Bedouins v Pedmore House at Enville – Wednesday, 30 June 2010

Bedouins lost by 22 runs

Bedouins welcomed back some absentees from the last few games for the home fixture with Pedmore House. Currie, George and Moxon all returned to the fold but it was not enough to rescue the Beds from another defeat in what is developing into a topsy-turvy season.

Usually a score of 139 would be enough to win a midweek 20 over thrash but on this occasion  it left the Beds 23 runs short of victory. A Pedmore House side including Gregory, Hall and Woodhouse was always going to provide stiff competition. Unfortunately they brought some pretty handy mates with them as well. PH won the toss and elected to bat; Bywater and George opened the bowling and Bywater proved to be the pick of the bowlers for the Bedouins finishing with 1 for 14 from his four overs. Everyone else appeared to be a bit out of sorts.

The outfield was bone dry and extremely fast and that coupled with a lacklustre bowling performance meant that PH amassed a score of 159 for the loss of just two wickets. Both wickets where down to good catches taken behind the stumps by Hill Jnr who is settling into the Keepers role very quickly. The second catch particularly was very tidy with Hill Jnr diving in front of slip to take the catch. But this was about the high point in the Bedouins fielding performance. Pearson tweaked a fetlock and was substituted for Hancock.

The Bedouins reply was actually a good effort. Moxon (26) and Lockley (15) both looked in good form. Lockley launched a massive six but was visibly naffed-off at being caught shortly after. Branch (15), Johnston (20), Bond (15) and Bywater (23) all got their eye in but just when they were getting going, got out again. The steady loss of wickets meant that Bedouins fell well behind the run-rate with Hill J (1), Susman (8 not out) and Hancock (2) dragging the Bedouins to a reasonable reply of 137 for 8.

Pedmore House kindly provided fish and chips afterwards which was gleefully devoured and many thanks go to them for that. The Bedouins have a three week break now which will hopefully recharge their batteries before facing a Karl Aston XI at Enville on July 21st.

Kinlet v Bedouins at Moffat School – Tuesday, 29 June 2010

Bedouins lost by 71 runs

After many seasons of trying, and having the game rained off, the Bedouins rolled into Moffat school in the wilds of the Shropshire countryside to play Kinlet in setting much akin to that of Enville. You could come up with several reasons why the Bedouins got hammered in this game. They were a man short; the ground was small and Kinlet had ‘local knowledge’ of how to play it; many of the regular Bedouins were absent (George, Hill A, Hill J, Moxon, Thomas, Currie). But at the end of the day Kinlet put in a strong performance worthy of the win and the Beds left with their tails between their legs.

Beds won the toss and put Kinlet in to bat. Kinlet had requested that every player bowled two overs and so Bywater and Pearson kicked of the proceedings. Bywater went for just 6 runs off his two overs and Pearson (taking an over to adjust to the sloping wicket) 15 but taking the first wicket.

It was one of those grounds where if the batsman avoided the fielder with his shot he would more than likely get four runs. The retirement for batting was set at 25 and three of the Kinlet players made it to that point. Some of the Bedouin bowlers came in for some fearful stick. Johnston going for 28 and our Polish overseas player, Dewinski, going for 25 (adding insult to injury by missing a run out from 6 inches away, when it was harder to miss the stumps than hit them). The skipper chipped in by dropping another catch that he should have held onto – an advert for Specsavers if ever there was one.

Hancock bowled his first two overs ever in any form of cricket and after a nervy first couple of balls produced a few ‘dots’. He should take comfort from the fact that on the night he was by no means the most expensive bowler (hi Des). Although the ball was being battered about nobody managed to do a ‘Neale’ and get hit for 24 from one over. Your record still stands Mitch.

The result of all this was that Kinlet finished on 163 for 4 from their 20 overs. Possibly the biggest target the Bedouins have ever chased in a 20 over game – the skipper was confident though that there was enough talent in the Beds side to get close.

