWCC visit where we scored 200 and had them 60-6 when the rains washed the game out.
So on our return to the field we witnessed two very unusual sights, A chuntering Walker (not the unusual aspect) opening the bowling from the Pavilion end and being uncharacteristically flayed for ten runs. Edgar was still sharp bowling off his very short approach run to a standing up Dan Jacobs and opened with a Maiden. The return of Nigel for his 2nd over showed he had spent those 2 mins thinking about using the slope differently as he cleaned up the LWCC opener with his first ball of the 3rd over in a peerless wicket maiden (or so we thought at the time).
Littlewick progressed steadily against tight bowling until the seventh over when the next LW batsman thought they could attack Nigel with two successive boundaries only to fall to a fine catch behind by Dan to a ball which swung up the slope to take a fine edge. Nigel also bagged a third in his last over and Edgar had also chipped in when the batsman got fed up with his tight line and was well caught by Jake running around as he tried to cut down to a tempting 3rd man area. Answering the question postulated by Spearman senior several overs earlier of "why is Jake fielding there, isn't he wasted?"
So at ten overs LWCC were 33-3 and maybe just starting to think that they might have a sniff of being in this game. Especially when Captain West In another seemingly surprising move proceeded to replace the tight and penetrative Edgar after only six overs with the Vicar of Dibley Dolby, Spearman Senior, for a rare bowl against batsman from the middle and top order. So it was to BPCC delight and LWCC horror that he returned a three wicket Maiden to put the game safely to bed. This thing of sublime beauty went as follows:
ball1 - Dot unusually floated up first delivery tempting the batsman
ball 2 - WIcket bowled, inexplicable batsman played all around it, through his shot early
ball 3 - Dot a typical first ball batsman's shot watchful and defensive
ball 4 - Dot again floaty and cautiously defended by the batsman
ball 5- WIcket flatter and fuller, LBW, back leg half way up in front of middle, the sort of LBW you could walk for.
ball 6 - Wicket. Clearly the batsman had been watching the events of the preceding balls and thought, how did that happen? such innocuous bowling, I'm going to take him to the cleaners, bowling that tosh with the field up! So he danced down the track, took a mighty heave to leg which failed to connect...and this isn't the Blenheim of old with comedy keeping, this season our keepers have been boring and clinical and for his 4th stumping in 3 games Dan had the bails off like a flash, saving the batsman five yards on his walk back to the boundary.
There were only three people in the Blenheim side who were not delighted by this over, Jake and Finn who will be hearing about it for the rest of their lives and Edgar who was wondering how his probing tight lines, beating the bat at least four balls an over had just seen the one wicket.
So when FInn and Jake thought it could not possibly get any worse, they were sadly mistaken. Because, with the first ball of his next over Rhino picked up his hat trick with another LWCC player bowled. The game was effectively over now as Stan and Rhino teased the batsmen for another eight overs , Phil picking up a caught and bowled and Stan thankfully picking up two to save us from a Speaman five wicket haul.
What a game, everyone was glad we managed to get it played and the circumstances will make it a memorable one. A final cricketing mention for Dan Jacobs who stood up to all the bowling and did a fantastic job in trying circumstances, lust letting two balls make it to the short boundary and both of these were leg byes, in contrast to 17 events that occured in the BPCC innings, top class keeping.
We packed away the pavilion, aware that we would not be returning until August :( and headed for the pub.
J Talbot, 61, E Easterbrook 51, M West 23
P Spearman 5-2-4-10, N Walker 8-1-3-26, S Angol 4-0-2-16, E Easterbrook 6-3-1-11
.
Please note, no animals were actually hurt in the making of this match report, it is just a saying...chill out
PPS - for statos everywhere, of the twenty three overs BPCC bowled, four were wicket Maidens, one of which was the aforementioned 3WM
Let me explain for the hundred and first (and last) time. Some of you will know the Palace is hosting a European summit in mid July, we became aware in the week before this fixture that it would be our final home game until August as the glass fronted temporary summit building will be encroaching significantly onto our outfield at the Walker end. This work should have started on the Monday after the game but some overeager workmen (clearly not English) decided to get ahead of themselves and had laid Steel plating over the Walker end, reaching all the way to the square.
By the time we saw this, teas were made and delivered, the opposition had already left on their hired Bus and too many wheels were in motion for us to miss out on our last opportunity to use the lawn for two months. So heads were scratched, cats were kicked, expletives used with gaye abandon as we put together a plan to get a game on. The result was a truly unique game format which I hope we never have to repeat, in summary: All overs to be bowled from the Pavilion end, the track was offset across the square to give the wicket keeper somewhere to stand, local rule of 2 runs for any impact of the ball with the steel deck (along the ground or in the air) and rope boundaries to remain as usual. We opted for 40:40 format and this arrangement turned out to be very quick to get through, with little time lost between overs.
What about the game itself I hear you ask as eagerly as a returning vice captain offers to open the batting?
Littlewick won the toss and opted to bowl and amazingly we started promptly at 1pm. This season our top order has by and large been strong and scored at a good rate, but everyone has an off week and this was it with Jake's first game of the summer resulting in a Golden duck (ball shot along the ground from a length), run machine Parker caught for 2 and Phil B also falling for single figures. Finn at four and James Talbot at five biffed a bit but Finn soon also fell after back to back boundaries to leave us reeling on 33-4 after ten. Luckily however when you need calm heads you have the skipper at six and James Talbot on hand, both renowned the world over for their calm zen like approach to steady accumulation of runs and sensible play,, so what could go wrong... Clearly nothing, with the score moving on to a more respectable 89-4 in the 22nd over before West finally coughed up a simple catch to the ring having looked both resolute and hungry for runs in equal measure (must be the new bat was the general consensus).
Now came the fireworks, with Edgar lurking at seven Littlewick were not the first side this season, and won't be the last, to regret thinking they had reached our long tail. Edgar and James cut loose, flaying the bowling to all parts with James climbing steadily to 61 before being run out and Edgar perishing soon after for a quick fire 51 in the 38th over. Some nice play from Dan and plenty of 2byes entries to the scorecard saw us finish the 40 overs with 208-8. The only other event of note being the 2nd Spearman duck of the innings.
A very enjoyable tea was taken in the relative warmth and shelter from the wind around the pavilion and there was much discussion about the plans for the next two months (more to follow in the coming days). The mood amongst the BPCC players who remembered the last season was positive, remembering the last LWCC visit where we scored 200 and had them 60-6 when the rains washed the game out.
So on our return to the field we witnessed two very unusual sights, A chuntering Walker (not the unusual aspect) opening the bowling from the Pavilion end and being uncharacteristically flayed for ten runs. Edgar was still sharp bowling off his very short approach run to a standing up Dan Jacobs and opened with a Maiden. The return of Nigel for his 2nd over showed he had spent those 2 mins thinking about using the slope differently as he cleaned up the LWCC opener with his first ball of the 3rd over in a peerless wicket maiden (or so we thought at the time).
Littlewick progressed steadily against tight bowling until the seventh over when the next LW batsman thought they could attack Nigel with two successive boundaries only to fall to a fine catch behind by Dan to a ball which swung up the slope to take a fine edge. Nigel also bagged a third in his last over and Edgar had also chipped in when the batsman got fed up with his tight line and was well caught by Jake running around as he tried to cut down to a tempting 3rd man area. Answering the question postulated by Spearman senior several overs earlier of "why is Jake fielding there, isn't he wasted?"
