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BLENHEIM PARK CRICKET CLUB
BPCC Match Day Reports
BPCC Match Reports 2025
Please see the pictures below and click to see the match report.
Our Season 2025
BPCC Vs Turville CC
In the pre match psycho-babble we were informed that our visitors – Turville, making their Blenheim debut - were a shell of their side from the previous week. Meanwhile we were quite pleased with the team we’d assembled. Shawn of several youngsters, we did at least have 11 blokes who had played the game before (in many cases for several decades). So, we were optimistic …
We arrived on the South lawn to find the outfield looking more like Croatian karst scenery than a cosy country house cricket pitch with crevasses you could lose a small child down.
A small child watches on from the boundary edge
After winning the toss, and with a new team assembled, and an untested wicket, Skipper West elected to bat. The decision soon appeared to have backfired as the returning Rupert Kelley pushed at one that stuck in the track with his leading edge snaffled by the grateful bowler.
Parker and Boardman settled nerves and restored order with Parker the more expansive in their partnership of 76 in 20 overs before he departed for 35 including that rarest of beasts – a five (courtesy of overthrows), along with four further boundaries. Boardman quickly followed for 25 (also four boundaries).
New boy Parke (not to be confused with Parker) came to the crease and after a nervy start – getting off the mark with a Chinese cut past the stumps and keeper – set about the back-up bowling. He was soon joined by Blenheim veteran and ex-pat Cox.
Turville clearly struggled for a 5th bowler. When one was introduced in the 24th over, 20 runs were the result, mostly off the bat of Parke. And with their 4 main bowlers having just a single over left between them after 28 overs, the final 7 realised 64 runs with Parke and Yates managing maximums and the usually more pedestrian Cox also tucking in, helping himself to 38*
Yates, in at 7, provided a quickfire cameo of 16 taking over from where Parke had left off (39 with 2 sixes, 5 fours) and the innings ended (with a liberal sprinkling of 34 extras) on 191-7 from our allotted 35 overs.
It felt like a defendable score and our mood was further heightened by a cracking tea – courtesy of new suppliers from Woodstock. All tastes (and none) appeared to be catered for so a big thumbs up to Stan (or his phone) for sourcing.
Into the field we went, and Walker did what he always does, probed away, created chances and as usual had no luck with 3 early chances going begging. Turville’s opener, James Hunt, raced away (sorry!) and was soon dispatching boundaries for fun after an early let off. Opening from the other end, new boy Grout also had no luck with a series of mis-fields off his bowling. But the mosaic of an outfield was at least in part responsible for ‘uncertain’ fielding and with a team slightly older and less agile than we’ve been used to over the last couple of years, runs came a-plenty for the visitors.
Having hibernated over winter, young Yates-the-gloves had metamorphosed into a pacey seam bowler. He replaced Walker and soon made the breakthrough castling the left hander who was the first of many from the visitors who had appeared to have perfected the leg side hoik. Indeed, at one point during the innings, a 7-2 leg side field was employed (technically anything over 5 is a no-ball in the local league) as a series of baseball style shots reigned throughout.
The runs continued to flow, and with Spearman now having replaced Grout, the score was a worrying 80-1 after only 16 overs.
The tide turned with Yates snaffling another courtesy of a Kelley catch – one of those that loops up and lingers in the air, teasing the fielder with venomous top spin. Kelley was wise to the aerodynamics and made it look easy. Spearman then got into his groove and ripped out 3 of the middle order – bowling them all. They were all nearly as close as the lbw decision that preceded them. But not quite. Apparently.
Included in the trio was recent team (and tour) mate, ‘Porto’ Andrew Woodcock, who had answered a last-minute SOS from the oppo due to a drop out that morning. He joins a growing list of former Blenheim team mates to be bamboozled by this seemingly innocuous dibbly-dobbly nonsense. And, no doubt, he wont be the last!
West (his name is also on zee liszt), had been unlucky in having the same Woodcock dropped, close in by the same Spearman, in just the previous over.
Catch of the day was then taken as another swish to mid-wicket was plucked from nowhere by Kelley whilst everyone was looking towards the boundary rope. Spearman came within a whisker of a(nother) hat-trick and Yates returned to claim a third thanks to a Grouty grab.
At 163-7 after 29 it was anyone’s game. Crucially, Hunt was still there though and having gone quickly through the gears was now in a rush to get to the finish line. Despite landing a lofted drive perfectly between mid-on, long-on and cow, and larruping another over the advancing (too quickly) long-on fielder, he succeeded and saw his side home with 2 overs to spare having scored an undefeated 116.
So, it was good to be back, and a mostly enjoyable and close game, albeit a defeat in disappointing temperatures especially given the heatwave of March/April.
We retired to the BLT to lick our wounds and where top scoring Parke, perhaps sensing jug avoidance accusations on his first appearance (and with 39, jug avoidance avoidance, if you will), alleviated such qualms by getting in a round of BBQ chicken wings. Well played, sir! You’ll be back for sure.
Many thanks are due - several players went out of their way to make themselves available:
Rupert who travelled up from Bath
Coxy from Paris
Rob Kerr from deepest Lower Bumblefut out in the country. And after conceding just 10 byes in the 35 overs, we were all thankful for that!
Andy Parke who on debut also brought a Brill teammate. That is, they play for Brill. I’ll leave it to you to decide if they are actually brill or not.
Andrew Woodcock who answered the oppo’s SOS at short notice.
Also thanks to the dedicated committee members who rolled, cut, and watered the wicket to ensure it was as playable as it was (you’ve seen the outfield, right?)
David Hughes for the above and acting as stand in treasurer after the game.
Richard for his umpiring.
Stan and his phone for digging us out of a hole regarding teas.
The spectators/fans/extended family members who sat and watched this drivel in the cold.
BPCC 191-7 (35 overs): A. Parke 39, M Cox 38*, S. Parker 35, P. Boardman 25, H Yates 16
TCC 192-7 (32.5 overs): P. Spearman 4-30, H. Yates 3-37
Rhino
We arrived on the South lawn to find the outfield looking more like Croatian karst scenery than a cosy country house cricket pitch with crevasses you could lose a small child down.
A small child watches on from the boundary edge
After winning the toss, and with a new team assembled, and an untested wicket, Skipper West elected to bat. The decision soon appeared to have backfired as the returning Rupert Kelley pushed at one that stuck in the track with his leading edge snaffled by the grateful bowler.
Parker and Boardman settled nerves and restored order with Parker the more expansive in their partnership of 76 in 20 overs before he departed for 35 including that rarest of beasts – a five (courtesy of overthrows), along with four further boundaries. Boardman quickly followed for 25 (also four boundaries).
New boy Parke (not to be confused with Parker) came to the crease and after a nervy start – getting off the mark with a Chinese cut past the stumps and keeper – set about the back-up bowling. He was soon joined by Blenheim veteran and ex-pat Cox.
Turville clearly struggled for a 5th bowler. When one was introduced in the 24th over, 20 runs were the result, mostly off the bat of Parke. And with their 4 main bowlers having just a single over left between them after 28 overs, the final 7 realised 64 runs with Parke and Yates managing maximums and the usually more pedestrian Cox also tucking in, helping himself to 38*
Yates, in at 7, provided a quickfire cameo of 16 taking over from where Parke had left off (39 with 2 sixes, 5 fours) and the innings ended (with a liberal sprinkling of 34 extras) on 191-7 from our allotted 35 overs.
It felt like a defendable score and our mood was further heightened by a cracking tea – courtesy of new suppliers from Woodstock. All tastes (and none) appeared to be catered for so a big thumbs up to Stan (or his phone) for sourcing.
Into the field we went, and Walker did what he always does, probed away, created chances and as usual had no luck with 3 early chances going begging. Turville’s opener, James Hunt, raced away (sorry!) and was soon dispatching boundaries for fun after an early let off. Opening from the other end, new boy Grout also had no luck with a series of mis-fields off his bowling. But the mosaic of an outfield was at least in part responsible for ‘uncertain’ fielding and with a team slightly older and less agile than we’ve been used to over the last couple of years, runs came a-plenty for the visitors.
Having hibernated over winter, young Yates-the-gloves had metamorphosed into a pacey seam bowler. He replaced Walker and soon made the breakthrough castling the left hander who was the first of many from the visitors who had appeared to have perfected the leg side hoik. Indeed, at one point during the innings, a 7-2 leg side field was employed (technically anything over 5 is a no-ball in the local league) as a series of baseball style shots reigned throughout.
The runs continued to flow, and with Spearman now having replaced Grout, the score was a worrying 80-1 after only 16 overs.
The tide turned with Yates snaffling another courtesy of a Kelley catch – one of those that loops up and lingers in the air, teasing the fielder with venomous top spin. Kelley was wise to the aerodynamics and made it look easy. Spearman then got into his groove and ripped out 3 of the middle order – bowling them all. They were all nearly as close as the lbw decision that preceded them. But not quite. Apparently.
Included in the trio was recent team (and tour) mate, ‘Porto’ Andrew Woodcock, who had answered a last-minute SOS from the oppo due to a drop out that morning. He joins a growing list of former Blenheim team mates to be bamboozled by this seemingly innocuous dibbly-dobbly nonsense. And, no doubt, he wont be the last!
West (his name is also on zee liszt), had been unlucky in having the same Woodcock dropped, close in by the same Spearman, in just the previous over.
