Bedouins v Kinlet at Enville – Sunday, 14 July 2013

Bedouins lost by one wicket

Bedouins met Kinlet for their first Sunday fixture of the season on a steaming hot afternoon at Enville. The injuries continue to mount up and those that were fit struggled to catch the ball, all of which contributed to a one wicket defeat.

P.G. Woodhouse was absent for this game and Lippitt was still on hols and to be honest, the Bedouins missed their batting prowess. Gregory was still entertaining the Pope, Bate was unavailable and Lock was still in lock down. All this meant that McAvan (a distant member of the Hill dynasty) was brought in to bolster the side. Beds also welcomed the return of Deadly David Pearson who, half way through moving house, is squatting in some dark backwater somewhere.

Bedouins batted first with the game reduced to 36 overs a side because of the heat.

The usual pairing of Branch and Hill A. strode to the crease first and made a steady start. The former was unlucky to be dismissed for 11 when he middled the ball at great speed to mid-on where the fielder managed to cling onto the ball between his knees.

Bywater joined Hill A. and the two started to inject some pace into the innings. Hill A. after a nervous start found his timing and the boundary but was eventually bowled when on 21 by a ball that kept very low. Indeed that was the way the wicket was playing and it caught a few batsmen out. Bywater launched a huge six over deep mid wicket but was then caught behind next ball for 9.

This left Susman and Hill J at the crease. Young Hill played watchfully as the very useful young Kinlet spinner Salter was on. One loose ball from the bowler resulted in a full toss to Hill J. whose eyes lit up but the mis-timed shot went straight back to the bowler and Hill J. departed for 4.

The Beds were now on 45 for 4 and looked to be in danger of not posting a challenging total. McAvan came in at 6 and instantly showed he is a cricketer of some talent. He took the initiative and found the boundary at regular intervals until he was bowled by Englehart when going for the big hit. The score had become more respectable at 84 for 5 in the 20th over.

Susman had ridden his luck, especially against Englehart who beat the edge of the bat on several occasions, but the batsman ground his way to the retirement figure of 50 with batting partners fast disappearing. Ferguson in at number seven managed 2 before being caught and Hancock (9) stroked a couple of nice boundaries until he edged one to the ‘keeper and Spratley and George contributed  11 and 7 respectively.

Pearson played an excellent pull shot for his 4 runs and Susman was back in and was ultimately caught out on the long-on boundary going for a big shot in the penultimate over, finishing on 57. Bedouins ended up with a respectable 168 for 7.

Thanks to David Pearson for doing the book during the Beds innings.

After a break between innings with tea and cake excellently organised by the Bedouettes, the Bedouins took to the field and opened the bowling with George Michael and Spratters. The Vice Captain kept things tight but contrived to drop two almost identical catches off his own bowling. He wasn’t however, the only one. Certainly Branch at slip and Ferguson were guilty of similar misdemeanours and if memory serves Hill J. may have made a slip behind the stumps although he later redeemed himself with a blinding one-handed catch, showing remarkable reactions. He may have taken others but it is unclear in the book and also my poor memory, as to who took what catches in the end.

Kinlet got to 34 before the first wicket fell. Bowling changes saw Pearson and Susman come on to bowl. Pearson looked like he had never been away and immediately put the batsmen under pressure and it was he who took the first wicket, clean bowling Allsopp B for 31. A good wicket to take as the young man had looked comfortable up until that point.

Susman took a couple of wickets in successive overs with Bywater taking two catches at mid-off. At least he knows what his hands are for…..

Kinlet’s middle order then took control somewhat with Holmes the main thorn in the Beds side. The opposition looked like they would reach their target with ease but then Bywater came on to bowl and produced what was almost a match-winning performance. He was to finish with figures of 4-17 from his allotted 6 overs. If only he could have bowled a seventh.

Pearson came back on and produced another demon ball to have Kinlet 8 wickets down, meanwhile at the other end McAvan was attempting to bowl and was another victim of the Bedouins injury jinx, aggravating an old back injury. Branch also tried to bowl with his dodgy knee but he was restricted in his movement.