So at ten overs LWCC were 33-3 and maybe just starting to think that they might have a sniff of being in this game. Especially when Captain West In another seemingly surprising move proceeded to replace the tight and penetrative Edgar after only six overs with the Vicar of Dibley Dolby, Spearman Senior, for a rare bowl against batsman from the middle and top order. So it was to BPCC delight and LWCC horror that he returned a three wicket Maiden to put the game safely to bed. This thing of sublime beauty went as follows:
ball1 - Dot unusually floated up first delivery tempting the batsman
ball 2 - WIcket bowled, inexplicable batsman played all around it, through his shot early
ball 3 - Dot a typical first ball batsman's shot watchful and defensive
ball 4 - Dot again floaty and cautiously defended by the batsman
ball 5- WIcket flatter and fuller, LBW, back leg half way up in front of middle, the sort of LBW you could walk for.
ball 6 - Wicket. Clearly the batsman had been watching the events of the preceding balls and thought, how did that happen? such innocuous bowling, I'm going to take him to the cleaners, bowling that tosh with the field up! So he danced down the track, took a mighty heave to leg which failed to connect...and this isn't the Blenheim of old with comedy keeping, this season our keepers have been boring and clinical and for his 4th stumping in 3 games Dan had the bails off like a flash, saving the batsman five yards on his walk back to the boundary.
There were only three people in the Blenheim side who were not delighted by this over, Jake and Finn who will be hearing about it for the rest of their lives and Edgar who was wondering how his probing tight lines, beating the bat at least four balls an over had just seen the one wicket.
So when FInn and Jake thought it could not possibly get any worse, they were sadly mistaken. Because, with the first ball of his next over Rhino picked up his hat trick with another LWCC player bowled. The game was effectively over now as Stan and Rhino teased the batsmen for another eight overs , Phil picking up a caught and bowled and Stan thankfully picking up two to save us from a Speaman five wicket haul.
What a game, everyone was glad we managed to get it played and the circumstances will make it a memorable one. A final cricketing mention for Dan Jacobs who stood up to all the bowling and did a fantastic job in trying circumstances, lust letting two balls make it to the short boundary and both of these were leg byes, in contrast to 17 events that occured in the BPCC innings, top class keeping.
We packed away the pavilion, aware that we would not be returning until August :( and headed for the pub.
J Talbot, 61, E Easterbrook 51, M West 23
P Spearman 5-2-4-10, N Walker 8-1-3-26, S Angol 4-0-2-16, E Easterbrook 6-3-1-11
.
Please note, no animals were actually hurt in the making of this match report, it is just a saying...chill out
PPS - for statos everywhere, of the twenty three overs BPCC bowled, four were wicket Maidens, one of which was the aforementioned 3WM
Eynsham CC Vs BPCC
Well, if you are going to play anywhere other than the South Lawn, why not the lovely ground of Eynsham CC? I'm sure we all enjoyed the delights of a) not having to prep the ground and b) being able to park by the pavilion c) proper changing rooms. So, it isn't all bad this exile lark.
The now traditional, which hand is the piece of grass in? "toss" was won by Eynsham who elected to bat in the 35:35 over clash. Played on a Father's day and unusually for BPCC with free hits for no balls.
Nigel was feeling nicely back at home opening the bowling from the end where he had bowled in his spell as an Eynsham player and this week sharing the new ball with Edgar. As Stan was rolling back the years to take the gloves. It was an inspired combo with tight bowling and excellent wicketkeeping as Eynsham crawled watchfully to about ten for 2 in the tenth over. One each to Walker and Easterbrook junior, the later a fine edge taken well by Stan to get rid of the dangerous Luke Bowles and of course a round of give me some sugar followed. With the arrival at the crease of a junior for a fathers day partnership we reluctantly stood Edgar down to let Julian take his place. And I hardly have to write it...he struck metronomically in the 2nd over with the ball caught by Easterbook Junior. Young Wright looked like he could bat and played some lovely shots in Nigel's final over before exposing his achilles heel (by not keeping aforementioned appendage behind the line) and being stumped by new ace keeper Stan, throwing the stumps down from his stood back position. In the spirit of the day he was called back by the Blenheim captain who had somewhat unsportingly suggested the move to Stan in the first place (perhaps not expecting it to be so clinically executed). The introduction of Spearman senior saw a few more chances and a few more runs but 18 over drinks Eynsham were seemingly struggling at 35 for 4.
So after a conflab with senior players the Blenheim captain decided to bring on some of the lesser used bowlers (and continue with Spearman senior) to try and move the score and game along a bit. The ECC batsman got the message and started playing more shots...but rather surprisingly against the current holder of the Blenheim bowling award and seemed to struggle with the captain's flighted leg spin (perhaps they had never seen anything quite like it?). So there was much hilarity amongst the BPCC side when the EYCC number 6, who had been repeatedly flaying Spearman to the extra cover boundary, stepped back and watched himself be bowled middle stump by a rare straight West delivery that he was clearly expecting to turn square. So West had to take himself off and bring on the even more occasional bowling of Cox and Finn Spearman to try and entice some acceleration. And it worked because the ECC captain who had been padded up and prowling the boundary, made his move. Retiring his two current batsmen and deciding he fancied a knock against this bowling.
So the third phase of the innings ensued where ECC 8 and 9, who looked much more capable with the bat, launched an assault against the returning Easterbrook senior and Bartlett. Both bowlers were unlucky with several chances behind not being taken. It is difficult to decide which was the most annoying; the top edge high above the keeper's head which he inexplicably left for fine leg or gully to take, or the cut directly to West which narrowly avoided taking his head off. With Easterbrook Senior bowled out Spearman senior returned to take both 8 and 9 in the last over to restore some semblance of normality. EYY closed on 158
After another pleasant tea the new Blenheim opening partnership of Spearmen (Juniors obvs) strode purposefully out to the crease and finding it as hard as the ECC openers had, soon strode back. Both with single figures to their names. Jake first, to be replaced by Cox and Finn 2nd to be replaced by Bartlett (who was cleaned up first ball) before Martin was joined by Edgar. At that point we were 24-3 in the 9th over and it was looking like some rebuilding was required. EYY decided at that point to start rotating their bowling which proved disastrous with firstly Martin Cox and then Edgar Easterbrook tucking in heartily. Some eager 2s from Martin, quick singles from Edgar and no-balls and free hits really helped race the scoreboard along and BPCC reached their 160-3 with more than six overs to spare and with a wealth of further experienced batting padded up and snoozing in the sun waiting their turn. An enjoyable moment was to see Martin exploring the new challenge of free hits.....average accumulated runs 0.5 per free hit.
It is so nice to have a bar at the ground and we stayed for a few drinks and a nice natter with Gary et al about pitch prep and our options for games for the next weeks.
P Spearman 6-0-3-33, N. Walker 7-4-1-11, E. Easterbrook 5-1-1-6, J. Easterbrook 7-1-1-15, M. West 3-0-1-18
M. Cox 68*, E. Easterbrook 61* (3rd 50+ score in the last four games)
The now traditional, which hand is the piece of grass in? "toss" was won by Eynsham who elected to bat in the 35:35 over clash. Played on a Father's day and unusually for BPCC with free hits for no balls.
Nigel was feeling nicely back at home opening the bowling from the end where he had bowled in his spell as an Eynsham player and this week sharing the new ball with Edgar. As Stan was rolling back the years to take the gloves. It was an inspired combo with tight bowling and excellent wicketkeeping as Eynsham crawled watchfully to about ten for 2 in the tenth over. One each to Walker and Easterbrook junior, the later a fine edge taken well by Stan to get rid of the dangerous Luke Bowles and of course a round of give me some sugar followed. With the arrival at the crease of a junior for a fathers day partnership we reluctantly stood Edgar down to let Julian take his place. And I hardly have to write it...he struck metronomically in the 2nd over with the ball caught by Easterbook Junior. Young Wright looked like he could bat and played some lovely shots in Nigel's final over before exposing his achilles heel (by not keeping aforementioned appendage behind the line) and being stumped by new ace keeper Stan, throwing the stumps down from his stood back position. In the spirit of the day he was called back by the Blenheim captain who had somewhat unsportingly suggested the move to Stan in the first place (perhaps not expecting it to be so clinically executed). The introduction of Spearman senior saw a few more chances and a few more runs but 18 over drinks Eynsham were seemingly struggling at 35 for 4.