Catch of the day was then taken as another swish to mid-wicket was plucked from nowhere by Kelley whilst everyone was looking towards the boundary rope. Spearman came within a whisker of a(nother) hat-trick and Yates returned to claim a third thanks to a Grouty grab.
At 163-7 after 29 it was anyone’s game. Crucially, Hunt was still there though and having gone quickly through the gears was now in a rush to get to the finish line. Despite landing a lofted drive perfectly between mid-on, long-on and cow, and larruping another over the advancing (too quickly) long-on fielder, he succeeded and saw his side home with 2 overs to spare having scored an undefeated 116.
So, it was good to be back, and a mostly enjoyable and close game, albeit a defeat in disappointing temperatures especially given the heatwave of March/April.
We retired to the BLT to lick our wounds and where top scoring Parke, perhaps sensing jug avoidance accusations on his first appearance (and with 39, jug avoidance avoidance, if you will), alleviated such qualms by getting in a round of BBQ chicken wings. Well played, sir! You’ll be back for sure.
Many thanks are due - several players went out of their way to make themselves available:
Rupert who travelled up from Bath
Coxy from Paris
Rob Kerr from deepest Lower Bumblefut out in the country. And after conceding just 10 byes in the 35 overs, we were all thankful for that!
Andy Parke who on debut also brought a Brill teammate. That is, they play for Brill. I’ll leave it to you to decide if they are actually brill or not.
Andrew Woodcock who answered the oppo’s SOS at short notice.
Also thanks to the dedicated committee members who rolled, cut, and watered the wicket to ensure it was as playable as it was (you’ve seen the outfield, right?)
David Hughes for the above and acting as stand in treasurer after the game.
Richard for his umpiring.
Stan and his phone for digging us out of a hole regarding teas.
The spectators/fans/extended family members who sat and watched this drivel in the cold.
BPCC 191-7 (35 overs): A. Parke 39, M Cox 38*, S. Parker 35, P. Boardman 25, H Yates 16
TCC 192-7 (32.5 overs): P. Spearman 4-30, H. Yates 3-37
Rhino
BPCC Vs Minster Lovell
The length of match reports often correlates to the result and the margin of victory / defeat of the game in question. So, spoiler alert, this might be brief …
Let’s start at the beginning. Mid-week we had 5 players. The usual frantic scramble mustered a coalition of the willing and a merry band of disparate mercenaries were gathered together under the Blenheim banner to face Minster Lovell. Part of that band included 2 ‘on-loan’ players from the opposition but when they themselves had 2 dropouts on the morning of the game, we were down to 10 men again.
West turned up early, about 7am, to start pitch prep, before disappearing again for a morning’s work to return to win the toss and open the batting. And for all this effort, he was rewarded with … a golden duck ☹. It was reminiscent of Ian Botham’s infamous pair at Lords, 1981, as he trudged off to silence from the MCC members. On this occasion though, Allan Engel was in attendance so there was every chance of at least some acerbic ‘encouragement’ as Malcolm left the field. And we all know what followed with Botham …
Parker took a leaf out of his captains’ book as he too played a straightish delivery with a less than straight bat. Gone for 10. Youngsters Yates and F. Spearman (27 and 33 respectively) were both well set before both succumbing to the demons of the pitch.
New boy Awais met his first ball with a swivel pull for four and looked good for his 39.
The last addition to our side (that morning), Golledge, stepdad of Minster’s 13 yr old bowler, came to the crease and soon got to work despatching the youngsters quick time to end on 50*.
Dixey showed potential and later did a better impression of a point fielder than his buddy Boardy.
We closed on 212-7 off our 40 overs. So far so good. The sun was shining, tea was good (again).
In the field, it didn’t really work for us. There were a couple of early miscues from the openers, but the reality was we didn’t really trouble them too much. Later in the innings, some genuine chances were created and squandered but by then the game had long been up anyway. Pick of the bowlers was new boy Kamran Ahmed (‘Kami’ to his mates) but our solitary wicket came near the end courtesy of a Yates juggle behind the wicket and Minster romped home in the 35th over.
Congratulations to Minster and especially to openers Kev Clue (96) and Marc Summers (100*) who put on 201 for the first wicket.
We face Minster again in 4 weeks time. Down the BLT after the game, (injured) Stan effectively challenged undefeated centurion Summers to a duel in the return match with one of his famous pub monologues. Watch this space.
BPCC 212-7 (40 overs) M. Golledge 50*, A. Awais 39, F. Spearman 33, H. Yates 27, K. Ahmed 17
MLCC 213-1 (34.1 overs) (Nothing much to see here, move along please)
Let’s start at the beginning. Mid-week we had 5 players. The usual frantic scramble mustered a coalition of the willing and a merry band of disparate mercenaries were gathered together under the Blenheim banner to face Minster Lovell. Part of that band included 2 ‘on-loan’ players from the opposition but when they themselves had 2 dropouts on the morning of the game, we were down to 10 men again.
West turned up early, about 7am, to start pitch prep, before disappearing again for a morning’s work to return to win the toss and open the batting. And for all this effort, he was rewarded with … a golden duck ☹. It was reminiscent of Ian Botham’s infamous pair at Lords, 1981, as he trudged off to silence from the MCC members. On this occasion though, Allan Engel was in attendance so there was every chance of at least some acerbic ‘encouragement’ as Malcolm left the field. And we all know what followed with Botham …
Parker took a leaf out of his captains’ book as he too played a straightish delivery with a less than straight bat. Gone for 10. Youngsters Yates and F. Spearman (27 and 33 respectively) were both well set before both succumbing to the demons of the pitch.
New boy Awais met his first ball with a swivel pull for four and looked good for his 39.
The last addition to our side (that morning), Golledge, stepdad of Minster’s 13 yr old bowler, came to the crease and soon got to work despatching the youngsters quick time to end on 50*.
Dixey showed potential and later did a better impression of a point fielder than his buddy Boardy.
We closed on 212-7 off our 40 overs. So far so good. The sun was shining, tea was good (again).
In the field, it didn’t really work for us. There were a couple of early miscues from the openers, but the reality was we didn’t really trouble them too much. Later in the innings, some genuine chances were created and squandered but by then the game had long been up anyway. Pick of the bowlers was new boy Kamran Ahmed (‘Kami’ to his mates) but our solitary wicket came near the end courtesy of a Yates juggle behind the wicket and Minster romped home in the 35th over.
Congratulations to Minster and especially to openers Kev Clue (96) and Marc Summers (100*) who put on 201 for the first wicket.
We face Minster again in 4 weeks time. Down the BLT after the game, (injured) Stan effectively challenged undefeated centurion Summers to a duel in the return match with one of his famous pub monologues. Watch this space.
BPCC 212-7 (40 overs) M. Golledge 50*, A. Awais 39, F. Spearman 33, H. Yates 27, K. Ahmed 17
MLCC 213-1 (34.1 overs) (Nothing much to see here, move along please)
Checkendon CC vs BPCC
The length of match reports often correlates to the result and the margin of victory / defeat of the game in question. So, spoiler alert, this one might drag on a bit …
Checkendon, this week’s visitors have a reputation for big hitting and quick scoring. We were ready for an onslaught as they batted first on another glorious afternoon on the South Lawn. Walker and Weedon were equal to the challenge and shared the early spoils to leave the Checks 16 – 2 after only 4 overs. This was double the number of wickets the team took last week in 35 overs. We were understandably chirpy.
The openers demise though only opened the door for 2 further big hitters to occupy the crease, and at 84-2 off 14, it wasn’t looking quite so rosy with the run rate and lack of further wickets becoming a concern.
Weedon (after his early success) and Spearman (P) were taking some tap. Bigger sixes have undoubtedly been hit at Blenheim but no-one could recall them and on this occasion the hut/pavilion/shed/changing room was in some danger. Spearman’s first 2 overs had gone for 19.
During the carnage, it must be noted that Richard Stockwell – our volunteer umpire – appeared to be in a war zone. Early on, a very hard straight drive smashed into the stumps at the non-strikers end and ricocheted onto Richards elbow. That will have hurt as the swelling that followed will attest. A while later, Yates sensing a run out opportunity threw in hard only to hit Richard (and his mobile phone) again.
Someone buy that man a pint (Stockwell that is, not Yates). While you’re there, I’ll have half.
Things then started to change. We were aided somewhat by one of the more fluent batsmen having to retire hurt with back issues and new boy (an oft used moniker this season) Amosh Sidhu, was brought into the attack. He and Spearman started to turn the tide as Amosh (with some nippy seam), clean bowled 3 opponents and Spearman (with the usual rubbish) 2 more. Each also claimed an lbw. For the second time this season (and not the last time today) the latter was also involved in a hat-trick ball which was again narrowly averted. Yates was given a solitary over which turned into a wicket maiden, and we were done.
Checkendon had slumped from 86-2 in only the 15th over, to 97 all out in little over 22. How is it possible to crumble so pitifully from such a position of strength?
Well …
We had 10 overs to negotiate before the generator was fully up to speed – always a tough passage of play and difficult perhaps to know how to navigate it particularly when chasing such a low total. We needn’t have worried – first ball Boardy caressed through backward point and we were on our way. After 4 overs he and (another) new boy, Anson, had progressed to 17 without loss. This was going to be a walk in the park and tea was to be a relaxed affair with the game almost in the bag.
