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.