Branch (14) and Bond (19) gave Bedouins a solid start, and Lockley was hitting the ball hard until being given out LBW on 24. After that it all went downhill quite quickly mostly thanks to the bowling of Mooney for Kinlet, who finished with 5 for 5 from his two overs. Kinlet held onto their catches with the skipper and Gregory being caught in the deep (Gregory first ball) and Dewinski (1) and Hancock (another first-baller who was left cursing and shaking his head) failed to trouble the scorer too much. The only high point towards the end was a 6 from Bywater to the longest part of the ground and Pearson’s exquisitely timed 6 to square leg. It was all over in the 13th over with the Beds scraping 92.

Never mind, it was a fine evening and although they thrashed us, Kinlet are a nice bunch of blokes and we were thankful for the food put on for us afterwards in the Eagle and Serpent. We shall look forward to having them back to Enville on Sunday 25th July for a 40 over game. Let’s hope the Beds can perform better on home soil.

Pictured: The victorious Bedouins side at Ombersley. Back row, left to right: Pearson, Branch, Lockley, Susman, Hill A., Hall.
Front row: Dewinski, Hancock, Hill J., Bond (Basildon Bond)

Open GI v Bedouins at Ombersley – Wednesday, 23 June 2010

Bedouins won by 10 runs

After a more than unconvincing performance the previous week against Kinlet, the Bedouins bounced back with a very strong performance against Open GI on a hard and bouncy Ombersley wicket.

Again only scraping together ten players and with the skipper not fully fit it looked like the Beds could struggle against an Open GI side containing some very good cricketers. The Beds were put into bat with the now legendary opening pair of Branch and Hill A. once again starting proceedings. They are, without doubt, fast becoming the new Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, although God knows which is which.

The opening bowlers for Open GI were certainly no slouches and in the second over Branch lost his off stump to a peach of a ball for just 2. Hill A. at the other end (I’m told by Mr Scorer) took seven overs to get off the mark but at the other end Hall, who had put in a Man of the Match performance at Alveley, set about doing the same again making a confident, quick fire 31 before retiring.

Bond now joined Hill A. with the latter starting to find the boundary at regular intervals before retiring on 32. Bond too upped the pace with some lusty boundaries until being stumped on 20. Hill J. was in at number 5 and was joined by Pearson who was promoted in the batting order after his timed-to-perfection sweet 6 at Kinlet and he didn’t disappoint with a very accomplished 21 not out, well supported by Hill J. with 9 not out. The Bedouins finished on 136 for 2. Not a record for the Beds but a great score to set.

Branch took the Beds helm for the Open GI innings due to the skipper’s drug-induced state and turned to Bond and Hall to open the bowling. Bedouins had the difficult job of keeping the score down on a large quick outfield so bowling was going to be key, especially with only nine fit men on the pitch. Bond and Hall did the job well and Open GI were restricted to 26 off the first 6 overs, losing the wicket of Johnston in the process; Pearson holding the catch well in the deep off Hall.

Lockley and Dewinski were first change for the Beds with the latter picking up a wicket in his second over but it was when Hancock was introduced to the bowling attack that it all kicked off. With his very first ball he had McNally caught behind. Hill J relieving his old man of the keeper’s gloves for this game and taking a good clean catch. Hancock wasn’t finished and with an interesting mix of line and length took two more wickets in the over; one clean bowled and the other well caught by Dewinski. Hancock may have wished he had finished after his first over with figures of 3 for 3 especially as his second over went for 22 but it still meant that Open GI were running out of wickets and were behind the run rate.

However, Open GI never gave up and came back strongly at the end and it looked like they would get close to the 137 needed. Pearson turned his arm over to take 1 for 12 and Branch wobbled a few to take 1 for 15. Lockley held another catch on the boundary (can’t remember when we last held four catches in a game) and put to shame Susman, Hill A. and Hancock who all put one down.

Hall came back at the death and claimed another wicket to finish with 2 for 14 from his 4 overs and probably edging the Man of the Match again although it was a top performance from the whole side. Thanks to Des and the boys at OpenGI for their hospitality, it was a great night.