McAvan did take a wicket and the match was finely poised. From memory (as I said, poor) Kinlet only needed another 14 runs to win and Beds only needed that one last wicket. This with nearly three overs remaining.

But it wasn’t to be. Branch tried bowling everything in his repertoire, to no avail and in the end McAvan, by this time struggling to stand up let alone bowl, was hit for the winning runs.

It was though simply the most enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon and although the Bedouins always play to win, to lose against such a fine and friendly bunch of good sports as Kinlet CC is no hardship.

The girls produced a top-notch tea and after that and a few pints, everyone headed for home, ever-so-slightly sun burnt and knackered. Will the Beds have 11 fit players to choose from for the next game? Well they did manage to sign Paul Henrique-Tonge during the day, on a free transfer from who knows where. With such a grand surname and the fact that he has played cricket out in Australia (you did say that didn’t you Paul), we can probably claim him as our overseas player. The rest of the squad are dropping like flies though so there may be several late fitness tests before the next game v Pedmore House (bet you’ll be back for that one Austin).

Bedouins v Open GI at Enville – Wednesday, 10 July 2013

Bedouins lost by 6 wickets

Bedouins had managed to retain the Open GI shield for the last 8 years or so, so was it coincidence that the one time Mr Chairman was absent due to heart surgery, the Bedouins let the trophy slip from their grasp? No, they just weren’t good enough.

For starters the Beds took to the field with only ten men and actually finished with only 9 with Tommy Allcock pulling his back and having to retire. Bate made a welcome return to the side and George made his first appearance of the season. Gregory had gone for an audience with the Pope. The Pope said he felt blessed and honoured to have met such a fine religious icon.

Beds batted first with Bate promoted to open with skipper Branch. Hill A. volunteered to drop down the order following an uncharacteristic poor run of form. It soon became clear that Open GI had not read the rules and had brought some seriously good cricketers with them, particularly the opening bowlers who only conceded 22 runs off the first eight overs. During this spell Bate had been bowled when on 3.

The change of bowling saw Beds pick up the pace with Brach and Woodhouse pushing the score up to 58 for 1 from 11 overs. Woodhouse is now in fine form with the bat and retired on 34. The skipper was caught when on 19.

Hill A. (3) didn’t fare much better batting at four although he did fall to a great catch on the long on boundary and on any other part of the ground the ball may well have gone for six.

It was again Hill J. who was showing the old farts how to bat. His 28 not out included a couple of lusty fours and one huge majestic six straight back over the bowlers head. He was supported for a while by Bywater (14) but Susman (a first ball duck) and Hancock (duck) failed to add anything to the score and Spratley finished one not out.

Bedouins innings ended on 112 for 6.

Open GI were quick out of the blocks with their innings with both of their opening batsmen announcing their intention not to hang around in the run chase. Bywater received some serious stick, going for 12 in his first over. He finished with 1 for 33.

Spratley fared a little better with 1 for 19 and it was he who took a great catch down on the cover boundary to remove one of the openers.  Susman held a catch at mid-off off the bowling of Spratley but P.G. Woodhouse failed miserably with an attempt. If we’re honest it wasn’t an easy chance but we need to give him stick for something.

Bedouins found it hard to take wickets and Open GI never seemed to be in any trouble and always looked likely to reach the Bedouins target with ease. Hill J. took a sharp stumping off the bowling of Susman and George showed a glimpse of his old form removing Mustafa’s off stump but there the wicket taking ended and Open GI won the game in the 17th over.

An enjoyable evening none the less although Bedouins injury list is now mounting up. Hancock (back), Lock (complete body), Branch (knee), Susman (no talent) are all a worry. Time for the Bedouins to reintroduce a youth policy surely and please, come back soon Mr Chairman.

Next game – Sunday July 14th v Kinlet. One wonders how the hell the Bedouins will get their injury-prone bodies through a 40 over a side match and get back to winning ways…..

