Bedouins v Ashby Albion – Sunday 7th August

Bedouins lost by 36 runs

We play our game ‘seriously for fun’. But sometimes there are things more important than the game, as in the case of our final fixture of the season. For several seasons now this fixture has traditionally become a fundraiser to help fight ovarian cancer, something instigated by Jonathan Hill, and the reason why he brings his Ashby Albion side to Enville. This year saw a total of £445 raised for the charity, the largest total yet.

On a hot summer’s day the one thing Bedouins needed was a full team to face the young and fit Ashby side. Most of them play football. It shows, they are no slouches in the field. However, after Jon Stanier was struck down with the squits, Bedouins were left with just 10 players.

Ashby batted first and it wasn’t long before it was evident the two opening bats were quite capable of demolishing the Beds bowling attack. Bywater (0-45-7) had his figures ruined with three fours off his last over but at the other end Robertson (unusually for him) was struggling to keep the runs down. Things weren’t helped by Susman dropping Pilbro on the square leg boundary when he was about half way through a knock that amounted to 46 runs. At the other end Anslow made a fine 50 made up mostly of boundaries.

The momentum was knocked out of the Ashby innings when Spears and Susman came on to bowl. Susman (3-32-7) had revenge on Pilbro, having him stumped with his very first ball. Spears was unlucky to finish with only one wicket in his spell (1-38-7). Bedouins took the upper hand with Mugglestone (2), Makepeace (4) and Price (14) all departing quickly. However that brought Jon Hill to the crease. He’s been in fine form for the Bedouins with the bat this season, and that continued for Ashby.

It was amazing that Jono was on the pitch at all having been in bed with the same problems as Stanier all weekend. In fact, he was so bad, he missed the traditional pre-match night out in Worcester with the rest of the Ashby team. So the fact he played a captain’s innings and just managed to make his 50 in the last over, despite looking like he could collapse at any moment on a baking hot day, was testament to his determination.

It looked at one point like he might run out of batting partners with Lippitt (1-26-4) and Smith N (2-24-4) bowling the final few overs and getting amongst the wickets. But he made it and Ashby Albion finished on 215 for 7 from their 35 overs.

Bedouins innings got off to a fine start with Branch and Lippitt looking in confident mood but with both looking set for a big innings Branch went C&B for 18, and Lippitt was caught by Jon Hill when on 15. You can’t keep Jono out of the game, and that proved to be a running theme.

He did the same to Smith N who felt aggrieved that he had middled the ball so well, only to see Jono take another blinding catch. He then went and repeated the feat, accounting for Bywater for 30. Lad,s lads, note: Don’t hit the ball at Jono.

Spears showed his experience with a fine knock of 56. While he was at the crease it looked like the run chase might be on. Susman at the other end was still looking a little rusty with the bat and with Spears having retired, the Bedouins tail end was struggling to wag.

Of course, Jono came onto bowl and sent Susman back to the pavilion after he missed a straight one trying to find the boundary. Jono’s 2-12-3 and Anslow’s 3-26-6 were the pick of the Ashby bowlers. Although Spears came back to the crease Bedouins were left needing too many runs in the closing stages.

So Bedouins succumbed to the youthful Ashby side, but at the end of the day it was the charity that turned out to be the winner thanks to the generosity of all involved. A fine spread was put on by the Bedouettes and a very pleasant day was had by all. Let’s hope we can do it again next season and raise even more money. After all, in the words of Smashie and Nicey “it’s for charity mate”. And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, see below.

Beacon v Bedouins – 3rd July 2022

Bedouins lost by 6 wickets

Games coming thick and fast so quick report on this one. Short of players again so drafted in Kev Taylor and Guy Sheppard. Looked like a solid 11 until Jono took poorly and had the set off home. Big miss as it turned out.

Beds batted with Smith N (32 not out) in fine form, Susman however, not so. Departed for 7.

Outfield was like lightening. Kev Taylor looked little troubled until missing a straight one on 19 leaving Lippitt and Stanier to get the bulk of the runs, both reaching retirement (runs or age, take your pick). Stanier with a couple of sixes.