But then nothing is ever that simple, is it?
First Anson went the same way as fellow opener Kelley 2 weeks previously, playing at one that stuck in the pitch to allow an easy return catch for the bowler, then Finn got one in the midships and after several minutes recuperating (for him) and juvenile guffawing (everyone else) he resumed his innings having wiped the tears from his eyes, only to waft airily at a wide one and be caught behind. Tea was to be a slightly less relaxed affair for him as he contemplated that perhaps the transition from childhood to adulthood (having turned 18 in the week) wasn’t going to be quite as easy as was first thought. Nevertheless, we were still fairly comfortably placed at the break on 27-2 off 10 with Lamb having joined Boardman and the pitch largely behaving itself.
Lamb, never one to hang around (especially during spring 😲), scored a quickfire 16 before getting his pad in the way once too often, meaning Phil Reay joined Phil B at the crease. It was Phil-yer-boots time. Or rather it wasn’t. The two played sensibly, and cautiously as Checkendon bowled mostly disciplined line and length, often with some rip. So much so that only 9 runs came off the next 9 overs. No worries, 51-3 off 23 and we were still very much in the driving seat with 47 required off 17 and some big hitters to come. Our mood was further improved by Checkendon’s opening bowler (and opening bat and captain!), returning to bowl a mixed over of seam, offies and one leg break which collectively offered 12 runs leaving us just 30 to get off 15 overs with 7 wickets in hand. But Boardman succumbed looking to push the score along (for a match top score of 27) and Reay soon followed for a valuable 10 and we were a slightly nervier 73-5 after 29. But just 28 required though and 11 overs to get them in with hitherto top order batsmen Yates and West at the helm. Any anxiety was further alleviated at the start of the 33rd over as Yates pulled to the midwicket boundary for our only maximum of the innings. Fours balls later however, he failed to clear mid wicket and by the end of the over, with Amosh quickly off the mark with a boundary, we were 93-6. So just 5 required, still 8 overs to get them in. Neither run rate, nor wickets would be a problem from here and one hit could finish it. At least that’s what captain West presumably thought as he wound up for a big one only to find himself castled through the (rather large, portcullis-like) gate.
Never mind – we still had Weedon and still only 5 runs to get. He too could finish it in one ball. Well, as it turns out his innings was finished in one ball as he somehow managed to not only sky it but also fail to clear the in-field. 93-8 and two in two and a less than gruntled Spearman (Snr) strode to the wicket to face the hat-trick ball. All chirpy when bowling such a delivery – not so happy to face one, as a snarling Aussie might have chirruped from first slip. At this stage bowler Nihit had bowled 3.2 overs and taken 4 wickets for just 2 runs with his fizzing offies, and deceptive arm balls. The hat-trick ball was survived as were the remaining 3 balls of the over, meaning all-rounder Amosh would face the new over against the seemingly less threatening Murili (no – not that one). Second ball was there to be hit, and with Amosh needing little persuasion to oblige, larupped it belligerently into the covers region. This should have ensured that the scores were level and we could no longer lose the contest. What wasn’t taken into consideration was that Checkendons captain and tallest fielder was stationed at short extra and outrageously he reached above his head to take a stunning catch. Blenheim were distraught. 3 wickets had fallen on 93 and we were still 5 runs from victory with only numbers 10 and 11 at the crease. We had effectively clutched defeat from the jaws of victory as 5 may well have been 55 at this stage of the game.
Into the fray stepped an even more disgruntled Nigel Walker, if for no other reason that he’d been relieved of his scoring duties. With just 5 Blenheim innings to his name over the last 2 seasons, and limited net practice, he really wasn’t prepared for this situation. Even less so that just 30 minutes earlier we were sitting pretty with just 3 wickets down coasting (albeit slowly) to a comfortable victory.
Whilst the inquest had been opened amongst the already out ‘batsmen’, Nigel took strike to face the inevitable. Balls 3,4,5 and 6 were a blur if Im honest, but I counted them all out and Walker was still there at the end. This, though, only meant that Spearman was due to face ‘four-for-two’ Nihit. And there were still 5 required. The first ball was blocked nicely (feet stepping out to the pitch of the ball, bat straight, bottom hand lightly gripped, acting as a pivot, body well balanced with eyes directly over the impact of the ball), but the second, a non-spinning half volley was met with a straight drive played again with a straight bat, straight back past the bowler which promised more than just the single that it produced. Four now required, and whilst numbers 1 – 9 (other than Lamb who was umpiring) were all apportioning blame (or at least should have been – there was ample to share around), veteran Walker was nervously attempting not to be too nihilistic about facing Nihit.
He bowled; it was in ‘the slot’. Walkers back lift came crashing down, connected and followed through on the up, not entirely straight if truth be known, with perhaps a little too much bottom hand for the purists. But what it was, was effective as it cleared the in-field and raced away to the mid wicket boundary at speed. We had done it! We had re-grasped victory from the jaws of defeat into which we had only just recently descended. The crowd and teammates were on their feet and rushed onto the pitch to elevate Walker off the ground and carry him from the pitch. It was reminiscent of Ray Illingworths fate after winning the Ashes in 1971.
Ray Illingworth’s premonition of ‘Walkers Win’ 55 years ago
It really was such a remarkable achievement that Walker was even witnessed down the Back Lane Tavern signing autographs and talking through the climax of the innings with anyone who would listen (along with mutterings about how things used to be ‘back in the day’ obviously). Much merriment was had as we all finally remembered what it was like to win a game of cricket. The batting inquest was adjourned and we were all friends again.
Another game to go down in Blemheim folklore. Next week we meet Bibury who, last time we met, managed a tie. Can life get any more exciting?
CCC 97 ao (22.1overs) Amosh 4-11, P. Spearman 3-20, Yates 1-0, Walker 1-21, Weedon 1-32
BPCC 98 – 9 (34.3 overs) Boardman 27, Lamb 16, Yates 11, Reay 10
Fun fact / statistical quirk: All 5 bowlers used took wickets and all of them bowled at least one maiden. What a unit they (we) are. Has this ever happened before? Next week it’s the batsman’s turn again.
Checkendon, this week’s visitors have a reputation for big hitting and quick scoring. We were ready for an onslaught as they batted first on another glorious afternoon on the South Lawn. Walker and Weedon were equal to the challenge and shared the early spoils to leave the Checks 16 – 2 after only 4 overs. This was double the number of wickets the team took last week in 35 overs. We were understandably chirpy.
The openers demise though only opened the door for 2 further big hitters to occupy the crease, and at 84-2 off 14, it wasn’t looking quite so rosy with the run rate and lack of further wickets becoming a concern.
Weedon (after his early success) and Spearman (P) were taking some tap. Bigger sixes have undoubtedly been hit at Blenheim but no-one could recall them and on this occasion the hut/pavilion/shed/changing room was in some danger. Spearman’s first 2 overs had gone for 19.
During the carnage, it must be noted that Richard Stockwell – our volunteer umpire – appeared to be in a war zone. Early on, a very hard straight drive smashed into the stumps at the non-strikers end and ricocheted onto Richards elbow. That will have hurt as the swelling that followed will attest. A while later, Yates sensing a run out opportunity threw in hard only to hit Richard (and his mobile phone) again.
Someone buy that man a pint (Stockwell that is, not Yates). While you’re there, I’ll have half.
Things then started to change. We were aided somewhat by one of the more fluent batsmen having to retire hurt with back issues and new boy (an oft used moniker this season) Amosh Sidhu, was brought into the attack. He and Spearman started to turn the tide as Amosh (with some nippy seam), clean bowled 3 opponents and Spearman (with the usual rubbish) 2 more. Each also claimed an lbw. For the second time this season (and not the last time today) the latter was also involved in a hat-trick ball which was again narrowly averted. Yates was given a solitary over which turned into a wicket maiden, and we were done.
Checkendon had slumped from 86-2 in only the 15th over, to 97 all out in little over 22. How is it possible to crumble so pitifully from such a position of strength?
Well …
We had 10 overs to negotiate before the generator was fully up to speed – always a tough passage of play and difficult perhaps to know how to navigate it particularly when chasing such a low total. We needn’t have worried – first ball Boardy caressed through backward point and we were on our way. After 4 overs he and (another) new boy, Anson, had progressed to 17 without loss. This was going to be a walk in the park and tea was to be a relaxed affair with the game almost in the bag.
But then nothing is ever that simple, is it?
First Anson went the same way as fellow opener Kelley 2 weeks previously, playing at one that stuck in the pitch to allow an easy return catch for the bowler, then Finn got one in the midships and after several minutes recuperating (for him) and juvenile guffawing (everyone else) he resumed his innings having wiped the tears from his eyes, only to waft airily at a wide one and be caught behind. Tea was to be a slightly less relaxed affair for him as he contemplated that perhaps the transition from childhood to adulthood (having turned 18 in the week) wasn’t going to be quite as easy as was first thought. Nevertheless, we were still fairly comfortably placed at the break on 27-2 off 10 with Lamb having joined Boardman and the pitch largely behaving itself.