Bedouins v RWE – Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Bedouins win by 5 wickets

After three false starts the Bedouins finally got their season underway at Enville with the fixture against RWE, also known as the Karl Aston XI. Karl has now left the company after a mere 31 years in the job so I guess it is now officially RWE we will play from now on.

The first three fixtures of the season versus Chancers, OpenGI and Kinlet all succumbed to the poor weather during May, although the OpenGI and Kinlet games have been rearranged. However, on this night the sun shone fit to bust and the game was well and truly on.

What of the team news? Well for a start, the Bedouins had 11 fit(ish) players. Things have looked a little more promising this season team-wise with 13 players having declared themselves available for both of the first two fixtures; the last few seasons have seen the side scratching around for players. Tom Bate made his Bedouins debut and instantly fitted in well however the Beds still took to the field with only ten players as Officer Bywater was unavoidably detained at the Prison. George was abroad somewhere – again, and Gregory, Ferguson and Johnston were otherwise engaged.

Still, fielding first, the Bedouins got off to a good start with an opening pair of Spratley and Lippitt. Spratters as usual gave little away but it was Lippitt who announced himself with two wickets in his first over, the first bowled and the second, low and behold, Susman ran round to take a catch at mid wicket.

Spratters bagged the third wicket before being taken off and replaced by Lock. At the other end, Lippitt had been replaced by Bate. Lock did well to bowl having already dived around in the field, pretending he was a lot younger than he actually is. RWE managed to knock the ball around and pick up some runs until Bate removed Mohammed bringing Kureshi to the wicket. Kureshi is one of the batsmen the Beds have rarely (if ever) managed to get out and again he retired 30 not out.

RWE had been starting to hit the ball to the boundary. Susman was a bit expensive during his three overs but Bywater had turned up and was instantly put on to bowl and so RWE were kept down to a score of 104 for 4. They would probably have been happier with another 20 or so runs.

It was good to see the old married couple, Hill and Branch opening the batting for the Bedouins. These two know each other intimately – at least, at the wicket – and they got the batting side off to a decent start. Hill hitting the ball hard, Branch trying to, so as to avoid running between the wickets on his dodgy knee. In the end Branch went for 9 to a straight one that kept low.

This left Hill partnered with Woodhouse and the latter wasn’t going to hang around. He made a quickfire 32, including one huge 6 over square leg, before retiring. Hill was caught when on 20.

Things then started to look a little dodgy with Hancock dismissed for 0 and Lippitt for 0, both clean bowled. Hill J hung around and gave support to Bywater until the former was also bowled when on 4. Bywater and Bate saw the Bedouins home in the 17th over with Bywater looking confident during his 27 which included five 4s.

The Bedouins also got their first look and use of Enville’s new changing rooms since the renovation of the clubhouse and very salubrious they were too. If Branchy remembers to turn the boiler on next time, the showers will be excellent!

Mrs S was declared unfit for tea duty following minor surgery the day before, so it was fish and chips on the menu – very large portions of fish and chips.

Next game, the rearranged fixture with Kinlet on 26th June.

Bedouins v Enville at Enville– Wednesday, 22 August 2012

Beds win by 4 runs

Liverpool v Everton, City v United, Barca v Real Madrid, Brentford v QPR – none have the same intense rivalry to match this game. Bedouins turned out to play their landlords on Wednesday in a keenly fought local derby, with both sides desperate to hold on to the bragging rights for another season. Unfortunately for Enville, it was the Bedouins who came out on top.

Bedouins chief whip had showed an incredible ineptitude in being unable to count from one to eleven and so it was that a team of twelve turned up to play. Luckily Enville were in the same boat and so it was agreed to play 12 a side.

The Beds were again ravaged with injury with skipper Branch still lame from the Halifax Tour. Hill A. , Woodhouse and Lock were still plagued with back problems. A recurring theme in this side. Hill J. was kept away with work commitments. Hence McConnell, Faulkner and Moran were all late (but quality) additions to the side.