So after a conflab with senior players the Blenheim captain decided to bring on some of the lesser used bowlers (and continue with Spearman senior) to try and move the score and game along a bit. The ECC batsman got the message and started playing more shots...but rather surprisingly against the current holder of the Blenheim bowling award and seemed to struggle with the captain's flighted leg spin (perhaps they had never seen anything quite like it?). So there was much hilarity amongst the BPCC side when the EYCC number 6, who had been repeatedly flaying Spearman to the extra cover boundary, stepped back and watched himself be bowled middle stump by a rare straight West delivery that he was clearly expecting to turn square. So West had to take himself off and bring on the even more occasional bowling of Cox and Finn Spearman to try and entice some acceleration. And it worked because the ECC captain who had been padded up and prowling the boundary, made his move. Retiring his two current batsmen and deciding he fancied a knock against this bowling.
So the third phase of the innings ensued where ECC 8 and 9, who looked much more capable with the bat, launched an assault against the returning Easterbrook senior and Bartlett. Both bowlers were unlucky with several chances behind not being taken. It is difficult to decide which was the most annoying; the top edge high above the keeper's head which he inexplicably left for fine leg or gully to take, or the cut directly to West which narrowly avoided taking his head off. With Easterbrook Senior bowled out Spearman senior returned to take both 8 and 9 in the last over to restore some semblance of normality. EYY closed on 158
After another pleasant tea the new Blenheim opening partnership of Spearmen (Juniors obvs) strode purposefully out to the crease and finding it as hard as the ECC openers had, soon strode back. Both with single figures to their names. Jake first, to be replaced by Cox and Finn 2nd to be replaced by Bartlett (who was cleaned up first ball) before Martin was joined by Edgar. At that point we were 24-3 in the 9th over and it was looking like some rebuilding was required. EYY decided at that point to start rotating their bowling which proved disastrous with firstly Martin Cox and then Edgar Easterbrook tucking in heartily. Some eager 2s from Martin, quick singles from Edgar and no-balls and free hits really helped race the scoreboard along and BPCC reached their 160-3 with more than six overs to spare and with a wealth of further experienced batting padded up and snoozing in the sun waiting their turn. An enjoyable moment was to see Martin exploring the new challenge of free hits.....average accumulated runs 0.5 per free hit.
It is so nice to have a bar at the ground and we stayed for a few drinks and a nice natter with Gary et al about pitch prep and our options for games for the next weeks.
P Spearman 6-0-3-33, N. Walker 7-4-1-11, E. Easterbrook 5-1-1-6, J. Easterbrook 7-1-1-15, M. West 3-0-1-18
M. Cox 68*, E. Easterbrook 61* (3rd 50+ score in the last four games)
MSCC T20 Vs BPCC
Gulleys Report TBC
Islip CC Vs BPCC
It will not have escaped the attention of anyone involved in this fixture that for many years we inflicted large defeats on Islip, until about four years ago when the situation flipped. Since then they have defeated us heavily, despite our best efforts, including notably halting our winning run of nine matches last season. The arms race escalated again this year with BPCC fielding possibly the youngest side in living memory and several ringers whilst the Islip ranks also featured several previously unseen cricketers. Having lost the first game of the season, this year BPCC was on the back of eight straight wins...something was going to have to give.
With the Palace in lockdown, the 35:35 game had been switched to Islip, but with outfield mowing scheduled before the season there was nothing that could be done about the length of the outfield grass, same for both sides seemed to be the consensus and the wicket looked much better than our last visit. Captain West won the toss and predictably elected to bowl with a side brimming with bowling talent.
With our frequent opening bowling partnership of Walker and Angol (combined age 139) unavailable through injury we turned to the E. Easterbrook/Dellar partnership (combined age 38) and immediately established the usual excellent control of proceedings with the 3rd over being an Edgar wicket maiden (obviously keeping the 2nd over magic warm for his dad this week). Dellar was changed after four overs (three tidy and one lose) and replaced, for one game only, down the hill by newcomer and genuine South African ringer Jack Nickolson-White. He bowled excellent lines and lengths with pace and control. This spell with Edgar and Jack bowling left Islip wondering how they could score more than the occasional single. With Edgar bowled out we turned to the other ringer Asi Khambule also of South African pedigree who bowled leg spin in a different class, turning it a good 18inches on many occasions and he soon finished off the other Islip opener with a well-taken caught bowled. At the 21 over mark Islip were hanging in at 59/2 and Nickolson-White was bowled out (2-2-13-0) , wicketless because they could rarely put a bat on it). Both the SA lads should have had another wicket with pretty straightforward chances being dropped by the usually safe-as-houses Weedon.
There was much muttering in the BPCC ranks about how typical it was that Spearman senior would now enter the attack "bag some bunnies" the hard yards done by the unrewarded bowlers. However, with the pace significantly diminished and the ball strangely not turning square after it pitched, the Spearman we got was the declaration bowler of the Eynsham game fame. Finally realising that they had to go for it and with plenty of wickets in hand, Islip attacked at both ends and also tucked in heartily to the Weedon off spin racking up 116 runs in 14 overs for the loss of just one, leaving Islip to finish on 175-3. With the village hall in use, we retired to the Church for tea.
Our reply had many of the same features as the Islip one. Though we slipped to 21/3 in the 3rd over, with most of those biffed by Harvey, West and Jake having fallen cheaply again. There then followed a period of consolidation and rebuilding a platform with James Talbot and Finn Spearman mixing lots of caution with some increasingly sound hitting and quick running. Time to pause and note the marvel of a BPCC side which included nobody over 60 and James at 37 being third oldest with seven players under 21...amazing. So when we reached our 20th over we were 62-3 and we pressed the accelerator, James and Finn both pushed on and falling a few overs apart, bringing to the crease first Alex Dellar and 2ndly Edgar and these two played a blinder, running well and hitting big with some lovely sixes including Edgar's missile like flat 6 over extra cover, what a shot that was, no need to worry about long grass there. We got closer and closer hovering around an asking rate of 8, 9 or 10 an over all the way on the run in. So with 12 to win off 8 balls the home side were jubilant as Edgar was inexplicably bowled by one time BPCC ringer Shreyash Ananad. But Dellar kept going.
7 balls to go 12 needed - Weedon biffs for 2.
6 balls to go 10 needed - A new bowler, to take the pace off, now that is a brave decision when you could have brought back the opener, - Dellar pulls through mid wicket 4.
5 balls to go 6 needed - Deller drives, ball held up in long grass, single taken
4 balls to go 5 needed - Weeden bowled going for a big hit
3 balls to go 5 needed - in comes Asi (apparently the better batsman of the SA ringers) - ball held up in long grass single taken
2 balls to go 4 needed - Dellar drives but the ball is yet held up in grass but they run a tight single....fielder tries for run out and misses, they run an overthrow
final ball 2 needed to win - ....
Rather predictably the ball is struck by Dellar, holds up in the long grass, a comfortable single is taken. Unfortunately no overthrows and a TIE !
Alex Dellar making it to his maiden 50 off the last ball, a superbly managed chase and in the end probably a fair result to both sides. Blenheim extend their unbeaten run to nine games and we can be sure that next year's clash will likely see the arms race move up a notch further.
Thanks to Islip for hosting us and the teas and to Kev for preparing a good cricket wicket, their square really has improved greatly in quality. We retired to the Backlane and then to watch the football which came nowhere close to the level of excitement produced by the cricket.
Just to manage expectations, I don't think our match vs The Cricketers Club next week will be as exciting.