Lamb, never one to hang around (especially during spring 😲), scored a quickfire 16 before getting his pad in the way once too often, meaning Phil Reay joined Phil B at the crease. It was Phil-yer-boots time. Or rather it wasn’t. The two played sensibly, and cautiously as Checkendon bowled mostly disciplined line and length, often with some rip. So much so that only 9 runs came off the next 9 overs. No worries, 51-3 off 23 and we were still very much in the driving seat with 47 required off 17 and some big hitters to come. Our mood was further improved by Checkendon’s opening bowler (and opening bat and captain!), returning to bowl a mixed over of seam, offies and one leg break which collectively offered 12 runs leaving us just 30 to get off 15 overs with 7 wickets in hand. But Boardman succumbed looking to push the score along (for a match top score of 27) and Reay soon followed for a valuable 10 and we were a slightly nervier 73-5 after 29. But just 28 required though and 11 overs to get them in with hitherto top order batsmen Yates and West at the helm. Any anxiety was further alleviated at the start of the 33rd over as Yates pulled to the midwicket boundary for our only maximum of the innings. Fours balls later however, he failed to clear mid wicket and by the end of the over, with Amosh quickly off the mark with a boundary, we were 93-6. So just 5 required, still 8 overs to get them in. Neither run rate, nor wickets would be a problem from here and one hit could finish it. At least that’s what captain West presumably thought as he wound up for a big one only to find himself castled through the (rather large, portcullis-like) gate.
Never mind – we still had Weedon and still only 5 runs to get. He too could finish it in one ball. Well, as it turns out his innings was finished in one ball as he somehow managed to not only sky it but also fail to clear the in-field. 93-8 and two in two and a less than gruntled Spearman (Snr) strode to the wicket to face the hat-trick ball. All chirpy when bowling such a delivery – not so happy to face one, as a snarling Aussie might have chirruped from first slip. At this stage bowler Nihit had bowled 3.2 overs and taken 4 wickets for just 2 runs with his fizzing offies, and deceptive arm balls. The hat-trick ball was survived as were the remaining 3 balls of the over, meaning all-rounder Amosh would face the new over against the seemingly less threatening Murili (no – not that one). Second ball was there to be hit, and with Amosh needing little persuasion to oblige, larupped it belligerently into the covers region. This should have ensured that the scores were level and we could no longer lose the contest. What wasn’t taken into consideration was that Checkendons captain and tallest fielder was stationed at short extra and outrageously he reached above his head to take a stunning catch. Blenheim were distraught. 3 wickets had fallen on 93 and we were still 5 runs from victory with only numbers 10 and 11 at the crease. We had effectively clutched defeat from the jaws of victory as 5 may well have been 55 at this stage of the game.
Into the fray stepped an even more disgruntled Nigel Walker, if for no other reason that he’d been relieved of his scoring duties. With just 5 Blenheim innings to his name over the last 2 seasons, and limited net practice, he really wasn’t prepared for this situation. Even less so that just 30 minutes earlier we were sitting pretty with just 3 wickets down coasting (albeit slowly) to a comfortable victory.
Whilst the inquest had been opened amongst the already out ‘batsmen’, Nigel took strike to face the inevitable. Balls 3,4,5 and 6 were a blur if Im honest, but I counted them all out and Walker was still there at the end. This, though, only meant that Spearman was due to face ‘four-for-two’ Nihit. And there were still 5 required. The first ball was blocked nicely (feet stepping out to the pitch of the ball, bat straight, bottom hand lightly gripped, acting as a pivot, body well balanced with eyes directly over the impact of the ball), but the second, a non-spinning half volley was met with a straight drive played again with a straight bat, straight back past the bowler which promised more than just the single that it produced. Four now required, and whilst numbers 1 – 9 (other than Lamb who was umpiring) were all apportioning blame (or at least should have been – there was ample to share around), veteran Walker was nervously attempting not to be too nihilistic about facing Nihit.
He bowled; it was in ‘the slot’. Walkers back lift came crashing down, connected and followed through on the up, not entirely straight if truth be known, with perhaps a little too much bottom hand for the purists. But what it was, was effective as it cleared the in-field and raced away to the mid wicket boundary at speed. We had done it! We had re-grasped victory from the jaws of defeat into which we had only just recently descended. The crowd and teammates were on their feet and rushed onto the pitch to elevate Walker off the ground and carry him from the pitch. It was reminiscent of Ray Illingworths fate after winning the Ashes in 1971.
Ray Illingworth’s premonition of ‘Walkers Win’ 55 years ago
It really was such a remarkable achievement that Walker was even witnessed down the Back Lane Tavern signing autographs and talking through the climax of the innings with anyone who would listen (along with mutterings about how things used to be ‘back in the day’ obviously). Much merriment was had as we all finally remembered what it was like to win a game of cricket. The batting inquest was adjourned and we were all friends again.
Another game to go down in Blemheim folklore. Next week we meet Bibury who, last time we met, managed a tie. Can life get any more exciting?
CCC 97 ao (22.1overs) Amosh 4-11, P. Spearman 3-20, Yates 1-0, Walker 1-21, Weedon 1-32
BPCC 98 – 9 (34.3 overs) Boardman 27, Lamb 16, Yates 11, Reay 10
Fun fact / statistical quirk: All 5 bowlers used took wickets and all of them bowled at least one maiden. What a unit they (we) are. Has this ever happened before? Next week it’s the batsman’s turn again.
Bibury CC Vs BPCC
Our latest opponents on the Lawn were Bibury with whom we had had two monumental tussles with last season.
This encounter was to be no different.
Batting first, Parke filled a void (not for the last time in the day) by opening with captain Boardman and got off to a flier with 2 glorious straight drives. When he played on to a half tracker though we were left on 22-2 with Boardman already in the shed having chipped one up to mid-off. F. Spearman was joined by under-the-weather Parker and both continued the attacking intent. Finn cleared mid-wicket once but failed a second time and departed for 26. Parker remained for a while but on his demise (for a gutsy 32) along with the returning Edgar and ‘Mr Consistent’ Reay (another 10 this week), we found ourselves 107-6 in the 20th with 3 debutants to come along with last weeks last wicket hero’s still marooned at 10 & 11.
Thankfully, one of the newbies was Mutton – a bowler by trade but now dressed up as a bat. Mutts (to his mates), worked the bowling as first Taylor fell, followed by Hughes five overs later for a useful 14 but we had still only reached 150 (for 8) when he was joined by Spearman Snr. Mutts realised time was running out and stepped up a gear biffing a maximum and several fours against some bowling that was occasionally good, occasionally not so (but you can only bat against what is delivered). As the innings reached a climax, Mutts reached his maiden 50 (in any form of cricket) and went on to 61* by the close in less than 16 overs at the crease. He and Spearman (with a watchful 7*) had put on an unbroken 58 for the ninth wicket to leave us on a creditable 208 from our 35 overs.
Into the field we went and, lacking a genuine keeper, Parke volunteered to take the gloves.
Walker was immediately on the money – his first four overs conceded just the 2 runs. Also included in this was a wicket courtesy of an excellent leg side grab by stand in Parke. Easterbrook (E) at the other end hadn’t quite got back into his straps after a long sojourn, but he too struck, clean bowling the new batsman.
Countless half chances and near misses were then witnessed with no success but crucially Bibury did not capitalise and get away from us. After 19 overs they had advanced to 85-2, so still 124 required off 16. But then a double breakthrough – first a Taylor catch in the covers off Spearman, then ‘all-rounder’ Mutton castled the incoming bat. 91-4 after 21 with the required run rate slowly building up and now close to 8.5.
But we had been here before with Bibury and knew there were some big hitters to come. The game wasn’t done yet. 49 runs came in a little over 5 overs as Boardman shuffled his bowling pack before we struck again. The very dangerous Collymore skied Easterbrook to long on where Finn gratefully pouched the chance, while everyone else was grateful they weren’t under it. 3 overs later he snaffled another in identical fashion – this time off that man Mutton. 169-7 off 32 and 40 required off 3, which became 30 off 2.
As the end approached it became evident that there had been a miscalculation on the bowling front, and we needed a single over from elsewhere. Options were thin on the ground, but keeper/opening bat Parke again stepped into the void. 6 (or 8 as it transpired) deliveries later he may have wished he hadn’t.
11 needed off the last over (you do the maths) and Hughes to bowl it. No pressure, on debut, bowling at the death with the oppo looking to attack, game still very much on. But with the field set well back, Bibury could only muster four singles whilst Hughes took the final wicket of the day at the end of a spell that his figures didn’t do justice to.
As Allan Engel would say, if present, ‘it’s a team game’ but if we did do Man of the Match, it would undoubtedly be Mutts for his 3-39 and 61* (the reward for which would surely be the purchase of a jug). The fielder of the match though would definitely be Finn. Two cracking catches off skiers at long-on and the wherewithal to throw to the far end for Parke to execute an excellent run out. Unfortunately for some unfathomable reason this fine piece of teamwork wasn’t possible to record in the book.
Man of the moment (any moment)? Well, step up Andy Parke. Stand in opener, stand in death bowler, stand in keeper. And as Meatloaf might have said (if present) – 2 outta 3 werent bad!
So, our winning streak extends to 2 games now and across all 4 games we’ve used 26 players with 6 keepers and already only one ever present (you’re welcome).
Thanks this week to:
Andy Parke for filling in. Everywhere. Top team man.
Dave Hughes for temporary Treasury duties again.
Richard Stockwell for continuing to umpire for us again this week despite last week’s bruises.