Who won the toss is still a mystery but Bedouins batted first, opening with Susman and Bywater. These two had a steady opening partnership of 69 in 13 overs, so steady there was unwarranted barracking from the rest of the team. The slow and low wicket made it hard to get the ball away though and this was shown in the batting collapse that followed later.

Susman had been the first to go, cleaned bowled by Burn when on 28. Bywater retired shortly after on 32. The rest of the batting side contributed little – Gregory was caught at mid-on for 3, Faulkner was caught for 7, and Lippitt went for a duck followed by Ferguson for a golden duck. Spratley and McConnell both finished not out with 7 and 5 respectively and the Bedouins had clawed their way to 99 for 5.

Bedouins made early inroads into the Enville batting line-up. Moran, who looked dangerous from the start had J. Smith cleaned bowled with the score on two and finished with 1 for 5 from his 4 overs. Pearson, opening from the other end, was carted for a 6 in his first over and was taken off by stand in skipper George after two overs to be replaced by McConnell (4 overs 1 for 16).

Enville looked to be going well. B. Oakes retired on 31, opener N. Smith had made 20 until falling to a good catch by Lippitt (any catch by a Bedouin is a good one) off the bowling of Bywater. There were however several catches put down as usual, the most memorable being Ferguson at deep square leg, racing in to grab the ball, only for it to fly through his hands during a swallow dive to the turf. Very dramatic, very funny.

The key moment was Enville’s Parfitt being run out when on 22 and looking as though while he was at the crease, Enville would storm home. It was a great shy at the stumps from Lippitt who also later took a good low catch off his own bowling. Thankfully a better performance in the field than with the bat. He also finished with bowling figures of 2 for 1 from his one over. Bywater put in a good stint to finish with 2 for 23 from his 4 overs. Spratley was a tad expensive for him with 1 for 31 from 4.

One highlight was seeing Enville legend Fred Hodges at the crease at the age of 104. Quite remarkable to see him running quick(ish) singles. He couldn’t rescue Enville though.

The light for the final five or six overs could only be described as poor and Enville may cite that as the reason the failed to reach their target of 100. It doesn’t matter, Bedouins won.

So that wraps up another season for the Beds; one that looked like it may never get going. It was probably the worst season ever, weather wise, and in the end only 7 fixtures were fulfilled. However the final tally of won 4, lost 2, tied 1 would indicate that all said and done, it was a pretty good season for the Beds. Let’s hope for some sunshine next year.

SSP v Bedouins at Blackley CC – Sunday, 12 August 2012

Bedouins lost by 23 runs

Mr Chairman writes:

The Bedouins had their second game within a week at Halifax against SSP.  The annual meeting with “our friends from the north” proved just a step too far, with the Beds going down to a mostly very young and fit side by a mere 23 runs in a high-scoring 40-over game.  Having suffered the late withdrawal of one of its all-rounders, the Beds side also had the misfortune to lose the all-round services of their beloved skipper during the game, as “one step too far” took on a new and sinister meaning for JB.

Happily, quite a number of Beds had decided to make a weekend of it, with the Huddersfield North Premier Inn as the base for a bit of R&R.  A two-night stay there left one or two somewhat bleary eyed on Monday morning, but all agreed that it was worth it.

The match enjoyed a new venue.  Blackley CC has a ground situated just alongside junction 24 of the M62.  Facilities are excellent, the pitch well prepared, the outfield fast and true, and the scorebox well situated with electronic facilities to hand for those who know how to use them.  Plus, the Blackley club members running the bar and doing the catering proved to be good at their job and extremely welcoming.  All together, therefore, a terrific new location.

SSP won the toss and opted to bat.  Opening the bowling downwind and downhill, Lee Bywater showed definite signs of steam coming out of his ears in a six-over burst that yielded only 14 runs.  At the other end the skipper of vice, Mike George, was taking just the occasional hit until posted to the nether reaches of the boundary to nurse a damaged fetlock.