Thoughts now turn to the home game against Pedmore House……..

Bedouins v HMP Birmingham at Enville – Wednesday, 26 May 2010

Match abandoned

Bedouins went head to head with HMP Birmingham on what started out as a bone dry Enville ground. Shame it didn’t stay that way.

Bedouins batted first by default as come start time they only had seven players. Hill A. who had recently been threatening to retire from the game due to not seeing the point in buying a pair of new boots at this late stage of his cricketing career, opened the batting with Gregory who had been kind enough to loan an old pair of his boots to Hill Snr. A lot of good it did. Hill Snr was out for three.

Skipper joined Gregory and the two set about putting a bit of a stand together until Gregory played all round a straight one. Hill J. looked set to bag some runs until being tricked with a cunning slower ball and he departed for three.

Hancock came to the crease and had his half-hour. (Sorry, got that one out of my system now). He signalled his intentions with a classic lofted drive over mid-off and thereafter proceed to attack every ball. This fired the Bedouins into life a bit as the run rate had been a bit slow but unfortunately when on 13 he played and missed and the fun came to an end.

Branch made the crease although he was some what unwell and perhaps that is why he departed again on just six. Although, to be fair, he went to what will be one of the catches of the season at square leg. At this point it had started raining. The skipper retired on 30 and so young Lockley came in and showed what a class act he is, making a quick-fire 26 not out. With some very hard hitting and one six in the process.

George failed to trouble Mr Scorer and Pearson finished one not out. By this time the rain had got pretty heavy and although the teams waited it out there appeared to be no chance of getting the HMP Birmingham innings under way and it was decided the best thing to do was retire to the pavilion for tea and a pint and call the game off.

Shame – Bedouins had finished their innings in a strong position with a score of 121 for 6 but such is life as a cricketer. We’ll have to await the return fixture later in the season to see who gets the bragging rights.

Alveley Over 45s v Bedouins at Alveley – Sunday, 23 May 2010

Bedouins won by 10 wickets

It was a sunny and very hot recreation ground at Alveley that hosted this Sunday fixture against Alveley Over 45s. Originally intended to be a 40 over-a-side game it was agreed that due to the heat it would be reduced to 25 overs.

Alveley batted first and got off to a flying start. Pearson and George opened the bowling and got some stick from the Alveley batsmen which resulted in Alveley making 51 for the loss of one wicket off the first 8 overs. At this point it looked like the Beds were going to be chasing a hefty score.  George had removed the dangerous Mick Wall earlier but Pike and Butler were still clocking up the runs.

The first bowling change heralded a complete change in the game. Dewinski removed Butler in his first over and after that Alveley started to capitulate. The bowling and the wickets were shared around  – Dewinski weighed in with 2 for 9 from his 4 overs, Susman 2 for 10 and Johnston 1 for 5 but the plaudits went to Gregory with 2 for 2 and debutant Matt Hall with 2 for 1, one of which was Pike who had a great knock of 46 for Alveley.

Alveley were eventually all out for 94 in the 22nd over. Strangely eight of the Alveley wickets were clean bowled, the other two went to good catches (yep, things are looking up) from Bywater and Hancock. The champagne moment as far as fielding goes was Skipper for the day, George, leading by example and making a highly athletic stop at square leg when he looked to have been wrong-footed.

There’s not really much you can say about the batting performance apart from it was outstanding. Branch and Hall opened and finished the game off in the 16th over with 32 from Branch and a powerful display and some big hitting from Hall to finish on 52. An impressive debut from the youngster and hopefully we can secure his services again.

All in all an excellent day. Alveley looked after us well and they have some great facilities there. We’ll look forward to playing them again next season. From a personal point of view it is always great to play on the ground where my talents (or lack of) were nurtured as a youngster and to still see some of the old faces playing the game. Long may it continue.