Simon Parker for not pulling out despite being unwell.
Phil Reay for filling in as keeper when fill-in keeper Parke had to fill in as a death bowler.
Mutts for his long-awaited Blenheim debut and match winning performance and bringing along Msrs Hughes and Taylor without whom we will have struggled big styley. And for getting a jug in obviously. Oh, hang on a minute …
BPCC 208-8 (35 overs) J. Mutton 61*, S. Parker 32, F. Spearman 26
BCC 202-8 (35 overs) J. Mutton 3-39, E. Easterbrook 2-41, N. Walker 1-21, P. Spearman 1-31, P. Hughes 1-47
Fun ‘fact’ – has there ever been a game of cricket with such a wide range of ages amongst the players. Bibury fielded a 6-year-old lad, whilst we had veteran ‘mid-seventies’ Walker in our ranks. Truly a game for everyone.
This encounter was to be no different.
Batting first, Parke filled a void (not for the last time in the day) by opening with captain Boardman and got off to a flier with 2 glorious straight drives. When he played on to a half tracker though we were left on 22-2 with Boardman already in the shed having chipped one up to mid-off. F. Spearman was joined by under-the-weather Parker and both continued the attacking intent. Finn cleared mid-wicket once but failed a second time and departed for 26. Parker remained for a while but on his demise (for a gutsy 32) along with the returning Edgar and ‘Mr Consistent’ Reay (another 10 this week), we found ourselves 107-6 in the 20th with 3 debutants to come along with last weeks last wicket hero’s still marooned at 10 & 11.
Thankfully, one of the newbies was Mutton – a bowler by trade but now dressed up as a bat. Mutts (to his mates), worked the bowling as first Taylor fell, followed by Hughes five overs later for a useful 14 but we had still only reached 150 (for 8) when he was joined by Spearman Snr. Mutts realised time was running out and stepped up a gear biffing a maximum and several fours against some bowling that was occasionally good, occasionally not so (but you can only bat against what is delivered). As the innings reached a climax, Mutts reached his maiden 50 (in any form of cricket) and went on to 61* by the close in less than 16 overs at the crease. He and Spearman (with a watchful 7*) had put on an unbroken 58 for the ninth wicket to leave us on a creditable 208 from our 35 overs.
Into the field we went and, lacking a genuine keeper, Parke volunteered to take the gloves.
Walker was immediately on the money – his first four overs conceded just the 2 runs. Also included in this was a wicket courtesy of an excellent leg side grab by stand in Parke. Easterbrook (E) at the other end hadn’t quite got back into his straps after a long sojourn, but he too struck, clean bowling the new batsman.
Countless half chances and near misses were then witnessed with no success but crucially Bibury did not capitalise and get away from us. After 19 overs they had advanced to 85-2, so still 124 required off 16. But then a double breakthrough – first a Taylor catch in the covers off Spearman, then ‘all-rounder’ Mutton castled the incoming bat. 91-4 after 21 with the required run rate slowly building up and now close to 8.5.
But we had been here before with Bibury and knew there were some big hitters to come. The game wasn’t done yet. 49 runs came in a little over 5 overs as Boardman shuffled his bowling pack before we struck again. The very dangerous Collymore skied Easterbrook to long on where Finn gratefully pouched the chance, while everyone else was grateful they weren’t under it. 3 overs later he snaffled another in identical fashion – this time off that man Mutton. 169-7 off 32 and 40 required off 3, which became 30 off 2.
As the end approached it became evident that there had been a miscalculation on the bowling front, and we needed a single over from elsewhere. Options were thin on the ground, but keeper/opening bat Parke again stepped into the void. 6 (or 8 as it transpired) deliveries later he may have wished he hadn’t.
11 needed off the last over (you do the maths) and Hughes to bowl it. No pressure, on debut, bowling at the death with the oppo looking to attack, game still very much on. But with the field set well back, Bibury could only muster four singles whilst Hughes took the final wicket of the day at the end of a spell that his figures didn’t do justice to.
As Allan Engel would say, if present, ‘it’s a team game’ but if we did do Man of the Match, it would undoubtedly be Mutts for his 3-39 and 61* (the reward for which would surely be the purchase of a jug). The fielder of the match though would definitely be Finn. Two cracking catches off skiers at long-on and the wherewithal to throw to the far end for Parke to execute an excellent run out. Unfortunately for some unfathomable reason this fine piece of teamwork wasn’t possible to record in the book.
Man of the moment (any moment)? Well, step up Andy Parke. Stand in opener, stand in death bowler, stand in keeper. And as Meatloaf might have said (if present) – 2 outta 3 werent bad!
So, our winning streak extends to 2 games now and across all 4 games we’ve used 26 players with 6 keepers and already only one ever present (you’re welcome).
Thanks this week to:
Andy Parke for filling in. Everywhere. Top team man.
Dave Hughes for temporary Treasury duties again.
Richard Stockwell for continuing to umpire for us again this week despite last week’s bruises.
Simon Parker for not pulling out despite being unwell.
Phil Reay for filling in as keeper when fill-in keeper Parke had to fill in as a death bowler.
Mutts for his long-awaited Blenheim debut and match winning performance and bringing along Msrs Hughes and Taylor without whom we will have struggled big styley. And for getting a jug in obviously. Oh, hang on a minute …
BPCC 208-8 (35 overs) J. Mutton 61*, S. Parker 32, F. Spearman 26
BCC 202-8 (35 overs) J. Mutton 3-39, E. Easterbrook 2-41, N. Walker 1-21, P. Spearman 1-31, P. Hughes 1-47
Fun ‘fact’ – has there ever been a game of cricket with such a wide range of ages amongst the players. Bibury fielded a 6-year-old lad, whilst we had veteran ‘mid-seventies’ Walker in our ranks. Truly a game for everyone.
Maddenham CC vs BPCC
Minster Lovell Vs BPCC
Late on Saturday Malc waved his magic Bletchingdon wand and conjured up Awais and Alex. We finally had a(nother) team. More than a random collective this week; everyone had previously represented Blenheim at some point. It was a proper cohesive team unit – a good team that batted all the way down to … well you decide (but maybe reserve your judgement for now). Bowling wasn’t too shabby either. We were definitely in it to win it and avenge the drubbing we’d received at the hands of our opponents on the South Lawn earlier in the season.
If we had produced a programme for this fixture – football style – with a ‘played for both’ section, there wouldn’t have been much space for anything else, there being 7 (soon to be 8) characters fitting the bill.
Minster batted first, and at 32-5 the game was already as good as over.
Father and son duo – the Clues - opened for Minster, the former having been part of the 200 run opening partnership against us 4 weeks previously. We knew we were on to something when he went for a duck, caught behind by the returning Iron-Man Patel, off daddy Easterbrook. Yates at the other end was on fire on his home ground and opened with 2 maidens before grabbing the prize wickets of both Minster 1st and 2nd XI captains in close succession.
Easterbrook-the-elder maintained the pressure at the other end and did for the younger Clue, along with Ayris first ball. The hat trick ball lbw appeal was quoted as being ‘very close’ by Minsters (nameless) umpire.
‘Ernie’ replaced his dad from the river end and opened with a maiden. Spearman replaced Yates and soon winkled out another couple in similar fashion. Having seen and heard what tripe this prolific pie chucker propels, Mutton (top scorer for Blenheim themselves 2 weeks previously with 61*) attempted to cart him into Clarkson’s farm several miles away. Had he connected no doubt he would have come somewhere close. But, not for the first time, Spearman had the ball on a string and just as Mutts was about to deliver, the ball was suspended in mid-air before gently looping into the middle of the stumps with Mutts now resembling Bambi on ice. First ball for this perfect match up!
45-6 became 61-7 and we were a chillin’ wondering how we were going to pass the time late afternoon / early evening after this game was done.
But what was this? Late call up man-mountain Jimmy Mattinson was striding to the crease. Yes, that Mattinson – he who scored 168 off 126 balls opening the batting in a Cherwell League Div 2 game last season. No problem, if he got after us, we would merely attack the other end. Well, that’s always a good plan. Executing it on the other hand is a different matter.
The next few overs were a bit of a bloodbath with Mattinson biffing 5 sixes and 6 fours (including two lost balls to the river). It’s fair to say Edgar took the brunt of the barrage as his Saturday team mate tore into the Blenheim bowling. Easterbrook did at least have the final say, bowling him out but by then he had amassed a sensationally quickfire 77. Dellar mopped up the rest with Yates assisting with a superb catch at mid off to round off an almost perfect day in the field for him after returning figures of 7-4-11-2.
So, despite the late order rally, Minster had still been dismissed for only 130, and at 30-0 the game was again as good as over (part 2). Awais and Boardman had gotten us off to a solid start but both were dismissed in quick succession by Mutton and were replaced by Patel and Finn Spearman. No alarms, no surprises. Patel, an accomplished bat, in the higher reaches of the Cherwell League and Finn - scorer of a league ton in the last year and who’s previous such outing the previous week had yielded 46*. They batted carefully, cautiously, 12 runs accumulated in 9 overs until Patel succumbed prodding one back to bowler Mersh. Finn followed, being over eager to meet a Gardner delivery. Stumped!
