Pedmore O40s v Bedouins – Wednesday 8th June

Bedouins won by 13 runs

A sunny Wednesday evening at Pedmore CC saw Bedouins break two losing streaks. Firstly, the skipper won the toss which was unusual in itself, then Bedouins went on to win a game for the first time this season.

On the winning the toss, skip elected to have a bat and in went Branch with Susman. The former missed out somewhat on some friendly bowling and was stumped for 7. Susman was joined by Hill J with the new man at the crease keen to run twos and his partner not so. While Susman was prodding and pushing young Hill twice lost the ball, sending it out of the ground never to be seen again. One straight six was enormous, with the ball still rising as it cleared the huge trees at one end of the ground. Susman eventually retired on 30 as did Hill J.

Bywater made a quickfire 32 dotted with boundaries and Stanier and JJ Smith rounded off the innings both finishing with 7 not out. Bedouins finished with a total of 139 for 1.

Pedmore’s batting line-up appeared stronger than that of its bowling and both openers retired on 30. Spratters’ bowling (0-28-3) suffered somewhat and wasn’t helped by inept fielding from Susman at mid-off. Stanier too was clobbered a bit finishing with 1 for 26 from his four overs.

Pedmore’s strong start was only halted when Smith M came on to bowl. His mastery of flight kept the batsmen guessing and he finished with 2 for 22 from his 4 overs. In the field the youthfulness of JJ Smith and Hill J helped to keep the runs down with the former putting his body on the line on a couple of occasions.

Mick Body bowled a tight spell (1-18-4) and was delighted to get a wicket, proclaiming it was his first for 20 years! Susman again got some turn from the wicket although he remained wicketless (0-16-3) and the skipper Bywater finished the game off with 1 for 13 from his two overs.

It is also worth noting that there were three stumpings on the night for Howells behind the stumps, one of which gave the impression of a much younger man keeping wicket, judging by the lightning quick reactions to whip off the bails. Pedmore had started their innings well and the Beds bowlers did well to slow them down. A good win, and one that was celebrated afterwards with a beer and a very nice plate of chilli con carne.

Bedouins v Kinlet – Wednesday 1st June

Bedouins lost by 5 wickets

This game with our friends from Kinlet was notable for several reasons: it was a nice warm and sunny evening; we had a very small pitch invader; the game was decided on the last ball; and Lippo outdid Spratters’ catch from last week in athletic fashion. More later.

Francis Englehert of Kinlet communicated the fact during the day that Kinlet were struggling to get a side together and they may not be that strong. He was kidding us. They had their usual competitive side out, with one or two new faces among them.

Bedouins were delighted to welcome Mike Garbett as official scorer. We will hopefully be seeing more of him during the season. It makes a big difference having the scorebook taken care of during a game. Thanks Mike!

Bedouins batted first and started with Branch and Lippitt at the the crease – two old heads who can boast 219 years of cricket experience between them. Branch wasn’t hanging about and counted four fours in his quick fire 20. Lippitt was joined by Smith N and the two set about building a fruitful partnership. When Lippitt finally retired on 30 he was replaced by Hill J, who unusually for him, only made one boundary before picking out a fielder on the square leg boundary and being caught.

This obviously miffed young Hill somewhat. He quickly reappeared to make up the numbers in the field for Kinlet and proceeded to hold a good catch in the deep to remove Smith N, who went for 28. Hill the elder (9 not out) and Stanier (20) made handy runs at the end of the innings and the Beds finished a respectable 121 for 4 not before a teeny tiny pitch invader made her way on the field of play, sidestepping bemused fielders and only stopping to high-five players.

There are two things that always hold true about Kinlet, they are a fine bunch of fellows on and off the pitch, but they also never give any quarter. It was the same this time. The start of the Kinlet innings saw them make hay somewhat, and it was unusual to see Gregory conceding some runs as he opened the bowling again. The Skipper was accurate as usual (1-11-4) but there was a spell where byes were a regular occurrence. There were 23 in all on the night; a total which beat all but one of the Kinlet batsmen.

