Bedouins v Kinlet – 29th May 2024

Bedouins lost by 21 runs

It’s pretty safe to say that one man made a big difference in this game. But more of that later. It was good to get back onto the pitch with our good friends from Kinlet. It’s always a fun competitive game with the lads from t’other side of river. And with their ground under threat, how many more chances will we get to play each other?

On a rather dull and cloudy evening, Kinlet decided to bat first and Beds made little inroad into the batting side. Robertson and Susman both got through their 4 over spells without bagging a wicket and after 8 overs Kinlet found themselves 45 for 0. Susman was a little unlucky not to take a wicket with Taylor performing one of the most outrageous juggling acts in an attempt to catch the ball. Just when it looked like he’d snaffled it at the 5th or 6th attempt, down it went. Classic Bedouins.

Bedouins fought back hard with the bowling changes. The flight and guile of Smith M seemed to unsettle the Kinlet batsmen. Maybe too much time to think about which shot to play isn’t a good thing? At the other end the skipper brought himself on to bowl and was also troubling the batters. He finished with 2 for 17 from 4 overs. But it was Smith M who took the plaudits with a super spell of 3 for 5 from his 4 overs.

In amongst those wickets there were a couple of catches for the skipper who is proving this season to have a very safe pair of hands. One caught and bowled was taken diving to his left, reminiscent of his footy days between the sticks.

Lippo came on for a couple of overs and took a wicket with his first ball. He should have stopped there. He finished with 1 for 17 from his 2 overs and Bastable finished with 0 for 22 from his 2. It was during these last few overs that Kinlet had their ringer at the crease. He was obviously not a regular at 9 in the batting order. He proceeded to dispatch the ball around the ground including three sixes in his innings of 35 retired. On a ground where it seems mighty hard to get the ball to boundary, those sixes made all the difference (plus the 4 Susman let under his boot – shocker).

Who was he? Where does he play his cricket? Nobody was forthcoming and requests to see his contract were ignored. Anyway, we’re not bitter, are we lads? Kinlet finished on 109 for 8.

Bedouins sent Smith N and Taylor out to start the innings but it wasn’t that long before the latter was dismissed LBW for 3. Smith N, who looks in fine form, was joined by Susman and they put together a decent partnership, but both struggled to find the boundary. Smith N retired on 30 and not long after Susman top-edged a full toss to square leg and trudged off for 16.

Lippo played all round a straight one for 4, which left the skipper and Bastable at the wicket. Things looked promising with three overs left and two big hitters at the crease. It looked like going down to the wire. But the skipper was castled by Kinlet’s Mooney, something that gave the bowler great cause to celebrate heartily. Branch joined Bastable but it was a lost cause. Bedouins ended on 88 for 4 with just the two boundaries in that total. Kinlet’s big hitter made all the difference.

With our game v Pedmore cancelled, we next host Beacon.