43-4
Lamb was next to the slaughter. Kit made 50 in his 2nd Blenheim appearance last season and a few quick boundaries from him would put our hosts right back on the defensive. He was joined by Captain West who won the batsman of the year trophy in 2018 with over 400 runs to his name. We were in safe hands. Unfortunately, so too was the ball after West failed to clear the tallest player on the pitch at ... well you can probably guess where really to be honest. Regrettably, Lamb had already succumbed by this point too.
46-6
But this only brought Edgar to the crease. Last year’s batsman of the year, Edgar achieved 5 half centuries along the way and has consistently batted further down the order than his ability would warrant. He was joined by Yates, who only a week previously had become Blenheim’s latest centurion on the tricky South Lawn track. There was still no panic for numbers 10 and 11. There was no reason to doubt our ability to get over the line.
Harvey and Edgar – Saturday club companions, school pals and junior club cricket teammates. These two rubbed along together like Mork & Mindy, Cagney & Lacey, Mills & Boon and on another day both would be genuine top order batsmen. They knew each other’s game inside out - surely, they would see us home or at least get us very close to it.
After Harvey was run out due to a miscommunication with his partner (more Laurel & Hardy than any of the above), we still had Dellar to come. Dellar, who on his last outing for the team bagged his maiden 50 in the tied game at Islip last season. If nothing else, he could hold an end up whilst Ernie clobbered away at the other end. That idea lasted all of a couple of balls before he too was castled.
51-8
Easterbrook-the-younger did manage a couple of boundaries but then he too went in identical manner to Patel before him (c&b Mersh) and the innings petered out on 73 in the 29th over. We had lost all 10 wickets for 43 runs and had been humiliated again!!
Ifs, buts, maybe’s. It’s a funny old game but that I suppose that is partly why we (sometimes) love it. Would be nice to win occasionally too though. Last season seems a long time ago and we have now lost as many games by June 8th as we did all last year!
On the positive side, at least we didn’t have to get the ropes in!
MLCC 130 ao (29.4 overs) J. Easterbrook 3-27, P. Spearman 2-7, H. Yates 2-11, A. Dellar 2-20, E. Easterbrook 1-63
BPCC 73 ao (28.3 overs)
If we had produced a programme for this fixture – football style – with a ‘played for both’ section, there wouldn’t have been much space for anything else, there being 7 (soon to be 8) characters fitting the bill.
Minster batted first, and at 32-5 the game was already as good as over.
Father and son duo – the Clues - opened for Minster, the former having been part of the 200 run opening partnership against us 4 weeks previously. We knew we were on to something when he went for a duck, caught behind by the returning Iron-Man Patel, off daddy Easterbrook. Yates at the other end was on fire on his home ground and opened with 2 maidens before grabbing the prize wickets of both Minster 1st and 2nd XI captains in close succession.
Easterbrook-the-elder maintained the pressure at the other end and did for the younger Clue, along with Ayris first ball. The hat trick ball lbw appeal was quoted as being ‘very close’ by Minsters (nameless) umpire.
‘Ernie’ replaced his dad from the river end and opened with a maiden. Spearman replaced Yates and soon winkled out another couple in similar fashion. Having seen and heard what tripe this prolific pie chucker propels, Mutton (top scorer for Blenheim themselves 2 weeks previously with 61*) attempted to cart him into Clarkson’s farm several miles away. Had he connected no doubt he would have come somewhere close. But, not for the first time, Spearman had the ball on a string and just as Mutts was about to deliver, the ball was suspended in mid-air before gently looping into the middle of the stumps with Mutts now resembling Bambi on ice. First ball for this perfect match up!
45-6 became 61-7 and we were a chillin’ wondering how we were going to pass the time late afternoon / early evening after this game was done.
But what was this? Late call up man-mountain Jimmy Mattinson was striding to the crease. Yes, that Mattinson – he who scored 168 off 126 balls opening the batting in a Cherwell League Div 2 game last season. No problem, if he got after us, we would merely attack the other end. Well, that’s always a good plan. Executing it on the other hand is a different matter.
The next few overs were a bit of a bloodbath with Mattinson biffing 5 sixes and 6 fours (including two lost balls to the river). It’s fair to say Edgar took the brunt of the barrage as his Saturday team mate tore into the Blenheim bowling. Easterbrook did at least have the final say, bowling him out but by then he had amassed a sensationally quickfire 77. Dellar mopped up the rest with Yates assisting with a superb catch at mid off to round off an almost perfect day in the field for him after returning figures of 7-4-11-2.
So, despite the late order rally, Minster had still been dismissed for only 130, and at 30-0 the game was again as good as over (part 2). Awais and Boardman had gotten us off to a solid start but both were dismissed in quick succession by Mutton and were replaced by Patel and Finn Spearman. No alarms, no surprises. Patel, an accomplished bat, in the higher reaches of the Cherwell League and Finn - scorer of a league ton in the last year and who’s previous such outing the previous week had yielded 46*. They batted carefully, cautiously, 12 runs accumulated in 9 overs until Patel succumbed prodding one back to bowler Mersh. Finn followed, being over eager to meet a Gardner delivery. Stumped!
43-4
Lamb was next to the slaughter. Kit made 50 in his 2nd Blenheim appearance last season and a few quick boundaries from him would put our hosts right back on the defensive. He was joined by Captain West who won the batsman of the year trophy in 2018 with over 400 runs to his name. We were in safe hands. Unfortunately, so too was the ball after West failed to clear the tallest player on the pitch at ... well you can probably guess where really to be honest. Regrettably, Lamb had already succumbed by this point too.
46-6
But this only brought Edgar to the crease. Last year’s batsman of the year, Edgar achieved 5 half centuries along the way and has consistently batted further down the order than his ability would warrant. He was joined by Yates, who only a week previously had become Blenheim’s latest centurion on the tricky South Lawn track. There was still no panic for numbers 10 and 11. There was no reason to doubt our ability to get over the line.
Harvey and Edgar – Saturday club companions, school pals and junior club cricket teammates. These two rubbed along together like Mork & Mindy, Cagney & Lacey, Mills & Boon and on another day both would be genuine top order batsmen. They knew each other’s game inside out - surely, they would see us home or at least get us very close to it.
After Harvey was run out due to a miscommunication with his partner (more Laurel & Hardy than any of the above), we still had Dellar to come. Dellar, who on his last outing for the team bagged his maiden 50 in the tied game at Islip last season. If nothing else, he could hold an end up whilst Ernie clobbered away at the other end. That idea lasted all of a couple of balls before he too was castled.
51-8
Easterbrook-the-younger did manage a couple of boundaries but then he too went in identical manner to Patel before him (c&b Mersh) and the innings petered out on 73 in the 29th over. We had lost all 10 wickets for 43 runs and had been humiliated again!!
Ifs, buts, maybe’s. It’s a funny old game but that I suppose that is partly why we (sometimes) love it. Would be nice to win occasionally too though. Last season seems a long time ago and we have now lost as many games by June 8th as we did all last year!
On the positive side, at least we didn’t have to get the ropes in!
MLCC 130 ao (29.4 overs) J. Easterbrook 3-27, P. Spearman 2-7, H. Yates 2-11, A. Dellar 2-20, E. Easterbrook 1-63
BPCC 73 ao (28.3 overs)
Eynsham CC vs BPCC
Middleton Stoney CC vs BPCC
Littlewick Green CC vs BPCC
On a pleasantly cool Sunday we welcomed Littlewick Green to a pleasantly complete South lawn. Aften last year's game played from one end due to a steel run up at the Walker end it was nice to just have to deal with the cracks of the outfield and the oft repaired track. Though the youth and confidence of the visitors was a tad worrying.
It should be mentioned at the outset that the very welcome volunteers who set up the ground could not quite explain, when asked, why they had set up a very (very) short boundary on the Palace side and the other ropes almost brushing the Haha. It had an impact on the game all the way through, not conventional for sure, but highly entertaining.
The young Littlewick captain won the toss and confidently chose to bat and then proceeded to to tuck heartily into the BPCC restored opening bowling of Walker and Eaterbrook (E). Personally racing to 27 in just the 5th over with some clean hitting before being caught behind off the bowling of a slightly miffed Easterbrook. And the great relief of the BPCC side who were nervously eying each other and muttering about 300+ totals. The other young opener hung around and scored steadily while Walker and Easterbrook took apart the rest of the top and higher middle order. Edger wasted no time following the opener up with a beautiful yorker next ball leaving no 3 looking back at his off stump laid out flat on the south lawn like a sunbather on a Spanish beach. Unfortunately no hattrick was to follow but Edgar bowled an excellent spell, spicy and controlled, and always troubling the batsman. At the other end Nigel was back in the groove like he had never been away, with the ball on a string with two more out caught. One well taken on the drive by a silly close Finn Spearman and one at slip by Simon Paker which looped so slowly he had all the time in the world to get it wrong, but didn't.
Edgar finished off number 6 LBW for nos 2-6 to all get ducks, but the other opener hung in there confident and scoring when the chances came. At the end of two excellent opening spells the visitors were under the pump at 51-5 and Blenheim were enjoying their day in the sun, but cricket is a fickle stream and there were many more ebbs and flows to come before the ropes would be coiled.
That start was a blessing when you consider that we only had one other recognised bowler in the field with Harvey (proud owner of 68 and 7-29 the day before) having to keep wicket. So as Spearman senior took up residency from his usual pavilion end the Blenheim captain began to experiment from the other and the remaining opener started to flex his wings and target easy boundaries on the short side and easy 5th and 6th ball singles on the long side.