The introduction of the spinners Stanier and Susman slowed the run rate somewhat. Susman was enjoying a wicket that turned and bounced, finishing with (0-15-4) and Stanier made inroads into the batting line-up with (2-12-3). One of these wickets was the result of an outstanding piece of athleticism from Lippitt who dived to his left at gully to pluck the ball out of the air low down with his left hand. Quite remarkable.

It all made for a tense finish. Kinlet needed 9 to win from the last over. Hill J was given the task of bowling that final over but Kinlet showed their usual resilience and got that down to one run to win from the final ball. The field closed in but there was nothing that could be done as the Kinlet batsmen scrambled the one run they needed to win the game. Not the result we wanted but it was just a joy to be on the ground on such a beautiful evening.

It should also be reported that Kinlet very kindly put some money behind the bar to mark the passing of Bedouins chairman Brian Susman last year. A very lovely gesture from them and very much appreciated.

Next up, Pedmore away for the winless Bedouins.

Belbroughton Strollers v Bedouins – May 25th 2022

Belbroughton win by 22 runs

Whatever the sport, there are some teams you just can never seem to beat. Like QPR always struggling to beat Brentford. In the case of Bedouins cc, that team is definitely Belbroughton Strollers, especially on their own ground. It’s one of those wickets where the Bedouin batting line-up can never seem to get the ball away to the boundary.

And so it was on a dull and somewhat chilly Wednesday evening in Belbroughton. Bedouins again had to rope in players to make up the numbers with many regular faces missing. Peter Gurr, who had played for the Fossils the Sunday before, joined us to bolster the batting and bowling and Neill Smith told his son JJ he’d get no pocket money if he didn’t help us out. His youthfulness proved handy in the field and brought the average age of the side crashing down. Enville stalwart Paul Moran also made an appearance.

Bedouins had a bowl and it was Moran who had first use of the new ball (and very pink) ball. He didn’t seem to get the usual amount of swing we have seen before but his three overs went for just 17 runs. Gregory carried on where he left off last game by deceiving the batsmen with flight and swing. He made the breakthrough, bowling the Stroller’s opening bat.

Susman, taking over from Moran, served up some Bertie Bassetts with all sorts of balls aimed at the batsmen. He was successful with two wickets but his final over proved expensive with one ball disappearing over the ropes.

Here’s where things get a little confusing and I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong. According to the book, Wright was the bowler replacing Gregory. I’m pretty sure we didn’t have a Wright in the team that night and that it was the Skipper, Bywater, who took over, and indeed quickly took a wicket in his first over. We should play with a pink ball more often, it could have been the reason Spratley took a blinding catch at the square leg with the ball travelling low and at pace. He even amazed himself.

At 50 for 4 from their first ten overs, Beds seemed to have some control over the game. Strollers turned the tables in the next 10 overs though. Gurr took one wicket in his two overs but after that the Strollers picked up the run rate and made it 126 for 5 from their 20 overs.

So to the Bedouins reply. It was the Smith show at the start with Neill Smith and son JJ opening. Smith N turned out to be the only Bedouins batsman to amass any serious runs. He retired on 33 having batted for a lot of the innings. At the other end JJ’s stay at the crease was somewhat brief.

Susman, in at three, looked to be getting going having hit a couple of fours but then played across the line and was given out LBW. Bywater too had a very brief spell at the crease and even Stanier was struggling to time the ball on a wicket that always seems to cause problems for the Beds batsmen.

Gurr can obviously bat but again he struggled to find the boundary with his 20 runs made of mostly singles. He finished not out but the Bedouins innings died a feeble death with the Stroller’s score never really looking in any danger.

One bright side was the excellent pizzas after the game, which were cooked to order in onsite pizza ovens. Delicious they were, although very filling. Nothing went to waste though, with Gregory last seen trundling back to his car with his kit in hand and a stack of leftover pizza boxes in the other. Waste not want not.

Next we do battle with our old friends from Kinlet. Always a game to look forward to.

Bedouins v Oldswinford – 18th May 2022

No result – rain stopped play

You look forward to the first game of a new season, you whip yourself into peak fitness, you revise your knowledge of the Boycott book of batting technique, and what happens. The day of the game starts out warm and sunny but gradually as the clock ticks down towards the start of the play the clouds roll in, the temperature drops, and the light becomes decidedly murky.