E. Easterbrook 7-2-1-19, K. Kambule 7-0-1-35, J. Nickolson-White 7-2-0-13, A Dellar 4-0-0-22 (Spearman and Weedon threatened legal action if I mentioned their figures)
A. Dellar 50*, E. Easterbrook 34, J. Talbot 33, F. Spearman 27
With the Palace in lockdown, the 35:35 game had been switched to Islip, but with outfield mowing scheduled before the season there was nothing that could be done about the length of the outfield grass, same for both sides seemed to be the consensus and the wicket looked much better than our last visit. Captain West won the toss and predictably elected to bowl with a side brimming with bowling talent.
With our frequent opening bowling partnership of Walker and Angol (combined age 139) unavailable through injury we turned to the E. Easterbrook/Dellar partnership (combined age 38) and immediately established the usual excellent control of proceedings with the 3rd over being an Edgar wicket maiden (obviously keeping the 2nd over magic warm for his dad this week). Dellar was changed after four overs (three tidy and one lose) and replaced, for one game only, down the hill by newcomer and genuine South African ringer Jack Nickolson-White. He bowled excellent lines and lengths with pace and control. This spell with Edgar and Jack bowling left Islip wondering how they could score more than the occasional single. With Edgar bowled out we turned to the other ringer Asi Khambule also of South African pedigree who bowled leg spin in a different class, turning it a good 18inches on many occasions and he soon finished off the other Islip opener with a well-taken caught bowled. At the 21 over mark Islip were hanging in at 59/2 and Nickolson-White was bowled out (2-2-13-0) , wicketless because they could rarely put a bat on it). Both the SA lads should have had another wicket with pretty straightforward chances being dropped by the usually safe-as-houses Weedon.
There was much muttering in the BPCC ranks about how typical it was that Spearman senior would now enter the attack "bag some bunnies" the hard yards done by the unrewarded bowlers. However, with the pace significantly diminished and the ball strangely not turning square after it pitched, the Spearman we got was the declaration bowler of the Eynsham game fame. Finally realising that they had to go for it and with plenty of wickets in hand, Islip attacked at both ends and also tucked in heartily to the Weedon off spin racking up 116 runs in 14 overs for the loss of just one, leaving Islip to finish on 175-3. With the village hall in use, we retired to the Church for tea.
Our reply had many of the same features as the Islip one. Though we slipped to 21/3 in the 3rd over, with most of those biffed by Harvey, West and Jake having fallen cheaply again. There then followed a period of consolidation and rebuilding a platform with James Talbot and Finn Spearman mixing lots of caution with some increasingly sound hitting and quick running. Time to pause and note the marvel of a BPCC side which included nobody over 60 and James at 37 being third oldest with seven players under 21...amazing. So when we reached our 20th over we were 62-3 and we pressed the accelerator, James and Finn both pushed on and falling a few overs apart, bringing to the crease first Alex Dellar and 2ndly Edgar and these two played a blinder, running well and hitting big with some lovely sixes including Edgar's missile like flat 6 over extra cover, what a shot that was, no need to worry about long grass there. We got closer and closer hovering around an asking rate of 8, 9 or 10 an over all the way on the run in. So with 12 to win off 8 balls the home side were jubilant as Edgar was inexplicably bowled by one time BPCC ringer Shreyash Ananad. But Dellar kept going.
7 balls to go 12 needed - Weedon biffs for 2.
6 balls to go 10 needed - A new bowler, to take the pace off, now that is a brave decision when you could have brought back the opener, - Dellar pulls through mid wicket 4.
5 balls to go 6 needed - Deller drives, ball held up in long grass, single taken
4 balls to go 5 needed - Weeden bowled going for a big hit
3 balls to go 5 needed - in comes Asi (apparently the better batsman of the SA ringers) - ball held up in long grass single taken
2 balls to go 4 needed - Dellar drives but the ball is yet held up in grass but they run a tight single....fielder tries for run out and misses, they run an overthrow
final ball 2 needed to win - ....
Rather predictably the ball is struck by Dellar, holds up in the long grass, a comfortable single is taken. Unfortunately no overthrows and a TIE !
Alex Dellar making it to his maiden 50 off the last ball, a superbly managed chase and in the end probably a fair result to both sides. Blenheim extend their unbeaten run to nine games and we can be sure that next year's clash will likely see the arms race move up a notch further.
Thanks to Islip for hosting us and the teas and to Kev for preparing a good cricket wicket, their square really has improved greatly in quality. We retired to the Backlane and then to watch the football which came nowhere close to the level of excitement produced by the cricket.
Just to manage expectations, I don't think our match vs The Cricketers Club next week will be as exciting.
E. Easterbrook 7-2-1-19, K. Kambule 7-0-1-35, J. Nickolson-White 7-2-0-13, A Dellar 4-0-0-22 (Spearman and Weedon threatened legal action if I mentioned their figures)
A. Dellar 50*, E. Easterbrook 34, J. Talbot 33, F. Spearman 27
Cricketers Club Vs BPCC
To be inputted
Philosophers CC vs BPCC
To be inputted
Littlewick Green CC Vs BPCC
Blenheim arrived at Littlewick Green on a gloriously sunny afternoon in what was to be the first of succession of August away game battle grounds.
It was expected to be an uphill fight for Blenheim as last years game was, to put it mildly, a solid thrashing. Knowing this, the honourable captain Malcolm West and vice captain Boardman scampered away quicker than they ever muster a single between them leaving young gun Jake in charge of organising the men on the field.
With some challenges getting a team together earlier in the week the squadron was brought together by some light conscription with Josh and new ‘boy’ David Burns courageously volunteering themselves. Blenheim were therefore ready for battle.
After winning the toss with a strong bowling side and a top order shorn of West, Parker, Boardman and Cox the captain with all his wisdom elected to bat.
Clearly misjudging his own ability to open, Jake was replaced after 3 balls by little brother Finn as the former played round a straight one. Finn and Harvey set about repairing the damage and runs continued to flow after Finn departed for an aggressive 31 with Harvey providing a cool and calm head at the other end. Run machine Edgar took up the mantle at 57 – 2 off 10 and by the time these two young Burford schooled, Minster Lovell playing U19s had perished (Yates top scoring with 37, ‘Ernie’ for 14) we had reached 95 at close to 6 an over. A great rate but four potentially match winning bats in the shed and an assortment of bowling all rounders (Im being kind) and unknowns to come. Rebuilding began again in the unlikely shape of Easterbrook Snr and Josh-the-golfer who put his swing to good use making an impressive (and Blenheim PB) 19 with four boundaries.
At 129-4 in the 23rd over, we were sitting pretty and looking for something close to 200. Remarkably, however, 19 balls later our innings was over with Easterbrook (11) & McCrisken falling in the same over, two golden ducks and a further duck leaving Nigel and Tom at the crease with 11 overs left.
In between all the carnage Weedon managed to cart 20 off his own bat from one over as he and P.Spearman put on the 3rd highest partnership of the innings before the latter became the first of the 2 golden ducks!
At 153-9 then, an opportunity to take your time you may think. However, Tom’s mind works differently to many and without a worry in the world he biffed another couple of boundaries before being last man out on 31 having been in for all of 3 overs (much of which were wickets at the other end) picking up from where he left off on the Elie beach.
163 all out felt a little light on what appeared to be a decent batting track and memories of last years humiliation here hung over us at tea.
But! But...
We had a team of bowlers. At least 8 could lay claim to being bone fide trundlers and the challenge for young captain Jake was to utilise as many as possible (especially those who had got ducks), whilst also trying to win the game defending a small-ish total. A big ask.