It wasn't until the 28th over when the miserly Spearman senior finally struck that Littlewick lost another wicket with the opener Duxbury scoring comfortably from the part timers at the other end. Dixey had been the pick, bowling with increasing confidence as he settles into his new club surroundings but, there was no repeat magic from McCriskin or Woodcock and West also struggled with the opener now adding reverse shots to his widening repertoire.
Spearman Junior finished off from the Pavillion end eventually taking the opener for 111 (should have been stood on one leg) with a very good C&B which stayed up so long that Oxford Airport traffic was being diverted. The one man innings then subsided with West also picking up a consolation wicket from the tail. Only three Littlewick players made double figures (111, 27 and 14) and it was a slightly deflated BCC who enjoyed another fantastic tea while Littlwick enjoyed their break a little more having made a good looking total of 192. We looked a little perplexed at the scorebook but it was the target and we set about it with Gusto.
Harvey Yates has become a cricket machine. After games on Tue, Wed, Thur and his aforementioned heroics on the Saturday, from the off he was seeing it like a beach ball. He played yet another masterful innings, watchful to all bowlers but pouncing mercilessly on anything short, wide or on his legs, dispatching to the boundary and running hard. As has often been the case this season he was again very well supported by Boardman who ran all the same runs (albeit in a slightly more flushed fashion) and himself hit some wonderful trademark square drives and slaps out to the point boundaries. And for a while we thought of the Minster game where their openers put on 200 against us, but it wasn't to be, Boarman falling for a very good 43 with a partnership of 122 in 22 overs.
We were always at around the asking rate and with Finn Spearman joining Harney at the wicket the Minster duo ran harder still, and turned on the gas. Finn went and Simon came in and from ball one continued the attacking intent, finally pulling a little ahead of the 5.5 an over rate required at the beginning of the innings. So, when we lost Simon, finally Harvey (for an excellent 82) and then Woodcock in the space of 170-172 alarm bells began to sound as there was a rush for pads and boxes in the pavilion.
But no need to worry, with the confident swagger of the current holder of the Andrew Shaw Batting Trophy, Edgar Easterbrook, heading to the middle and only 20 odd needed , all was rosy in the Blenheim Park rose garden. With McCriskin for running company he quickly smote his way to the total in boundaries and the occasional single.
So with four overs to spare and Dixey, West, Spearman and Walker left warming the bench we pulled off an excellent chase against a good Littlewick side who are never a pushover opposition.
The game swung back and forth a number of times but in the end we won it and enjoyed a bat to the final evening of Nocture at the Palace. Some thought they saw Nile Rodgers on the benches enjoying the game but it turns out it was our own legendary snake hipped dude, Stan Angol, enjoying a beer and a lovely game at the best setting in the world (look up and around, don't look down).
So, to next week, when we travel away for the first time this season to the, nearly as wonderful, Sheepscombe in Gloucestershire. Stay tuned, it is bound to be good.
Skip.
BPSS stats:
Easterbrook E 3-19, Walker N 2-26, Spearman F 1-16, West M 1-52 (yes nurse, that smarts)
Yates H 82, Boarman P 43, Easterbrook E 21*
It should be mentioned at the outset that the very welcome volunteers who set up the ground could not quite explain, when asked, why they had set up a very (very) short boundary on the Palace side and the other ropes almost brushing the Haha. It had an impact on the game all the way through, not conventional for sure, but highly entertaining.
The young Littlewick captain won the toss and confidently chose to bat and then proceeded to to tuck heartily into the BPCC restored opening bowling of Walker and Eaterbrook (E). Personally racing to 27 in just the 5th over with some clean hitting before being caught behind off the bowling of a slightly miffed Easterbrook. And the great relief of the BPCC side who were nervously eying each other and muttering about 300+ totals. The other young opener hung around and scored steadily while Walker and Easterbrook took apart the rest of the top and higher middle order. Edger wasted no time following the opener up with a beautiful yorker next ball leaving no 3 looking back at his off stump laid out flat on the south lawn like a sunbather on a Spanish beach. Unfortunately no hattrick was to follow but Edgar bowled an excellent spell, spicy and controlled, and always troubling the batsman. At the other end Nigel was back in the groove like he had never been away, with the ball on a string with two more out caught. One well taken on the drive by a silly close Finn Spearman and one at slip by Simon Paker which looped so slowly he had all the time in the world to get it wrong, but didn't.
Edgar finished off number 6 LBW for nos 2-6 to all get ducks, but the other opener hung in there confident and scoring when the chances came. At the end of two excellent opening spells the visitors were under the pump at 51-5 and Blenheim were enjoying their day in the sun, but cricket is a fickle stream and there were many more ebbs and flows to come before the ropes would be coiled.
That start was a blessing when you consider that we only had one other recognised bowler in the field with Harvey (proud owner of 68 and 7-29 the day before) having to keep wicket. So as Spearman senior took up residency from his usual pavilion end the Blenheim captain began to experiment from the other and the remaining opener started to flex his wings and target easy boundaries on the short side and easy 5th and 6th ball singles on the long side.
It wasn't until the 28th over when the miserly Spearman senior finally struck that Littlewick lost another wicket with the opener Duxbury scoring comfortably from the part timers at the other end. Dixey had been the pick, bowling with increasing confidence as he settles into his new club surroundings but, there was no repeat magic from McCriskin or Woodcock and West also struggled with the opener now adding reverse shots to his widening repertoire.
Spearman Junior finished off from the Pavillion end eventually taking the opener for 111 (should have been stood on one leg) with a very good C&B which stayed up so long that Oxford Airport traffic was being diverted. The one man innings then subsided with West also picking up a consolation wicket from the tail. Only three Littlewick players made double figures (111, 27 and 14) and it was a slightly deflated BCC who enjoyed another fantastic tea while Littlwick enjoyed their break a little more having made a good looking total of 192. We looked a little perplexed at the scorebook but it was the target and we set about it with Gusto.
Harvey Yates has become a cricket machine. After games on Tue, Wed, Thur and his aforementioned heroics on the Saturday, from the off he was seeing it like a beach ball. He played yet another masterful innings, watchful to all bowlers but pouncing mercilessly on anything short, wide or on his legs, dispatching to the boundary and running hard. As has often been the case this season he was again very well supported by Boardman who ran all the same runs (albeit in a slightly more flushed fashion) and himself hit some wonderful trademark square drives and slaps out to the point boundaries. And for a while we thought of the Minster game where their openers put on 200 against us, but it wasn't to be, Boarman falling for a very good 43 with a partnership of 122 in 22 overs.
We were always at around the asking rate and with Finn Spearman joining Harney at the wicket the Minster duo ran harder still, and turned on the gas. Finn went and Simon came in and from ball one continued the attacking intent, finally pulling a little ahead of the 5.5 an over rate required at the beginning of the innings. So, when we lost Simon, finally Harvey (for an excellent 82) and then Woodcock in the space of 170-172 alarm bells began to sound as there was a rush for pads and boxes in the pavilion.
But no need to worry, with the confident swagger of the current holder of the Andrew Shaw Batting Trophy, Edgar Easterbrook, heading to the middle and only 20 odd needed , all was rosy in the Blenheim Park rose garden. With McCriskin for running company he quickly smote his way to the total in boundaries and the occasional single.
So with four overs to spare and Dixey, West, Spearman and Walker left warming the bench we pulled off an excellent chase against a good Littlewick side who are never a pushover opposition.
The game swung back and forth a number of times but in the end we won it and enjoyed a bat to the final evening of Nocture at the Palace. Some thought they saw Nile Rodgers on the benches enjoying the game but it turns out it was our own legendary snake hipped dude, Stan Angol, enjoying a beer and a lovely game at the best setting in the world (look up and around, don't look down).
So, to next week, when we travel away for the first time this season to the, nearly as wonderful, Sheepscombe in Gloucestershire. Stay tuned, it is bound to be good.
Skip.
BPSS stats:
Easterbrook E 3-19, Walker N 2-26, Spearman F 1-16, West M 1-52 (yes nurse, that smarts)
Yates H 82, Boarman P 43, Easterbrook E 21*
Sheepscombe CC vs BPCC
There must be a traffic jam somewhere in Oxfordshire as the match reports seem to have all arrived at the same time.
At the end of June we band of merry brothers headed off to Gloucestershire, to the Cotswolds picture perfect cricket location of Sheepscombe. And the weather was perfect for cricket, absolutely glorious. The team including a return for stalwart "Gloves" Kerr and a debut for likely future regular Jim Harris.
Sheepscombe won the toss and elected to bat and looked to have the usual mixture of experience and youthful energy and so it turned out as opener Davenport flayed our opening partnership of Walker and Driver to all parts on a punishing outfield which was boundary hungry. His batting opening partner was less comfortable falling to Freddie Driver 2nd ball clean bowled. Haunted looks were exchanged amongst the fisiting fielders as they eyed an afternoon of leather chasing and a 300ish target.when a change to introduce Rhino and a returning Nick Bartlett paid trumps. Both suffered the same treatment for their first overs before bagging wickets in their 2nd, In Nick's case a double wicket maiden and in Phils' bagging the remaining opener for a generous LBW (which from memory only the optimistic Bowler and the ever keep to appeal keeper,went up for).
