Kinlet v Bedouins at Moffat School – Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Bedouins win by 4 wickets
This seasons skipper Branch kept his 100% winning record with an away win at Kinlet. It was a good team performance from the Bedouins in a game that was finely poised and keenly contested throughout and played in the fabulous surroundings of Moffats school. You’d be hard pressed to find a more rural setting for a game of cricket.
Susman (shoulder) and Hill A. (back) were both out through injury, with both facing a late fitness test before running away to Tenerife with the tea ladies. Captain of Vice, George, was back in the side after his sojourn to Egypt. Thinking about it, where was the tan? Did he leave his hotel room at all? Lock was also back in the side.
Kinlet like to play a form of the game where everybody bowls two overs and batsmen retire at 25. That suited the Bedouins who had a strong side of all-rounders out. That and the fact that the wicket was playing low and slow meant the ball was hard to get away.
Kinlet batted first with their opening partnership realising 35 runs. George opened the bowling with the rather interesting bright pink ball and only conceded 3 runs from his two overs. The trip away obviously did him good. He even managed to hold two catches in the deep – something has concentrated his mind.
Bowling and fielding was generally well executed apart from a dropped catch from Lock (there’s always one from the Bedouins) and there were wickets for Bywater, Gregory, Lock, Hancock and Spratley. This saw Kinlet kept to a score of 92 for the loss of six wickets on what is usually a high scoring ground.
Bedouins started the run chase with Branch and Lippitt at the crease. Both made the retirement mark of 25 and this gave the Bedouins a good solid start. There followed, however, the sort of mini collapse that was witnessed in the previous home game. A worrying trend for the Bedouins. Woodhouse departed first ball, followed by Gregory for a duck and also Hill J. for a duck. This meant Bedouins had gone from 42 for no wicket to 48 for 3.
The pressure was now on. Bywater was anchoring one end but runs were needed, and quickly. Enter The Flashing Blade. Lock was not going to die wondering and launched the ball over long on for six. This was followed next ball by a four and the Bedouins were back in the game.
Beds inched ever closer to their target but Lock was bowled when on 11 at which point Hancock marched to the crease and continued to take the game to Kinlet with two lusty blows to the boundary for 4. The target was reached in the 19th over with Bywater finishing on 7 not out and Hancock hitting the winning run and finishing 9 not out.
A good win for the Bedouins then with Kinlet being hard to beat on their own ground (in fact, on any ground). The Beds were then made very welcome, as usual, at the Eagle and Serpent for a beer and a bite to eat. Thanks to Francis and the boys for their kind hospitality.
Match photos available here.