Blenheim needed a strong start from the openers to keep us in the game and with Walker still recovering from injury, Weedon and ‘Ernie’ Easterbrook opened. Initially the message was not so well received by Tom who started us off with a wide but soon both were in their groove, and it was Easterbrook who struck first, strangling the opener down leg side with a good grab by Yates. At 28-1 off 8 the game was still very much in the balance and with new boy Brooks unfortunately spilling a sitter we wondered if the chance to take the game by the scruff of the neck had perhaps passed us by. How wrong we were. Weedon’s testing angles paid dividends in the 9th over, castling Littlewick’s no. 3 without scoring. Not to be outdone, Ernie matched the feat the next over. Twice! Well, whatever he can do Weedon can too, as two more followed in the 11th over with bails lighting up with alarming regularity like Blackpool illuminations to leave our hosts reeling on 37-6. We were well on top now but we still had potentially 6 bowlers in the locker, all of whom deserved a game and had travelled an hour or so for the privilege. With eagle eyed Engel at the ground there were unlikely to be any match fee concessions for not actually having fully participated in the game.
On came new ‘boy’ Brooks to bowl his own particular brand of flighted seamers. After his first over there were thoughts that perhaps a little more seam and a little less flight might work better as he struggled for any length at all bowling an array of full bungers. His second set was somewhat more successful however as his rhythm returned and was rewarded with one of those stunning close-in catches that Blenheim have specialised in over the last couple of years. This one was courtesy of skipper Jake.
With Stan holding up the other end, Littlewick had progressed to 62-7 off 17 so 101 needed off 18. A tall order in both runs and wickets columns. Brooks continued to probe and got noticeably more accurate as those new boy nerves dissipated after his early misadventures. He struck again in his 4th over and the ‘Greens’ were now 8 down.
At around this point, we also had the Curious Incident of the Batsman in the Park. With Stan bowling, various appeals were made for caught behind, lbw or stumped off the same delivery. In the confusion no-one really knew what had happened but it seemed the batsman had been given out for one or the other. As he slowly left the square and trudged towards the pavilion, the bemused Blenheim players remained in position not knowing if they should celebrate or not. It was all a bit weird. Anyway, captain Jake, sensing this could sour what was looking like a phenomenal victory, generously called the batsman back which, under the circumstances, seemed like the right decision.
A further double bowling change occurred with Easterbrook and Spearman Seniors replacing Brooks and Angol and another top contender for comedy moment of the season then arose as Julian forced the error and the batsman offered up the easiest of chances to mid-on where Finn was waiting to take the catch. Except he wasn’t. He was in some trance like state dreaming of exam results, girls, swimming, driving, climbing. Anything in fact except the cricket game he was participating in. As the ball dropped at his feet, so did Finn as he not only failed to make any attempt at the catch but also saw the ball trickle past him for 2.
Spearman cleaned up the 9th wicket and the captain then elected to take matters into his own hands by taking the last wicket courtesy of another more-than-decent Yates take – this time one handed above his head. Jake had therefore fully participated in just 5 balls of the game (other than the 2 golden ducks he’d adjudicated on as umpire!) having bookended it with a 3-ball duck first up and snaffling the final wicket within 2 deliveries in true Spearman style.
Considering the expectations of a challenging battle for Blenheim, this was an impressive all round performance in which almost every player contributed. And on this note, a big shout out for Nigel Walker, recovering from injury and who travelled an hour to score the first innings, didnt face a ball when batting, didn’t bowl and fielded the ball just a handful of times. Today, Nigel Walker took one for the team.
BPCC 163 ao (25.4 overs) H. Yates 37, F. Spearman 31, T Weedon 31, J McCrisken 19,
LGCC 87 ao (26.2 overs) T Weedon 3-16, E Easterbrook 3-17, D Brooks 2-17, J Spearman 1-2, P Spearman 1-6
Jake & Rhino
It was expected to be an uphill fight for Blenheim as last years game was, to put it mildly, a solid thrashing. Knowing this, the honourable captain Malcolm West and vice captain Boardman scampered away quicker than they ever muster a single between them leaving young gun Jake in charge of organising the men on the field.
With some challenges getting a team together earlier in the week the squadron was brought together by some light conscription with Josh and new ‘boy’ David Burns courageously volunteering themselves. Blenheim were therefore ready for battle.
After winning the toss with a strong bowling side and a top order shorn of West, Parker, Boardman and Cox the captain with all his wisdom elected to bat.
Clearly misjudging his own ability to open, Jake was replaced after 3 balls by little brother Finn as the former played round a straight one. Finn and Harvey set about repairing the damage and runs continued to flow after Finn departed for an aggressive 31 with Harvey providing a cool and calm head at the other end. Run machine Edgar took up the mantle at 57 – 2 off 10 and by the time these two young Burford schooled, Minster Lovell playing U19s had perished (Yates top scoring with 37, ‘Ernie’ for 14) we had reached 95 at close to 6 an over. A great rate but four potentially match winning bats in the shed and an assortment of bowling all rounders (Im being kind) and unknowns to come. Rebuilding began again in the unlikely shape of Easterbrook Snr and Josh-the-golfer who put his swing to good use making an impressive (and Blenheim PB) 19 with four boundaries.
At 129-4 in the 23rd over, we were sitting pretty and looking for something close to 200. Remarkably, however, 19 balls later our innings was over with Easterbrook (11) & McCrisken falling in the same over, two golden ducks and a further duck leaving Nigel and Tom at the crease with 11 overs left.
In between all the carnage Weedon managed to cart 20 off his own bat from one over as he and P.Spearman put on the 3rd highest partnership of the innings before the latter became the first of the 2 golden ducks!
At 153-9 then, an opportunity to take your time you may think. However, Tom’s mind works differently to many and without a worry in the world he biffed another couple of boundaries before being last man out on 31 having been in for all of 3 overs (much of which were wickets at the other end) picking up from where he left off on the Elie beach.
163 all out felt a little light on what appeared to be a decent batting track and memories of last years humiliation here hung over us at tea.
But! But...
We had a team of bowlers. At least 8 could lay claim to being bone fide trundlers and the challenge for young captain Jake was to utilise as many as possible (especially those who had got ducks), whilst also trying to win the game defending a small-ish total. A big ask.
Blenheim needed a strong start from the openers to keep us in the game and with Walker still recovering from injury, Weedon and ‘Ernie’ Easterbrook opened. Initially the message was not so well received by Tom who started us off with a wide but soon both were in their groove, and it was Easterbrook who struck first, strangling the opener down leg side with a good grab by Yates. At 28-1 off 8 the game was still very much in the balance and with new boy Brooks unfortunately spilling a sitter we wondered if the chance to take the game by the scruff of the neck had perhaps passed us by. How wrong we were. Weedon’s testing angles paid dividends in the 9th over, castling Littlewick’s no. 3 without scoring. Not to be outdone, Ernie matched the feat the next over. Twice! Well, whatever he can do Weedon can too, as two more followed in the 11th over with bails lighting up with alarming regularity like Blackpool illuminations to leave our hosts reeling on 37-6. We were well on top now but we still had potentially 6 bowlers in the locker, all of whom deserved a game and had travelled an hour or so for the privilege. With eagle eyed Engel at the ground there were unlikely to be any match fee concessions for not actually having fully participated in the game.
On came new ‘boy’ Brooks to bowl his own particular brand of flighted seamers. After his first over there were thoughts that perhaps a little more seam and a little less flight might work better as he struggled for any length at all bowling an array of full bungers. His second set was somewhat more successful however as his rhythm returned and was rewarded with one of those stunning close-in catches that Blenheim have specialised in over the last couple of years. This one was courtesy of skipper Jake.
With Stan holding up the other end, Littlewick had progressed to 62-7 off 17 so 101 needed off 18. A tall order in both runs and wickets columns. Brooks continued to probe and got noticeably more accurate as those new boy nerves dissipated after his early misadventures. He struck again in his 4th over and the ‘Greens’ were now 8 down.
