Bedouins v Beacon – 14 June 2023

Beds lost by 29 runs

Whenever you go on a bad run you always try to look for the positives. The Bedouins had not been on form but today would be a turning point in the season.

Skip had been practicing the toss this week with a two sided coin. He still managed to lose to himself. Beacon took advantage of his bad form and Bedouins were fielding.

Beacon always bring a competitive side ready for a battle. However, they bring it in the right mentality and play for fun just like the Beds. That’s why we invite them back every year. Today was no exception. Beacon set off like tanks pummelling the opposition and Forster (27) and Gowan(29) got them off to a flyer. Golden (19) and Harvey (15) kept the score board moving.

Bywater was out of sorts. Still suffering with injury to his shoulder. Dr Mike George had previously diagnosed a torn rotator cuff and Skip started to believe that may be the case so after getting tickled all around the ground, withdrew from the firing squad.

Bastable made a bowling debut and looked right at home. I was told he had not played for a while due to ongoing injuries. I assured him he would fit in well with the Beds and was welcome in our 8 man slip cordon. Clearly some talent there. The Beds will beat it out of him eventually.

Robertson, Lippitt and Branch would support the skip with some tremendous bowling. Bedouins had started to take wickets and the mood was lifting. Unfortunately though the Beacon boys scored as they lost wickets, keeping the score board moving.

The Beacon tail wagged and Curtis hit 19 before the 10 men of beacon were finished in the last over.

Robertson 4 overs 3 wickets for 15, Branch 4 overs 2 for 23 and an inspired Lippitt 2 over 3 wickets for 21 finally gave some fight to the Bedouins season.

Beacon had put on 143……an above par score. This would be tough.

Bedouins actually made a good go of chasing that 143 down. Only Six batsmen used. Branch (30) was back on his usual top form. Lippitt went early on 12. Smith battled to 27 with some tight bowling coming his way and Stanier showed us all how to do it by retiring on 32.

Encouragement was the word i had found here. Yes we only got to 114 but our heads had not dropped and we showed some fight. Enough to impress another potential new recruit…….more of that later

Much socialising and stories ended the night and we look forward to seeing Beacon again later in the season. Well done to them on today’s victory.