So it was for our first game of the season with Oldswinford. Bedouins batted first on wicket with some lively bounce at one end. Branch and Lippitt opened the innings and looked comfortable, Lippitt particularly was in fine form and middling the ball well, despatching it to the boundary on regular occasions and making use of the fast outfield. Branch was first to go for 11, caught deep toward the square leg boundary.

Skipper Bywater came to the crease and found the boundary with 2 fours before being well caught in the gloom towards long on. Hill J strode to the crease and matched Lippitt’s 30 retired. While he was there he saw various partners come and go but none made an great impact on the score.

Gregory and Susman were left at the end to try and up the score and at this point the heavens opened. Bedouins had made it to 105 for 5 from their 20 overs but there looked to be little prospect of Oldswinford being able to fulfill their innings. So with that, the covers come on, the sight screens were dismantled and everyone gathered in the clubhouse for an early tea and some beers.

Bedouins v Ashby Albion – Sunday 8th August 2021

Bedouins lost by 21 runs

On Sunday 8 August, Bedouins youth policy, Jonathan Hill brought his Ashby Albion side to Enville for the annual charity match. With names like Makepeace and Love amongst the Asbhy side, you may have expected they would offer little resistance against an experienced Bedouins team. But that proved not to be the case.

With Ashby struggling to get a side together, Bedouins Hill A and Susman joined the Ashby ranks and a 10-a-side game ensued. Bedouins won the toss and decided to have a bowl. It seemed like a good plan, but Ashby opener McAvan soon showed his pedigree, with Hill A. backing him up well at the other end. Disaster struck though when Hill A. middled a ball straight back towards the bowler, who got a touch onto the wicket, with McAvan left stranded. He had looked likely to make a big score but was back in the pavilion for 19.

Hill A. kept the scoreboard moving and although he quickly lost his partner Taylor, batting at three, he was joined by Makepeace who although he displayed little confidence while waiting to bat, hit four fours in his 24.

George bore the brunt of the Ashby big hitting, finishing his seven over spell with 46 for 1, with Bywater proving more economical at the other end and eventually finishing with 3 for 25. With the Hill A. (21) and Makepeace partnership ended Ashby skipper Hill J. came to crease determined to set Bedouins a decent target. Joined by Susman, the two started a fruitful partnership until Susman played around a straight ball from Bywater when on 22.

A small collapse then ensued with Robertson, Stanier, Lippitt and Thomas all getting amongst the wickets. Hill J. made it to the retirement figure of 50, but no sooner had he sat down, he was back in again as wickets tumbled. Once back at the crease he displayed some powerful hitting but was left stranded as he ran out of batting partners. He finished on 67 not out, a superb effort and a skipper’s innings which left Ashby on 173 all out from their 35 overs.

Ashby Albion

In reply Bedouins had a solid start with Branch and Lippitt opening. But it soon became evident that the youth of the Ashby side (apart from Hill A. and Susman of course) was being used to their advantage. These guys are Sunday league footballers, and we all know how fit those chaps are. They looked like olympians compared to Bedouins in the field. As a result, Bedouins found it hard to reach the boundary.

Branch played a long and determined innings until he was caught Hill A. (keeping wicket for the first time in more than a decade), bowled Hill J. for 42. Lippitt had departed earlier for 19 after being bowled by Susman (2 for 34), who also accounted for Taylor for 8. With Bywater in at four it looked like Bedouins were still in with an outside chance. With the run rate climbing and Ashby quick in the field, he looked more likely than any to claw things back, especially with a huge six off Susman’s last ball.

But it wasn’t to be. Hancock became Hill J’s (2 for 40) second wicket and Stanier went for 5. As Bedouins ran out of overs, Bywater was left stranded on 48 not out, with Howells 3 not out. Beds finished on 152 for 5. For Ashby, Makepeace finished with 1 for 7 from his seven overs, and Summerville 0 for 20 from six overs.

Of course, being a Sunday and with COVID restrictions lifted, we were able to enjoy a tea laid on by the Bedouettes (Nicki and Jo), with a cuppa and cake between the innings too. But the important thing on the day, apart from a good game, was that £370 was raised to go to the Ovarian Cancer Trust. A great effort by all, and hopefully something that can be repeated next season.