At around this point, we also had the Curious Incident of the Batsman in the Park. With Stan bowling, various appeals were made for caught behind, lbw or stumped off the same delivery. In the confusion no-one really knew what had happened but it seemed the batsman had been given out for one or the other. As he slowly left the square and trudged towards the pavilion, the bemused Blenheim players remained in position not knowing if they should celebrate or not. It was all a bit weird. Anyway, captain Jake, sensing this could sour what was looking like a phenomenal victory, generously called the batsman back which, under the circumstances, seemed like the right decision.
A further double bowling change occurred with Easterbrook and Spearman Seniors replacing Brooks and Angol and another top contender for comedy moment of the season then arose as Julian forced the error and the batsman offered up the easiest of chances to mid-on where Finn was waiting to take the catch. Except he wasn’t. He was in some trance like state dreaming of exam results, girls, swimming, driving, climbing. Anything in fact except the cricket game he was participating in. As the ball dropped at his feet, so did Finn as he not only failed to make any attempt at the catch but also saw the ball trickle past him for 2.
Spearman cleaned up the 9th wicket and the captain then elected to take matters into his own hands by taking the last wicket courtesy of another more-than-decent Yates take – this time one handed above his head. Jake had therefore fully participated in just 5 balls of the game (other than the 2 golden ducks he’d adjudicated on as umpire!) having bookended it with a 3-ball duck first up and snaffling the final wicket within 2 deliveries in true Spearman style.
Considering the expectations of a challenging battle for Blenheim, this was an impressive all round performance in which almost every player contributed. And on this note, a big shout out for Nigel Walker, recovering from injury and who travelled an hour to score the first innings, didnt face a ball when batting, didn’t bowl and fielded the ball just a handful of times. Today, Nigel Walker took one for the team.
BPCC 163 ao (25.4 overs) H. Yates 37, F. Spearman 31, T Weedon 31, J McCrisken 19,
LGCC 87 ao (26.2 overs) T Weedon 3-16, E Easterbrook 3-17, D Brooks 2-17, J Spearman 1-2, P Spearman 1-6
Jake & Rhino
Checkedon CC
The first 45 overs of the game against Checkedon is best consigned to history. No-one needs to know that after Stan got an early breakthrough, bowling the oppo’s captain/opener for a rapid 20 we then had to endure another 177 runs before another wicket fell – and this was a retirement! The latter stages of the innings saw a clatter of cheap wickets, but the damage had already been done. Checkendon closed on 223-7 off 35 overs – a run rate of 6.37 which had reduced from over 7 earlier in the game. Our fielding wasn’t always as good as it could have been, but the outfield was the hardest and fastest but not always the smoothest we’ve experienced all season which didn’t help.
When Boardman fell in the 10th over, we had slumped to 24-5 and one of the biggest defeats ever in Blenheim’s history looked on the cards. Josh McCrisken was still there though – fresh from his top score of 19 the previous week, and as we only needed 200 more, well anything can happen, right? He was joined by Jake and with the pair cautiously taking only 4 runs off the next 4 overs it seemed just a matter of time before the next wicket fell. Things started to look up in the 15th over however as 9 came from it and when a 4th bowler entered the attack, his poor length was met with Jake dispatching him for 4, 4 and 6, with a no-ball to follow (apparently we weren’t doing free hits at Checkendon this year – contrary to previous experience, although we didn’t get to test this out ourselves in the first innings). Josh continued to keep the straight ones out at the other end and occasionally played his own attacking shots at anything short and wide. The same bowler’s 3rd over went for 22 immediately followed by 16 off the next as Jake tee’d off, ably supported now by McCrisken, visibly growing in confidence as the bowlers completely lost theirs. It was like watching Ian Botham and Graham Dilley, Headingly 1981 all over again. You could almost hear Jake saying ‘Lets just have some fun. Im gonna give it some umpty’. Not to be outdone, Josh smote his own 6 into the trees and after 21 overs we had reached 117-5. Unfortunately, though, shortly after achieving another half century, Jake played one big shot too many and not only skied it but also found one of the few fielders on either side who could catch. The pair had put on 97 in 12.2 overs and if only we had another decent bat to come, we could still have been in the game. Enter Edgar Easterbrook. 13 overs remaining 103 required – marginally under 8 an over. Surely not?
‘Ernie’ was soon in his stride and 16 came off both the 21st, and 23rd overs with the two youngsters running well between the wickets along with a plethora of extras to go with the big shots. A further 11 came off the 25th over leaving us on 155-6 and needing 69 off 10 and with Checkendon’s back up bowlers struggling more than any of ours ever did, this suddenly looked on. Eight more came from the 26th but the fly in the ointment was that their opening bowler was still to return with 4 overs up his sleeve and he was quite decent having previously taken 2 for 4 in his opening 3. When he did return, he immediately bowled 2 maidens to put the pressure firmly back with the Blenheim boys. 175-6 off 29 now. 6 overs, 49 required. Then, disaster! Josh run out for a brilliant 42 (4 fours and that six).
McCrisken and Easterbrook (not to be confused with any London accountancy firm) had put on 56 in less than 8 overs. Still, seven runs came off the over with new bat R. Kidd immediately off the mark with a boundary. Another 7 came off the openers next over with Robin again finding the rope. 195-7 off 32 meant 29 were now required off 3 and with these two there, still very much a possibility. Next ball though Kidd was castled for a rapid 14 (13 balls) and with new bat Spearman (P) taking 3 balls to return the strike to Easterbrook we now needed 28 off 14 deliveries. Another boundary and crucially a single off the final delivery meant Edgar was still facing with 23 off 12 now required. A dot and another massive 6. 17 off 10. Two dots and a single meant Spearman essentially had a free hit with the final ball of the penultimate over – with Angol to come it didn’t matter who watched Edgar from the other end in the final over. Regrettably though, the in-field wasn’t breached so still 16 needed off the final 6 deliveries. With their four top bowlers all bowled out and the other 2 going for a combined total of 91 off 6 overs, Checkendon then chose that moment to introduce a 7th bowler and with Edgar facing we were still in with a shout. A game of cat and mouse ensued with the experienced bowler (who had previously retired hurt, hence perhaps why he was held back) chucking it wider and Edgar advancing down the track. Unfortunately for Blenheim, the bowler won the battle within the battle for 4 balls, tying Easterbook down with dot balls despite his desperate attempts to heave it away. A two was scampered and the innings finished with another ball lost in the trees which also brought up Ernie’s 50. Having come so close we ultimately succumbed by 7 runs but full credit to Josh, Jake, Edgar and Robin for getting us so near when the situation for most of the day had looked desperate.
With a range of musical/beer festivals to rush back to, we unfortunately never got to play ‘find the pub in the woods’ this year – always a highlight with this fixture.
CCC 223-7 (35 overs) P Spearman 3-34, J Spearman 2-48, S Angol 1-35
BPCC 216-8 (35 overs) J Spearman 58, E Easterbrook 50*, J McCrisken 42
Rhino
When Boardman fell in the 10th over, we had slumped to 24-5 and one of the biggest defeats ever in Blenheim’s history looked on the cards. Josh McCrisken was still there though – fresh from his top score of 19 the previous week, and as we only needed 200 more, well anything can happen, right? He was joined by Jake and with the pair cautiously taking only 4 runs off the next 4 overs it seemed just a matter of time before the next wicket fell. Things started to look up in the 15th over however as 9 came from it and when a 4th bowler entered the attack, his poor length was met with Jake dispatching him for 4, 4 and 6, with a no-ball to follow (apparently we weren’t doing free hits at Checkendon this year – contrary to previous experience, although we didn’t get to test this out ourselves in the first innings). Josh continued to keep the straight ones out at the other end and occasionally played his own attacking shots at anything short and wide. The same bowler’s 3rd over went for 22 immediately followed by 16 off the next as Jake tee’d off, ably supported now by McCrisken, visibly growing in confidence as the bowlers completely lost theirs. It was like watching Ian Botham and Graham Dilley, Headingly 1981 all over again. You could almost hear Jake saying ‘Lets just have some fun. Im gonna give it some umpty’. Not to be outdone, Josh smote his own 6 into the trees and after 21 overs we had reached 117-5. Unfortunately, though, shortly after achieving another half century, Jake played one big shot too many and not only skied it but also found one of the few fielders on either side who could catch. The pair had put on 97 in 12.2 overs and if only we had another decent bat to come, we could still have been in the game. Enter Edgar Easterbrook. 13 overs remaining 103 required – marginally under 8 an over. Surely not?
