Fossils v Bedouins – 16 July 2023

Bedouins won by 14 runs

Games against the Fossils, a team of 70 year-olds who have previously played at a very high standard, are usually quite sedate affairs. There’s not usually a lot of excitement or cut-throat competition. This game was the exception.

The Fossils welcomed us to the beautiful ground at Birlingham on a Sunday where the weather couldn’t make it’s mind up. Leaving Kidderminster the heavens had opened by the little ground near Pershore escaped the rain and it was game on.

Hill Senior and Susman put in rare appearances this season, and Howells grabbed the reins from the skipper for the day in his absence. It’s not quite clear if the toss was won or lost. The Fossils sometimes tend not to worry about things like that. Bedouins were batting.

The majority of the Fossils bowlers are anything but quick. But don’t let that fool you, they are all crafty old dogs who know where to put the ball for maximum effect. Hence Bedouins quickly fell apart at the top of the order. Branch, Smith N, and Lippitt were quickly back in the pavilion, with the latter suffering the indignity of being run out by his batting partner, Hill junior.

At 14 for 3 it looked like being a short afternoon. Hill junior however redeemed himself by making it to the retirement score of 40. He was supported by Ludlow who played some fine shots until he was smartly stumped on 11.

Stanier came to the crease and he and Hill Junior pushed the score along with a good partnership. Hill Junior’s retirement brought dad to the crease. Good to see him back. However he was disappointed to miss a straight ball and trudged back to the pavilion for 16. Later he was delighted to find the scorer had confused him with Stanier and he had been accredited with 39 not out.

Susman and George added a few runs at the end and the Bedouins finished with 135 from their 35 overs.

Bedouins opened with Stanier and Robinson. Both were quick to take wickets leaving Fossils 12 for 2. Neither could dislodge the Fossils opening bat who was definitely not over 70. He was younger and fitter and boy could he hit the ball. He got to his 40 and retired.

Meanwhile wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Stanier had finished with 3 for 22 and Robinson 1 for 25. Hill junior bowled a few overs with his one wicket being Hill combined effort, with Hill A taking a smart catch. See, he can still do it.

It was spells from Susman (3 for 6 from 7) overs and Lippitt (1 for 13 from 7 overs) that slowed the Fossils run chase down. At this point we should say that Fossils like to play a rule that the opposition have to get them all out to win the game. Beds rarely get near skittling through a whole Fossils side but that was about to change.

Fossils could sense defeat, they could also see a way to win. Much to the displeasure of certain Bedouins, the Fossils started to blatantly throw away wickets in an attempt to get their opener back in. One batsmen even hit his own wicket. Outrageous, but it worked and the opener returned.

He took an instant liking to Hill Junior’s bowling and hit him for a couple of fours and a six. It left Fossils needing 14 from the last over with the big hitter facing. Cue a masterful piece of captaincy from Howells. He brought Branch on. His first ball was a tempting lopping flipper out of the back of his hand. I watched from the square leg boundary as it all seemed to unfold in slow motion. Said batman danced down the wicket for the big hit, missed, and was stumped by Howells to shouts of delight from the whole Bedouins team.

Very dramatic. Just when you think you’ve seen it all… A good game to win.