Bedouins v Oldswinford – 18th May 2022

No result – rain stopped play

You look forward to the first game of a new season, you whip yourself into peak fitness, you revise your knowledge of the Boycott book of batting technique, and what happens. The day of the game starts out warm and sunny but gradually as the clock ticks down towards the start of the play the clouds roll in, the temperature drops, and the light becomes decidedly murky.

So it was for our first game of the season with Oldswinford. Bedouins batted first on wicket with some lively bounce at one end. Branch and Lippitt opened the innings and looked comfortable, Lippitt particularly was in fine form and middling the ball well, despatching it to the boundary on regular occasions and making use of the fast outfield. Branch was first to go for 11, caught deep toward the square leg boundary.

Skipper Bywater came to the crease and found the boundary with 2 fours before being well caught in the gloom towards long on. Hill J strode to the crease and matched Lippitt’s 30 retired. While he was there he saw various partners come and go but none made an great impact on the score.

Gregory and Susman were left at the end to try and up the score and at this point the heavens opened. Bedouins had made it to 105 for 5 from their 20 overs but there looked to be little prospect of Oldswinford being able to fulfill their innings. So with that, the covers come on, the sight screens were dismantled and everyone gathered in the clubhouse for an early tea and some beers.