‘Ernie’ was soon in his stride and 16 came off both the 21st, and 23rd overs with the two youngsters running well between the wickets along with a plethora of extras to go with the big shots. A further 11 came off the 25th over leaving us on 155-6 and needing 69 off 10 and with Checkendon’s back up bowlers struggling more than any of ours ever did, this suddenly looked on. Eight more came from the 26th but the fly in the ointment was that their opening bowler was still to return with 4 overs up his sleeve and he was quite decent having previously taken 2 for 4 in his opening 3. When he did return, he immediately bowled 2 maidens to put the pressure firmly back with the Blenheim boys. 175-6 off 29 now. 6 overs, 49 required. Then, disaster! Josh run out for a brilliant 42 (4 fours and that six).
McCrisken and Easterbrook (not to be confused with any London accountancy firm) had put on 56 in less than 8 overs. Still, seven runs came off the over with new bat R. Kidd immediately off the mark with a boundary. Another 7 came off the openers next over with Robin again finding the rope. 195-7 off 32 meant 29 were now required off 3 and with these two there, still very much a possibility. Next ball though Kidd was castled for a rapid 14 (13 balls) and with new bat Spearman (P) taking 3 balls to return the strike to Easterbrook we now needed 28 off 14 deliveries. Another boundary and crucially a single off the final delivery meant Edgar was still facing with 23 off 12 now required. A dot and another massive 6. 17 off 10. Two dots and a single meant Spearman essentially had a free hit with the final ball of the penultimate over – with Angol to come it didn’t matter who watched Edgar from the other end in the final over. Regrettably though, the in-field wasn’t breached so still 16 needed off the final 6 deliveries. With their four top bowlers all bowled out and the other 2 going for a combined total of 91 off 6 overs, Checkendon then chose that moment to introduce a 7th bowler and with Edgar facing we were still in with a shout. A game of cat and mouse ensued with the experienced bowler (who had previously retired hurt, hence perhaps why he was held back) chucking it wider and Edgar advancing down the track. Unfortunately for Blenheim, the bowler won the battle within the battle for 4 balls, tying Easterbook down with dot balls despite his desperate attempts to heave it away. A two was scampered and the innings finished with another ball lost in the trees which also brought up Ernie’s 50. Having come so close we ultimately succumbed by 7 runs but full credit to Josh, Jake, Edgar and Robin for getting us so near when the situation for most of the day had looked desperate.
With a range of musical/beer festivals to rush back to, we unfortunately never got to play ‘find the pub in the woods’ this year – always a highlight with this fixture.
CCC 223-7 (35 overs) P Spearman 3-34, J Spearman 2-48, S Angol 1-35
BPCC 216-8 (35 overs) J Spearman 58, E Easterbrook 50*, J McCrisken 42
Rhino
Bibury Vs BPCC
With the captain unavoidably detained, the vice captain having gotten lost on the way, the other vice captain getting injured and dropping out the day before and the other vice captain inexplicably finding golf more important (and taking last weeks hero McCrisken with him!), it was left to former (and unbeaten but deposed) vice captain Phil Spearman to manage affairs until the Calvary turned up. In the meantime, the toss was contrived and a full batting order (that’s numbers 1 all the way down to 11) had been decided. We were to bat on account of Bibury wishing to supply a BBQ after the game and needing manpower to that end. A format of 30 overs was decided upon in light of the abysmal forecast suggesting heavy thunder showers throughout the afternoon. No free hits were also agreed and this was relayed to the umpire.
Malcolm then turned up.
Harvey took all the openers luck and Boardman none as the latter played a glorious cover drive only to find it nestling in the hands of the short cover fielder inches from the ground in the way we have snared so many opposition batsmen this season. In an innings where everyone batted, Boardy was to be the only batsman out for less than double figures. At the other end, as if to rub salt into his wounds, Harvey rode his luck with several let offs but played expansively and made the oppo pay for their errors with a top score of 43 off 32 including 3 maximums and 4 fours. With Harvey’s demise we had reached 86 off only 11 overs with Parker also back in the shed for a feisty 24 at more than a run a ball. From thereon in batsmen came and went with some regularity – all seemingly in a hurry to push the score along. They all succeeded to some extent with late replacement Ingram hitting a quickfire 26, Finn and captain West 14 and 16 respectively and Easterbrook (E), Bartlett, and Spearman (P) all making 10 apiece. Julian was there at the end on 17 with Stan also not out (9) having twice found the boundary himself.
Every partnership realised at least 10 runs but the largest (Yates and Ingram) was only 34. Has there ever been such an even spread of partnerships throughout a Blenheim innings? If only we had a gambler who could explain spreads or someone who knew anything about maths to discuss the statistical relevance of ranges (if indeed that is even a thing). We closed on an impressive 207-9 off our 30 overs.
So we went into the field full of confidence but in hindsight the warning signs were there. We had been informed that nearly 600 runs had been scored the previous day on this same wicket and also Bibury seemed to give everyone a bowl despite the run-fest and did not rely on their rapid opener to complete his set to blast everyone out.
We started well enough though with Bartlett and Easterbrook tying down the openers such that after 8 overs Bibury had crawled to just 26-0 with Edgar in particular being difficult to get away. At the half way stage of 15 overs they had only progressed to 63-1 with Spearman (P) and Angol now turning their arms over - Bartlett bagging the opener before standing down. They now needed close to 10 an over with 9 wickets in hand - something had to give and we knew at some point someone was going to be targeted.
Stan Angol is very much one of those marmite bowlers. Batsmen either love him or hate him. Initially, it was the latter as he opened with a maiden and only 2 came off his 2nd. The opener then retired hurt but its not known if it was a physical, emotional, or psychological injury as he had wound up several times only to be bamboozled by the experienced spinner.
Unfortunately, thereafter it was carnage. Not just for Stan although he took the brunt of it. Every over regardless of bowler was an opportunity for another lost ball or three as our hosts cranked up from first to top gear in the blink of an eye. Only Edgar escaped the carnage having completed his spell with a mere 26 coming off his 6 overs. Just 2 overs went for less than 6 between here and the end as everyone took some tap. Wickets did fall along the way and looking back one of the more crucial ones was Collymore in at no.5. who had hammered 22 off 13 including a first ball 6. Easterbrook Snr was the grateful bowling recipient of one of the catches of the season as Finn dived full length at point to snaffle a hard hit cut shot from the dangerman inches from the ground. Finn had redeemed himself in the eyes of the bowler after his howler 2 weeks previously (see Littlewick Green report c/o Webmaster Weedon)
91 were required from the final 10. Normally a big ask you would think but with chirpy, chatty, Mr Carmen at the crease one felt he could possibly manage that All By Himself if required, the way he was going about his business. Regular readers will recall that it took another catch of the season to dismiss him on the South Lawn earlier in the season as Parker successfully juggled on the long-on boundary that day.
With the arrival of an older and perhaps less nimble Clarke at the crease we sensed a chance of restricting the flow. But stopping the singles is no use when he too can find the boundaries with ease.
