Bedouins v Beacon at Enville – Wednesday, 17 June 2015

Bedouins lost by 19 runs

The Bedouins continued with their losing streak as they went down to an unexpectedly narrow 19-run defeat by an accomplished Beacon XI.  The opposition put out a team of actual cricketers against the home side, which seemed a trifle unfair, but all was conducted in a generally jovial Bedouin atmosphere.

The early signs were not promising, as Beacon cruised to 35 without loss in just three overs.  But the Beds managed to slow them down a bit, restricting them to just 26 runs in the next seven overs.  Two batsmen reached the 30 retirement point, and some later hard hitting produced an impressive 20-over total of 131 for 6.

Five of the Beds bowlers took one wicket apiece – Bywater, Susman, Gregory, Lippitt and Branch – and a couple of stumpings by John Howells saw the years roll away.

At 5 for 2, the Bedouins’ score after three overs hardly matched up to the Beacon three-over total!    Fortunately the home team’s guest player for the evening, Alex Rowbottom (another of Austin’s army of mates) proved a more than useful addition.  He reached 30, including four fours and a six, but had to retire all too soon.  Neil Smith and Austin Gregory both made 13, but the star of the late late show was Tony Hancock with a hard-hit 23 that included one six and an extra-cover drive for four that fairly fizzed to the boundary.

When Hancock was bowled, Alex Rowbottom returned to the wicket but scarcely had he got started again than his partner was run out at the other end, leaving the Bedouins just 19 runs short at 112 for 9.

Unfortunately the Bedouins injury list continues to lengthen.  Ross Morgan couldn’t bat, still suffering from the bruise caused by his acrobatic c&b in the game the previous Sunday, where his dive had measured 6.4 on the Richter scale.  And Spratters was gone in the fetlock, but still managed to turn up for the evening to give the team some support – nice one.

Where’s that first win of the season coming from?  Well, the Beds’ next game is on July 1st against Open GI, so our good friend Des Johnston and his “lads” had better watch out!

Beacon 131 for 6

Bedouins 112 for 9 (Rowbottom 31, Hancock 23, Smith 13, Gregory 13)