Bedouins v Enville O40s – Wednesday 19th June
Bedouins win by 3 runs.
Another pleasant, warm and sunny evening saw the Bedouins take on the Enville Over 40’s this week in what turned out to be very exciting game, right down to the very last ball.
The team was already depleted and got worse throughout the Wednesday afternoon with Susman and Aston both falling foul to injury and illness. In stepped Weaver Senior and Weaver Junior (Ollie), both neighbours of Neill Smith, and also Brian Pearsall who stepped in at the eleventh hour. Many thanks to Lippo for this introduction, of which proved a fantastic inclusion, as Brian just happened to be an opening bowler for Worcestershire Over 60’s. All 3 inclusions fitted in to the squad straight away.
The toss was won by the skipper and the Bedouins were to bat first. There was a good opening partnership between openers Lippitt and N.Smith, only for the latter to get out caught by an awful delivery, but a superb catch at Gully. Lippitt was back to his very best with an array of lusty 4’s and reverse sweeps, retiring on 32.
Chris Ludlow came in at 3 and showed off some of his very best shots, including 2 superbly timed 6’s on his way to a very composed 30 not out. The middle order of Taylor (13), Weaver (2) and Bastable (6) had time at the end of the innings for some lusty blows to bring the Bedouins innings to a close at 123 for 2 at the end of 20 overs.
Enville this year had a good mix of young and old starlets, and from years gone by, the Bedouins were aware of some very dangerous players at the top of the order, namely Tonks and Cox. The top and middle order were no match for the bowlers however and the beds were able to keep the score down and take wickets just at the right time.
Cox was bowled by Bastable for 2 runs and the experienced opener Tonks was caught by the skipper at cover off the bowling of Pearsall, who bowled beautifully at the Enville top order with figures of 4 overs, 1 wicket for 11 runs.
It’s fair to say that Austin Gregory lives rent free in Enville skipper Z. Mahmood’s head, with once again the bowler getting the better of the batsman with a looping in swinger that clipped the bails. Gregory finished his spell of 4 overs for 18 runs and 3 wickets, one wicket of which was expertly stumped by N. Smith, who deputised very tidily for Howells this week. The other end was held up very well by Chris Rudge who was also a relative newcomer, and was unlucky to get a wicket in his 4 overs. A noble mention to Enville chairman Rob Miller who scored a solid 30 in amongst the falling wickets.
In the last 5 overs Enville required 47 to win off 30 balls and it was down to some canny death bowling from Lippo and the skipper himself to keep the score down. Enville continued to attack the target, even though there was a couple of wickets shared between Lippitt and Hill. However, a good partnership between 2 Enville youth lads wasn’t quite enough, and Lippo kept the runs down in the final over, including just a single off the last ball with Enville needing 4 to tie the match. Enville finishing on 120 for 7.
A nail bitter down to the last ball, and as usual the game played exactly in the right spirit. The game was watched by a very pleased Bedouins Chairman, who stayed to the very end to watch the beds clinch the win.
Fingers crossed for a re-match on 3rd July.