15 were required from the last two overs and the way Carmen was striking the ball, we were very much 2nd favourites at this stage. But Julian had re-found his radar after previously straying down leg and rattled the timbers for the 2nd time to send the potential match winner on his way for an aggressive 82. We were back in it. The new bat didn’t last long either run out off the final delivery courtesy of some sharp work from Edgar in the covers meaning Easterbrook’s final over had only yielded 3 and they now needed 12 off the final over. But who to bowl it? Bartlett, Spearman and both Easterbrooks were bowled out and Angol had had a torrid time recently. This is when the captain earns his stripes and steps up to make the big decisions. After being dissuaded from bowling himself, West threw the dice and handed the ball to late call up Ingram to bowl his very presentable offies. 3 boundaries would do it for our hosts but after 2 balls, only a single had been mustered. 11 off 4 required now and with no. 9, Mather facing we were surely favourites again. A boundary! 7 off 3. And with a big wind up he launched the next delivery high… and fractionally over the shortest player on the pitch stationed at long-on for a score equalling six! Bibury now had 2 balls to get the requisite single to win. A scrambled attempt resulted in the 2nd run out of the innings and with Clarke now also gone it left new bat, no.10, to face the final delivery still needing that one run. Ingram bowled, Seakins played and missed but non-striker Mather was tearing down the track for the run. Rather than take the stumps right in front of him, Yates calmly rolled the ball back to the bowler, avoiding the struggling Seakins and thankfully Ingram retrieved cleanly and did the rest.
What a game!
Another tie!
Our second of the season and for Harvey and Edgar their 4th or 5th!
In the dying embers of another season, it doesn’t get any better than this. A glorious new location in the Cotswolds in what turned out to be excellent weather - albeit with thunder rumbling in the distance – and perfect hosts. Everyone participated and everyone was a winner. Or at least, not a loser.
If the day were to be summed up by one song how about Human League’s ‘The Things That Dreams Are Made Of’
BPCC 207-9 (30 overs) Yates 43, Ingram 26, Parker 24
BCC 207-7 (30 overs) J Easterbrook 3-45, Bartlett 1-39, P. Spearman 1-40
Match Tied
Rhino
Malcolm then turned up.
Harvey took all the openers luck and Boardman none as the latter played a glorious cover drive only to find it nestling in the hands of the short cover fielder inches from the ground in the way we have snared so many opposition batsmen this season. In an innings where everyone batted, Boardy was to be the only batsman out for less than double figures. At the other end, as if to rub salt into his wounds, Harvey rode his luck with several let offs but played expansively and made the oppo pay for their errors with a top score of 43 off 32 including 3 maximums and 4 fours. With Harvey’s demise we had reached 86 off only 11 overs with Parker also back in the shed for a feisty 24 at more than a run a ball. From thereon in batsmen came and went with some regularity – all seemingly in a hurry to push the score along. They all succeeded to some extent with late replacement Ingram hitting a quickfire 26, Finn and captain West 14 and 16 respectively and Easterbrook (E), Bartlett, and Spearman (P) all making 10 apiece. Julian was there at the end on 17 with Stan also not out (9) having twice found the boundary himself.
Every partnership realised at least 10 runs but the largest (Yates and Ingram) was only 34. Has there ever been such an even spread of partnerships throughout a Blenheim innings? If only we had a gambler who could explain spreads or someone who knew anything about maths to discuss the statistical relevance of ranges (if indeed that is even a thing). We closed on an impressive 207-9 off our 30 overs.
So we went into the field full of confidence but in hindsight the warning signs were there. We had been informed that nearly 600 runs had been scored the previous day on this same wicket and also Bibury seemed to give everyone a bowl despite the run-fest and did not rely on their rapid opener to complete his set to blast everyone out.
We started well enough though with Bartlett and Easterbrook tying down the openers such that after 8 overs Bibury had crawled to just 26-0 with Edgar in particular being difficult to get away. At the half way stage of 15 overs they had only progressed to 63-1 with Spearman (P) and Angol now turning their arms over - Bartlett bagging the opener before standing down. They now needed close to 10 an over with 9 wickets in hand - something had to give and we knew at some point someone was going to be targeted.
Stan Angol is very much one of those marmite bowlers. Batsmen either love him or hate him. Initially, it was the latter as he opened with a maiden and only 2 came off his 2nd. The opener then retired hurt but its not known if it was a physical, emotional, or psychological injury as he had wound up several times only to be bamboozled by the experienced spinner.
Unfortunately, thereafter it was carnage. Not just for Stan although he took the brunt of it. Every over regardless of bowler was an opportunity for another lost ball or three as our hosts cranked up from first to top gear in the blink of an eye. Only Edgar escaped the carnage having completed his spell with a mere 26 coming off his 6 overs. Just 2 overs went for less than 6 between here and the end as everyone took some tap. Wickets did fall along the way and looking back one of the more crucial ones was Collymore in at no.5. who had hammered 22 off 13 including a first ball 6. Easterbrook Snr was the grateful bowling recipient of one of the catches of the season as Finn dived full length at point to snaffle a hard hit cut shot from the dangerman inches from the ground. Finn had redeemed himself in the eyes of the bowler after his howler 2 weeks previously (see Littlewick Green report c/o Webmaster Weedon)
91 were required from the final 10. Normally a big ask you would think but with chirpy, chatty, Mr Carmen at the crease one felt he could possibly manage that All By Himself if required, the way he was going about his business. Regular readers will recall that it took another catch of the season to dismiss him on the South Lawn earlier in the season as Parker successfully juggled on the long-on boundary that day.
With the arrival of an older and perhaps less nimble Clarke at the crease we sensed a chance of restricting the flow. But stopping the singles is no use when he too can find the boundaries with ease.
15 were required from the last two overs and the way Carmen was striking the ball, we were very much 2nd favourites at this stage. But Julian had re-found his radar after previously straying down leg and rattled the timbers for the 2nd time to send the potential match winner on his way for an aggressive 82. We were back in it. The new bat didn’t last long either run out off the final delivery courtesy of some sharp work from Edgar in the covers meaning Easterbrook’s final over had only yielded 3 and they now needed 12 off the final over. But who to bowl it? Bartlett, Spearman and both Easterbrooks were bowled out and Angol had had a torrid time recently. This is when the captain earns his stripes and steps up to make the big decisions. After being dissuaded from bowling himself, West threw the dice and handed the ball to late call up Ingram to bowl his very presentable offies. 3 boundaries would do it for our hosts but after 2 balls, only a single had been mustered. 11 off 4 required now and with no. 9, Mather facing we were surely favourites again. A boundary! 7 off 3. And with a big wind up he launched the next delivery high… and fractionally over the shortest player on the pitch stationed at long-on for a score equalling six! Bibury now had 2 balls to get the requisite single to win. A scrambled attempt resulted in the 2nd run out of the innings and with Clarke now also gone it left new bat, no.10, to face the final delivery still needing that one run. Ingram bowled, Seakins played and missed but non-striker Mather was tearing down the track for the run. Rather than take the stumps right in front of him, Yates calmly rolled the ball back to the bowler, avoiding the struggling Seakins and thankfully Ingram retrieved cleanly and did the rest.
What a game!
Another tie!
Our second of the season and for Harvey and Edgar their 4th or 5th!
In the dying embers of another season, it doesn’t get any better than this. A glorious new location in the Cotswolds in what turned out to be excellent weather - albeit with thunder rumbling in the distance – and perfect hosts. Everyone participated and everyone was a winner. Or at least, not a loser.
If the day were to be summed up by one song how about Human League’s ‘The Things That Dreams Are Made Of’
BPCC 207-9 (30 overs) Yates 43, Ingram 26, Parker 24
BCC 207-7 (30 overs) J Easterbrook 3-45, Bartlett 1-39, P. Spearman 1-40
Match Tied
Rhino
Elmhurst Vs BPCC
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