Then apart from a little resistance from Millar and Dyer the Sheepscombe batsman made brief visits to the wicket, followed by slow trudges back up the hill. MIllar was particularly unlucky falling to a fantastic catch by Josh McCrisken who had been placed in exactly the right spot the ball before after closing the gate on Millars favourite four area at the point and cover boundaries. A late change to Spearman once he had four to introduce newbie Harris was met with mutterings by Spearman until he realised he might be avoiding buying a jug.... And Harris and Bartlett cleaned up the tail with Harris bagging two in two overs. So, we all sort of enjoyed our packed teas with the hosts all out for 105 in 21 overs.
Ask Phil Boarman where he would like to bat and I bet you he will throw aside his Woodstock resident credentials and more to Sheepscombe in a heartbeat. After his 100no on our last visit he racked up a quick order 50no this week to see us home in 19 overs. Ably supported by Finn Spearman with a confident and calculated 35 of his own, being caught when the result was a foregone conclusion at 78-1. Andrew Woodcock steadied the nerves which were not even there and saw Phil to his 50.
So we retired to the Butchers Arms for a beer before the drive back to Oxfordshire. A strong win nicely secured in excellent company and perfect surroundings.
P. Spearman 4-19, N.Bartlett 3-12, J.Harris 2-8, F-Driver 1-38 P.Boardman 50*, F.Spearman 35
At the end of June we band of merry brothers headed off to Gloucestershire, to the Cotswolds picture perfect cricket location of Sheepscombe. And the weather was perfect for cricket, absolutely glorious. The team including a return for stalwart "Gloves" Kerr and a debut for likely future regular Jim Harris.
Sheepscombe won the toss and elected to bat and looked to have the usual mixture of experience and youthful energy and so it turned out as opener Davenport flayed our opening partnership of Walker and Driver to all parts on a punishing outfield which was boundary hungry. His batting opening partner was less comfortable falling to Freddie Driver 2nd ball clean bowled. Haunted looks were exchanged amongst the fisiting fielders as they eyed an afternoon of leather chasing and a 300ish target.when a change to introduce Rhino and a returning Nick Bartlett paid trumps. Both suffered the same treatment for their first overs before bagging wickets in their 2nd, In Nick's case a double wicket maiden and in Phils' bagging the remaining opener for a generous LBW (which from memory only the optimistic Bowler and the ever keep to appeal keeper,went up for).
Then apart from a little resistance from Millar and Dyer the Sheepscombe batsman made brief visits to the wicket, followed by slow trudges back up the hill. MIllar was particularly unlucky falling to a fantastic catch by Josh McCrisken who had been placed in exactly the right spot the ball before after closing the gate on Millars favourite four area at the point and cover boundaries. A late change to Spearman once he had four to introduce newbie Harris was met with mutterings by Spearman until he realised he might be avoiding buying a jug.... And Harris and Bartlett cleaned up the tail with Harris bagging two in two overs. So, we all sort of enjoyed our packed teas with the hosts all out for 105 in 21 overs.
Ask Phil Boarman where he would like to bat and I bet you he will throw aside his Woodstock resident credentials and more to Sheepscombe in a heartbeat. After his 100no on our last visit he racked up a quick order 50no this week to see us home in 19 overs. Ably supported by Finn Spearman with a confident and calculated 35 of his own, being caught when the result was a foregone conclusion at 78-1. Andrew Woodcock steadied the nerves which were not even there and saw Phil to his 50.
So we retired to the Butchers Arms for a beer before the drive back to Oxfordshire. A strong win nicely secured in excellent company and perfect surroundings.
P. Spearman 4-19, N.Bartlett 3-12, J.Harris 2-8, F-Driver 1-38 P.Boardman 50*, F.Spearman 35
Steeple Aston CC Vs BPCC
Melbourne, Australia is famous for having four seasons in one day. Woodstock, Oxfordshire outdid the brash Antipodean metropolis by being subjected to about seven different ones for the visit of Steeple Aston yesterday.
Winning the toss on the South Griddle Pan (formerly: Lawn), Malcolm won the toss and inserted the Steeple where the sun didn’t shine. Despite the loss of an early wicket, steady progress was made by the visitors, and they’d reached 64-1 after 13 overs when an inexplicable collapse saw them lose five wickets for eight runs in only four overs of Dellar and Spearman Sr, three bowled and two caught by, er, Dellar and Spearman Sr.
Downing was particularly unlucky in contriving to pull a hamstring running somebody else’s run, and, declining to retire hurt, missing the next straight ball. He limped home at tea, and proved to be irreplaceable in the field.
But Sneaky Aston, in a flagrant display of underhand gamesmanship, had been hiding some batting talent down the order, and having lulled the mighty Blen into hubristic complacency, managed to eke their shifty way to a formidable 152 all out in the last of their allotted 35 overs, with Woods, Renk and Longman biffing, slicing, and running well. The opener Churchill top scored, appropriately, with 38.
Showers turned to warm sunshine turned to freezing winds turned to mandatory sun-cream sloppage, and that was just during the tea interval, after which Boardman and Parker strode purposefully to begin the chase. If I had to reach for a thesaurus (I didn’t) to describe the attempted pursuit, it would probably suggest faltering, halting, sputtering, stumbling and wobbling, as batsman after batsman got in for a bit, and then got out. All except Phil B, who managed only the latter. To be fair, the bowling was accurate and probing, and despite Malcolm’s outstanding efforts to turn four acres of drainage trench into a playable wicket, there was certainly help for the bowlers.
So with the score at 62-6 after 19 overs, the only cause for celebration was that we wouldn’t have to take the ropes and sightscreens in after the game. And then…
The canny skipper West, in a brilliant display of tactical acumen and cricketing nous, had out-thought and outfoxed the bemused opposition by hiding some batting talent down the order. Dellar and Bartlett moved purposefully through the gears, despatching the short and wide stuff, and putting on 36 for the seventh wicket when Bartlett departed for 15.
In his early years at BPCC, Tom Weedon was likely to have turned up on a Sunday morning only a couple of hours after his Saturday night’s entertainment had ended. But marriage and fatherhood have blunted many of his rougher edges, and these days we can assume that it’s a Horlicks and bedtime at 10pm. Thus he was fully rested and alert as he joined Dellar for the final push, and what a push! An undefeated partnership of 55 in 7 overs to win by three wickets in the final over, Dellar finishing on 42* and Weedon 29*.
Steeple Aston CC 152 (34.3 overs, Churchill 38, Dellar 4-29, Spearman P 3-26, Bartlett 2-26)
Blenheim Park CC 153-7 (34.3 overs, Dellar 42*, Weedon 29*)
BPCC won by 3 wickets
Winning the toss on the South Griddle Pan (formerly: Lawn), Malcolm won the toss and inserted the Steeple where the sun didn’t shine. Despite the loss of an early wicket, steady progress was made by the visitors, and they’d reached 64-1 after 13 overs when an inexplicable collapse saw them lose five wickets for eight runs in only four overs of Dellar and Spearman Sr, three bowled and two caught by, er, Dellar and Spearman Sr.
Downing was particularly unlucky in contriving to pull a hamstring running somebody else’s run, and, declining to retire hurt, missing the next straight ball. He limped home at tea, and proved to be irreplaceable in the field.
But Sneaky Aston, in a flagrant display of underhand gamesmanship, had been hiding some batting talent down the order, and having lulled the mighty Blen into hubristic complacency, managed to eke their shifty way to a formidable 152 all out in the last of their allotted 35 overs, with Woods, Renk and Longman biffing, slicing, and running well. The opener Churchill top scored, appropriately, with 38.
Showers turned to warm sunshine turned to freezing winds turned to mandatory sun-cream sloppage, and that was just during the tea interval, after which Boardman and Parker strode purposefully to begin the chase. If I had to reach for a thesaurus (I didn’t) to describe the attempted pursuit, it would probably suggest faltering, halting, sputtering, stumbling and wobbling, as batsman after batsman got in for a bit, and then got out. All except Phil B, who managed only the latter. To be fair, the bowling was accurate and probing, and despite Malcolm’s outstanding efforts to turn four acres of drainage trench into a playable wicket, there was certainly help for the bowlers.
So with the score at 62-6 after 19 overs, the only cause for celebration was that we wouldn’t have to take the ropes and sightscreens in after the game. And then…
The canny skipper West, in a brilliant display of tactical acumen and cricketing nous, had out-thought and outfoxed the bemused opposition by hiding some batting talent down the order. Dellar and Bartlett moved purposefully through the gears, despatching the short and wide stuff, and putting on 36 for the seventh wicket when Bartlett departed for 15.
In his early years at BPCC, Tom Weedon was likely to have turned up on a Sunday morning only a couple of hours after his Saturday night’s entertainment had ended. But marriage and fatherhood have blunted many of his rougher edges, and these days we can assume that it’s a Horlicks and bedtime at 10pm. Thus he was fully rested and alert as he joined Dellar for the final push, and what a push! An undefeated partnership of 55 in 7 overs to win by three wickets in the final over, Dellar finishing on 42* and Weedon 29*.
Steeple Aston CC 152 (34.3 overs, Churchill 38, Dellar 4-29, Spearman P 3-26, Bartlett 2-26)
Blenheim Park CC 153-7 (34.3 overs, Dellar 42*, Weedon 29*)
BPCC won by 3 wickets
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