Pictured: The victorious Bedouins side at Ombersley. Back row, left to right: Pearson, Branch, Lockley, Susman, Hill A., Hall.
Front row: Dewinski, Hancock, Hill J., Bond (Basildon Bond)

Open GI v Bedouins at Ombersley – Wednesday, 23 June 2010

Bedouins won by 10 runs

After a more than unconvincing performance the previous week against Kinlet, the Bedouins bounced back with a very strong performance against Open GI on a hard and bouncy Ombersley wicket.

Again only scraping together ten players and with the skipper not fully fit it looked like the Beds could struggle against an Open GI side containing some very good cricketers. The Beds were put into bat with the now legendary opening pair of Branch and Hill A. once again starting proceedings. They are, without doubt, fast becoming the new Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, although God knows which is which.

The opening bowlers for Open GI were certainly no slouches and in the second over Branch lost his off stump to a peach of a ball for just 2. Hill A. at the other end (I’m told by Mr Scorer) took seven overs to get off the mark but at the other end Hall, who had put in a Man of the Match performance at Alveley, set about doing the same again making a confident, quick fire 31 before retiring.

Bond now joined Hill A. with the latter starting to find the boundary at regular intervals before retiring on 32. Bond too upped the pace with some lusty boundaries until being stumped on 20. Hill J. was in at number 5 and was joined by Pearson who was promoted in the batting order after his timed-to-perfection sweet 6 at Kinlet and he didn’t disappoint with a very accomplished 21 not out, well supported by Hill J. with 9 not out. The Bedouins finished on 136 for 2. Not a record for the Beds but a great score to set.

Branch took the Beds helm for the Open GI innings due to the skipper’s drug-induced state and turned to Bond and Hall to open the bowling. Bedouins had the difficult job of keeping the score down on a large quick outfield so bowling was going to be key, especially with only nine fit men on the pitch. Bond and Hall did the job well and Open GI were restricted to 26 off the first 6 overs, losing the wicket of Johnston in the process; Pearson holding the catch well in the deep off Hall.

Lockley and Dewinski were first change for the Beds with the latter picking up a wicket in his second over but it was when Hancock was introduced to the bowling attack that it all kicked off. With his very first ball he had McNally caught behind. Hill J relieving his old man of the keeper’s gloves for this game and taking a good clean catch. Hancock wasn’t finished and with an interesting mix of line and length took two more wickets in the over; one clean bowled and the other well caught by Dewinski. Hancock may have wished he had finished after his first over with figures of 3 for 3 especially as his second over went for 22 but it still meant that Open GI were running out of wickets and were behind the run rate.

However, Open GI never gave up and came back strongly at the end and it looked like they would get close to the 137 needed. Pearson turned his arm over to take 1 for 12 and Branch wobbled a few to take 1 for 15. Lockley held another catch on the boundary (can’t remember when we last held four catches in a game) and put to shame Susman, Hill A. and Hancock who all put one down.

Hall came back at the death and claimed another wicket to finish with 2 for 14 from his 4 overs and probably edging the Man of the Match again although it was a top performance from the whole side. Thanks to Des and the boys at OpenGI for their hospitality, it was a great night.

Thoughts now turn to the home game against Pedmore House……..