Bostin’ Austin took over uphill and bamboozled a few batsmen with his variations of pace.  He finished an excellent 8-over spell with 1 for 25.  Spratters took over downhill and had 8 tidy overs to take 1 for 30, and Dave Pearson kept things tight towards the end with 4 overs costing just19.  Meantime, Mr Mackay Bywater had returned to complete his 8 overs with 2 for 22.

By now John Branch’s knee had packed up, so we couldn’t have his valued “death” bowling.  Our late substitute, Sean Emmett, an old school friend of Adrian Susman’s (let’s face it, all his school friends are now going to be “old”), was volunteered to take the final overs and, untrained as he was, took a bit of a mauling from SSP’s young and hard-hitting batsmen.  But he stuck to the task with a grin.

The end result was a 40-over score of 228 for 4, with Tom Mawer and Steve Waddington both reaching the retirement 50, Ian Clayton 36 and Tony Dobson 25.

In reply, openers Paul Lippitt and Lee Bywater (with Branchy unable to take further part) found themselves up against a quick and hostile opener, who was fortunately whipped off by SSP skipper John Dobson after 4 overs, 1 for 4, before he could do any more physical damage.  But not before Lee had been dismissed for 6.

After Lippo was out for 24, Adrian Susman and Austin Gregory came together to add 78 for the third wicket, but both fell just short of the 50 mark, for 48 and 47 respectively.  Adrian had shown an inclination not to over-exert himself, with his first seven scoring shots going for boundaries.

Andy Hill and Tony Hancock both made a valuable 22 and Spratters 17, but the Beds innings ended on 205 for 9, just 23 runs short of the target.

So SSP regained the Rasche Trophy, and one and all retreated to the pavilion to enjoy a superb buffet supper and watch the rain sheeting down as the gloom descended over Blackley; in no time, the lashing rain meant that the wicket couldn’t even be seen from the pavilion.  A few thanks were expressed, in particular to SSP for their hospitality and to Blackley Cricket Club for providing such a warm welcome, and then it was back to the pub alongside the Premier Inn for a few quick snifters before a retreat to the bedroom to watch the closing ceremony – of the Olympics, that is, not the Beds v SSP game!

Another most enjoyable Beds “tour”, and another opportunity to underline the enjoyment that Beds get from just being in each other’s company.

Photos available in the archive here. With thanks to Mike George for snapping the match shots.

Open GI v Bedouins at Ombersley – Wednesday, 8 August 2012

Beds win by 14 runs

Mr Chairman writes:

The picturesque Ombersley cricket ground on a perfect summer evening; the church clock chiming the hours in the background; the click of bowls on the adjacent bowling green; doves cooing in the long grass; ………. Whoops, sorry, got carried away a bit there.

It must be the experience of actually getting a Beds match played this soggy season in something resembling appropriate weather.

After the previous week’s experience of a farcical final few overs in stygian gloom at Enville, it was important this time to get things under way as early as possible.  Some kind of record was established by starting the game before 6 p.m. – even though it was an “away” match.  So it can be done.

Beds had first use of the invitingly hard Ombersley wicket but suffered an immediate setback, with Andy Hill bowled in the first over.  That brought Paul Lippitt to the wicket to join the skipper, John Branch, making a welcome return after his trip to the valleys with the Enville boys the previous week.

Lippitt effortlessly hit the game’s only six over mid-wicket before being bowled for 14.  Meanwhile JB was proceeding in his usual accomplished fashion, hitting the odd boundary among a host of singles.  At the other end Adrian Susman was likewise in “singles” mode until a couple of consecutive boundaries preceded his departure for 15.

Austin Gregory was next in and, with the occasional meaty blow, made his way to the 30 retirement point, with the skipper once again doing the same.

Welcome guest Rhodri Parfitt looked the regular cricketer that he is in hitting 23, which just left enough time for Lee Bywater and Tony Hancock to get to the wicket before the 20 overs were up, with the Beds on 126 for 4.