Ellerton, excited to be playing his second game in four days, improved on his 0 in the last game by being 0 not out  this time. That’s progress. Beds finished 137. On the face of it a good score but Beacon can never be written off.

Bedouins seemed to be restricting Beacon fairly well on such a quick outfield and with only 10 men. Smith M (2-24-4) was the pick of the bowlers, often perplexing the batsmen with deft touch of flight. Lippitt was in the wickets too with 2-27-4. But with four overs left and needing 30 runs Beacon lit the afterburners and before we knew it the game was done.

We’ll skirt around Taylor dropping two catches.

With a full side including Jono, would we have won? Of course.

Bedouins v Belmont CC – Sunday 31st July

Bedouins won by 4 wickets

If you thought Gregory’s performance on Wednesday night was good, it was paled into insignificance compared to that of Jonathan Hill on Sunday. I’ve scoured my memory banks (what’s left of them) and I can’t think of a better all round performance than that of Hill Jr on Sunday. I’m sure someone will put me right. More about that later.

Bedouins looked set to start this game with just nine players. But sometimes things happen for a reason. It just so happened Dave Ellerton was a bystander on the ground and when invited to play, he jumped at the chance and took to the field in borrowed kit. He was quick to tell us his cricket experience was limited, but as we all know in the Bedouins, that matters not a jot.

Belmont were a new fixture and so an unknown quantity. They were put into bat first and made slow progress in their 35 over innings. Beds included Enville stalwart Trevor Spears in their ranks and it was he and Stanier who opened the bowling. Stanier finished his first spell after four overs (finishing with 0-29-7) but Spears bowling left arm round, was on the money and finished his spell with 1 for 9 from 7 overs.

Only the Belmont no.4 looked really threatening with the bat until he fell to the worst ball Susman (2-19-7) bowled in his seven over spell and was caught by Stanier behind square. In fact, it’s true, catches do win matches and there were six in the Belmont innings. Unfortunately for new boy Ellerton, his attempt to take a catch at square leg ended in disaster as the ball went straight through his hands. Even more unfortunate was the fact his hands were in front of his face at the time, resulting in a thick lip. However, it’s not put him off. He loved his Bedouins experience so much, he wants to keep playing.

Robertson had a caught and bowled in his 1 for 35 from 7 and there were another two stumpings for Howells. But so to an incredible spell of bowling from Hill Jr. His 4 for 35 from 7 included two stunning caught and bowled. The first, the ball was hit hard straight back him and above his head. There was an audible gasp when in a flash he got his hands up to take the ball clean as a whistle. His second was probably even better with the ball flying out towards mid-on. For a moment it looked like disaster may strike as Susman came trotting in from deep mid-on to attempt the catch (we all know what would have happened there) until he realised Hill was careering towards him at a rate of Knots. Hill screamed for the ball and took it, arms outstretched, with the ball coming over his shoulder.

There were also catches for Hill Jr’s mate Zac and Susman amazingly held on to a skier at mid-off to leave Hill on a hat-trick. Belmont finished on 131 for 8.

Bedouins started their reply with Smith N and Susman at the crease. With a modest total to chase there was little need for heroics. However Susman was quick to depart for 6 given out LBW which gave Belmont some encouragement. Smith N departed too not long after for 6 to a ball that pitched and literally rolled along the floor, taking his off stump.

At 17 for 2 things looked a little bleak for the Beds, but enter Superman Hill Jr to round off his MOTM performance. He was patient at the start and it was hard to get the ball away but he was joined at the wicket by his pal Zac Price and a good looking partnership developed. Price hit a couple of boundaries but then was caught, departing for 12.

Stanier joined Hill Jr to continue the good work and the win looked easily attainable. Hill Jr had reached 44 having hit a huge straight 6 but on trying to repeat the feat on the next ball he toe-ended to mid-on. Things were a little tense after that with a couple more wickets going down but Bedouins met their target with a couple of overs and a few wickets to spare. Another very pleasant afternoon of cricket and the game was finished in time to see the Lionesses storm to victory.