Bedouins v Chancers at Enville – Wednesday 19th May 2010

Bedouins lost by 5 wickets

Bedouins took on a new side in the the form of the Chancers and it proved to be quite an even contest although the Chancers won it by 5 wickets.

Bedouins batted first, opening with Branch and Moxon. Moxon wasted little time and attacked from the off; the fact that he couldn’t see the ball only hindered him slightly. At the other end Branch uncharacteristically failed with the bat and was bowled having made only 6.

The Skipper joined Moxon at the crease and the two put on a bit of a stand until Moxon finally succumbed on 28. He sportingly walked after edging to the wicketkeeper. No less than you would expect from a Bedouin.

Hill junior made 6 and Gregory 7 and it was left to Bywater to wrap up the innings with the Skipper. Both finished not out making 10 and 23 respectively. A score of 98 looked about par but with the Chancers looking like a team who knew what they were doing (most had played for Wombourne previously) another 20 or so on the board would have been good.

Spratters and George opened the bowling with George particularly looking in good form and keeping the batsmen tied down. Spratters was struggling with an injury was not quite his usual accurate self.

Hill senior was absent, being shacked up in some dodgy dive in Luton, so Hill junior took over the gloves having never done the job before. His goalkeeping skills proved useful and some of his old man’s talents have obviously rubbed off as he did a good job.

It was a good all-round bowling performance with wickets tumbling at regular intervals. The highlight was Bywater’s 3 for 18 from his four overs. Currie also put in a good stint with 1 for 16 from 4 overs.

The Skipper left the field in a delicate state so what happened in the last quarter of the Chancers innings is not clear, however in the 20th over they made their target of 99 with five wickets in hand.

It was a good even contest against a good bunch of blokes who we will no doubt play again next season and hopefully reverse the result.

Bedouins v Higgs at Enville – Wednesday, 5 May 2010

Bedouins won by 28 runs

Bedouins kick-started their 2010 season in style with a 28 run victory over Higgs on a very drizzly and overcast Enville ground.

Both sides fielded 10 men with the Bedouins including young Rhys Lockley and even younger (14 years old) Mike Saxon who was making his Bedouins debut – and an impressive debut it was too.

Bedouins lost the toss and were put into bat and it was the usual opening pairing of Branch and Hill who gave the Beds a solid start. Hill was suffering from Man Flu and in the dressing had been making excuses about not having picked up a bat for 9 months and blah, blah, blah……. He was soon back in the pavilion having made an excellent 30 not out.

Branch was joined by Goodman and they carried on a steady accumulation of runs before Branch, who had hit the only six of the game, was bowled for 24. Goodman was joined by the skipper but was bowled on 12 as the pair tried to up the run rate. Saxon entered the fray and aided the skipper in trying to tot up some quick singles until the skip was bowled on 14 and Saxon was the victim of a controversial run out decision from his own team mate – no names (Lee Bywater) – having made 5.

Gregory and Lockley were left with not much time to do anything and the Bedouins finished on 99 for 4. Not a bad score considering the poor conditions.

In return the Bedouins put in a very tidy bowling performance. Higgs certainly had players in the side capable of winning the game but the they were frustrated by accurate bowling from every Bedouins bowler. George (0 for 10 off three overs) set the trend and Bywater followed suit. Higgs suffered an early blow when Coleman was run out. This left a dangerous pairing of Dudley and Bond at the crease but they were kept quiet. Currie took over from George and bowled a tidy 4 over spell for just 17 runs.

Bywater (1 for 11 from 4) claimed the scalp of Dudley in his last over and was then replaced by Saxon, bowling his first overs for the Bedouins. He excelled taking 2 for 6 from his two overs; both wickets were cleaned bowled and all in all it was a good debut from the youngster. He even held a catch and we don’t see that very often from a Bedouin these days.

Once Moxon was bowled by Saxon it looked like only McConnell was going to offer any stern resistance for Higgs and indeed he finished on 22 not out but simply ran out of partners and overs. Gregory finished with 2 for 17 and the skipper 1 for 8 and the players finally departed the field in near darkness.