Open GI made a terrific start to their reply, getting somewhat stuck in to the bowling of David Pearson and Mike George.  At one stage it was disconcerting to hear a shout of “Well bowled, George” coming from the pavilion area.  Unfortunately from the point of view of our skipper of vice, it was from the bowling green, praising the efforts of a “George” with a wooden ball (don’t be rude!).

Open GI’s openers made good progress, putting 45 on the board in six overs before a double bowling change brought the wickets that the Beds needed.  Lee Bywater twice managed somehow to avoid the expense of completing a hat-trick, returning the astonishing figures of 4 for 7 in 4 overs, including two double-wicket maidens.  At the other end Spratters was weighing in with 3 for19, to the delight of hid dad, who had turned up to support (he seems to be remarkably jolly in spite of having to bear the cross of being Spratters’ dad!).

One of his victims was Open GI skipper and sometime Bedouin Des Johnston.  From the vantage point of the scorebox, he appeared unlucky to be given out LBW – a view with which he seemed to concur as he left the field muttering something that included the words “umpire” and “Specsavers”.

With a ninth wicket stand of 34, Open GI were just 14 runs short of their target at the end of their overs, as John Branch came on to take the pace out of the bowling and to record 2 for 16 in three overs.

So another win for the Beds.  It should be noted that a couple of good catches were taken – by Susman and Hancock.  And somewhere along the way somebody, possibly wearing keepers’ gloves, had the unlikely distinction of dropping catches off successive balls.  Dropping two balls sounds like a nasty case of you-know-what.  Nice to have you back, Andy, and thanks for coming!

Bedouins v Pedmore House – Wednesday, 1 August 2012

Beds lost by 36 runs

Spratters writes: The start was delayed due to a heavy storm just before six, so it was after 6.30 when the players squelched their way onto the square.

Pedmore house batted first, Spratters and Pearson opening the bowling for the Beds. Both finished with figures of 4-0-16-0 and 4-0-18-0 respectively. There was, however, a chance of a catch to Des at Mid on, but he chose to evade the ball while emitting a high pitched squealing noise.

At 8 overs P.H. were on 55 and wickets were needed. On with Lippo and secret weapon/special guest Len Oakes. Four runs each from their first two overs, six from Lippo’s second and then…..er…..oh dear…24 from the next from Oakes. The tactic of not pitching the ball didn’t work. Maybe he was just trying to save wear on the wicket. Lippo did, however take the only wicket in the innings in his 4th over, an excellent over the shoulder catch by Bywater.

With Oakes ‘taking a blow’, Bywater takes over from the pavilion end, and Tom Oakes bowling the last 2 from ‘tuther end, neither picking up a wicket leaving P.H. on 120 after 20 overs. Lippo top wicket taker with 4-0-29-1

Beds innings was opened by Lippo and Hill Snr. Unfortunately both back in the hutch after 3 overs, Lippo for a solid looking zero and Hill Snr. For a very stylish 2. Tom Oakes in at no 3 also unfortunately caught for an attacking nought.

Des and Ade in at 4 and 5, Des the pick of the batsmen staying to the close making 30 and Ade 18. Bywater made 14 and it seemed we might just have a chance, but unfortunately Hill Jr. was bowled for a spirited zilch, probably due to the light situation. (I wouldn’t say it was dark but the umpire had to send up a flare to guide the incoming batsman to the crease). Ferguson was bowled for 6 and Spratters in at 10 for 3 balls, 1 not out, the Beds finished on 94 for 9.

Then it was in the pavilion for scrumptious fish and chips. Des and Spratters had 2 portions. Des deserved his for being top scorer……

Bedouins v Enville Over 40s at Enville – Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Match tied

Spratters writes:

We hadn’t been told whether the game against Enville was home or away, so I took a gamble  and went to the home ground.  A 50/50 chance but luckily all the Beds were there, and the warm up routine (carrying the bags from the car to the changing room ) was in full swing…….

I can never decide if it’s best to write these reports referring to myself as I or Spratters. I think they call it ‘first person and third person’ or something. ( I don’t know where the second person got to).  I’ll do ‘third person’.

Beds batted first, and Spratters was to get the shock of his life – OPENING the batting with skipper John Branch. This was the first time Spratters had been asked to open for any club since 1985 at Kirby Muxloe CC when he was handed a tin of peaches and a tin opener by one of the tea ladies.

A solid but slow start, (Branch solid, Spratters slow) saw the Beds to 46 for no wicket after 11 overs, seeing off the opening bowlers, Moran and Roberts. Branch retired on 30, and was replaced by Woodhouse who was unfortunately bowled through his legs for a duck .  Next in was Gregory, who hit three super fours but was then caught and bowled for 12. Johnson next, bowled for 2 and Bywater, came down the wicket to off spinner Perkins and was unfortunately stumped for 1. I think by this time Spratters had been bowled too, again by that Perkins bloke for a tentative 19.  This brought Hanckock and Hill Jr. to the wicket, the former looking good for 9 before being caught off the bowling of Moran, and Hill Jr. hitting a quick 17, including two sixes, before being bowled by T. Davis. George and Pearson batted out the remaining overs ending on 3 and 4 not out. A total of 106 for 9 off 20 overs.

The Beds opened the bowling with Spratters and Bywater. Bywater keeping it very tight with 4 overs for 8 runs. Spratters not so tight with 4 overs for 19, but picking up the wickets of the openers  M. Perkins (bowled) and Davis caught behind, ( a good clean catch by Hill Jr.) After 8 overs, Enville were 32 for 2. Next to bowl were Gregory and Pearson, Gregory 3 overs for 19 and Pearson 4 overs for 25.  At 15 overs Enville were 71 for 2 and the Beds needed to slow down the scoring and get some wickets.  Woodhouse and Matt Grainger, a regular Enville player drafted in to make up our 11, came on to bowl the last 5 overs. Woodhouse’s first over only going for 2, and Grainger’s first a bit loose and going for 8 but picking up the wicket of  Pearsall. Woodhouse then bowled Sandford, on 21 (an important wicket) in his second over, leaving Enville needing 14 off the last 2 overs. Exciting stuff!! The 19th over went for 9 and Grainger had to bowl the last over with Enville needing 5 to win. So no pressure then. Two dot balls and then a wicket, that of  Roberts who was looking a bit dangerous. 5 needed off 3 balls. Next ball a dot, and then the next driven for 4 by new batsman Perkins. Scores level and one ball left. Perkins hits the ball but it doesn’t go far, and they set off for a run, the ball is hurled to the keeper and the bails removed before Craven the non striker makes his ground. Scores level and game over!!

Bedouins v Wilkes Tranter at Enville – Wednesday, 20 June 2012

Bedouins win by 80 runs

Report by Spratters, who apparently has the Caps Lock jammed on his keyboard. I’d try and make it more legible but I’m pushed for time. Have I told you I’m going away?

WITH ONLY NINE BEDS AVAILABLE, TWO YOUNG WHIPPERSNAPPERS, TOM DAVIES AND TOM NEWELL, REGULAR ENVILLE 3RD TEAMERS, WERE DRAFTED IN. (IS EVERYONE UNDER 16 CALLED TOM THESE DAYS?)I WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS WAS TO BE A CHALLENGING GAME. AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH OUR STRETCH ROUTINES AND PRE MATCH PHYSICAL JERKS I COUNTED 23 MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION, ALSO WARMING UP. THANKFULLY 12 OF THEM WERE INTERLOPERS WHO HAD COME TO USE THE ENVILLE NET FACILITY. BUT AS IT TURNED OUT, THE OPPOSITION COULD HAVE DONE WITH AN EXTRA 12…..

I DON’T KNOW WHO WON THE TOSS BUT I ASSUME IT WASN’T US BECAUSE WE BATTED FIRST. THE WILKES TRANTER OPENING BOWLERS CAUSED LITTLE PROBLEMS FOR OUR OPENERS – BRANCH AND LIPPET. THE CONSISTENT SHORT DELIVERIES AND LOOPING FULL TOSSES FEEDING MR. BRANCH’S CUT SHOT AND LIPPO’S TRADEMARK LEGSIDE SLOG. BOTH OPENERS REACHED THEIR RETIREMENT (31 EACH) AND WERE REPLACED BY WOODHOUSE AND TOM NEWELL. (PITY LIPPO HAD TO STOP, HE LOOKED GOOD FOR AT LEAST 35).

A FINE INNINGS FROM WOODHOUSE SAW HIM RETIRE ON 32. NEWELL WAS STUMPED ON 6 STORMING DOWN THE PITCH ATTEMPTING TO LAUNCH THE BALL OVER THE PAVILION. HILL JR. WAS BOWLED FOR A DUCK, AND HANCOCK CONTINUED HIS RECENT GOOD FORM WITH A USEFUL 12. THIS BROUGHT BYWATER AND SPRATTERS TO THE WICKET FOR THE LAST FEW OVERS, THE LATTER MAKING A TENTATIVE 4 AND BYWATER LOOKING GOOD FOR 7 UNTIL THE LAST BALL, UNFORTUNATELY RUN OUT DUE TO SPRATTERS CALLING FOR A RUN TO DESPERATELY TRY AND INCREASE HIS TOTAL TO 5.

SO WE WERE SITTING PRETTY ON 135 AFTER 20 OVERS. A GOOD TOTAL. ALL THE TEAM WERE IN GOOD SPIRITS EXCEPT LEE BYWATER WHO WAS IN A BAD MOOD BUT DIDN’T WANT TO DISCUSS IT.

THE INNINGS OF WILKES TRANTER STARTED WITH SPRATTERS AND DAVIES OPENING THE BOWLING, KEEPING IT REASONABLY TIGHT FOR THE FIRST 3 OVERS (IF YOU DON’T COUNT SPRATTERS BEING SMACKED FOR 6). THEN IN THE 3RD OVER DAVIS FINDS THE PERFECT LINE AND LENGTH AND PICKS UP TWO WICKETS, BOTH BOWLED.

GEORGE REPLACED SPRATTERS AT THE KINVER END, KEEPING IT TIGHT, AND THEN IN HIS THIRD OVER, DAVIS BOWLS ANOTHER ONE, THE DANGEROUS LEFT HANDED TOP SCORER. AND IF THAT WASN’T ENOUGH, IN HIS FOURTH OVER CLEAN BOWLS ANOTHER TWO TO FINISH WITH FIGURES OF  4-1-9-5. A SUPERB PERFORMANCE.

NEXT TO BOWL WERE BYWATER AND PEARSON, THE REMAINING BATSMEN IN THEIR INTERESTING VARIETY OF SHORTS, OFFICE SHIRTS AND ODD SOCKS FACING AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK.

PEARSON PICKED UP ONE WICKET FOR NINE OFF FOUR OVERS, (A SUPERB GROUND LEVEL SLIP CATCH BY SKIPPER JOHN BRANCH) AND BYWATER TWO FOR SEVEN, BOTH BOWLED. THE OTHER YOUNG TOM BOWLED TWO OVERS FROM THE PAVILION END, PICKING UP TWO WICKETS AND FINISHING THE GAME, JUST AS SPRATTERS WAS LIMBERING UP FOR ONE MORE OVER TO TRY AND JOIN THE WICKET PARTY (HURMPH!)

WILKES TRANTER ALL OUT FOR 55 AND A CONCLUSIVE WIN FOR THE BEDS. AFTER THE GAME A DELICIOUS TEA WAS SERVED, THOUGH THE HERO OF THE GAME TOM DAVIS DISSAPPEARED AFTER A QUICK PRESS CONFERENCE TO AVOID THE PAPARAZZI. PLEASE CONTACT THE CHAIRMAN FOR INFORMATION ON THE NEWLY FORMED TOM DAVIS FAN CLUB. BENEFITS INCLUDE BADGE, T-SHIRT AND MONTHLY FANZINE.

(We didn’t even get him to sign the contract – Ed)