The big question is now – have we seen the last of Hill snr for the Bedouins? He has often impressed us with the fact that he has been wearing the same pair of boots for the last 22 years and has always said that once the boots give out, he will give up. Last night the sole of one said boot became severely detached from the rest of it. Is it repairable? Is Hill snr repairable? – he suffered a painful blow to the hand whilst dropping a chance at slip and he was only fielding at slip because his back had given out – and that on top of Man Flu.

Anyway, watch this space.

Bedouins v Stourbridge Stars at Stourbridge CC – Wednesday, 24 May 2000

Bedouins won by 7 Wickets

The Bedouins dressing room was the place to be before this game where Neale unveiled his new boots (must think he’s going to get a regular game). My, how white they looked – compared with the rest of his kit.

For a change the Bedouins had no injury worries except for Warner who wandered into the dressing room complaining of ring sting.

Skipper had no trouble rallying his troops for an interesting return fixture with Jones S. and his Stourbridge Stars who had provided such combative opposition last season. The game was in some doubt as showers had prevailed for most of the day and the wicket was damp but groundsman/wicketkeeper Polhill gave it the OK. Skipper won the toss and put the Stars in to give the pace attack of George and Neale the benefit of the new ball.

As in their previous meeting the Stars struck out from the off and, unusually, George found it hard to contain the batsmen. Neale however, inspired by his new boots, was in top form. He claimed the breakthrough with Polhill taking an excellent catch behind.  Neale also claimed the second wicket to fall to finish with 2 for 10.

Club treasurer Hancox had returned from off-shore activities and was allowed to bowl and took 1 for 20 and Susman A. returned similar figures of 1 for 22.

All was well in the field except for two things – Kelly’s catching ability, and a large pile of poo. Thinking back, one could be said of the other, however the poo came into play as it was situated at cover point and various times was in danger of fielding the ball. Not only that Neale nearly christened his new boots.

Kelly dropped three catches. Older members of the team will say whether this is a club record. The last of these chances was off the bowling of Taylor who has suffered this fate more than once or twice already in the first two games. He still, though, managed to finish with 1 for 13 from his four overs.

With the Stars having been 59 for 2 from the first 10 overs the Beds did well to restrict them to 102 for 7.

One long-term absentee who returned to the fold after missing last season with a broken finger nail was Moxon, who you’ll remember is the Bedouettes golden boy. He it was who opened the batting with Hill.

Both scored steadily, keeping up with the run rate until Moxon was caught on 13. Kelly sort of balanced the books by scoring as many runs as he had dropped catches.

Hill was joined by Taylor and the two picked up the run rate. Hill was back to his best  after two career-threatening injuries (at one point he was so lame, it was thought he would have to be put down) and he ended unbeaten on 30. Taylor was unlucky to be caught off a wide ball for 13 and it was left to Susman A. and Jones M to finish off with two balls remaining to make it two out of two for the  Beds this season.

Jones S. was a gentleman about his defeat as always and simply uttered “B******s” through gritted teeth.

Fair play to the Stars, they pitched the ball up  – which was just as well in the atrocious light – and fought hard.

Bedouins v Higgs at Enville – Wednesday, 10 May 2000

Bedouins won by 8 wickets

If there was ever any doubt about the validity of indoor nets for our level of cricket – despite it being good fun – this was laid to rest during this, the Bedouins first game of the season. It used to be the Chaddesley Twilight XI that traditionally provided the opposition for the first game, thus providing what could be politely termed ‘a gentle warm up’. These days Higgs usually provide a sterner test for the first fixture (weather permitting) with the likes of Currie, Jones and Moxon in their midst.

Moxon was missing on this occasion and Higgs missed his extra oomph in the batting and bowling departments.

The Beds had injury worries as usual. Polhill was complaining of a badly chafed leg, after falling down some “muddy” steps on holiday. (Was there a pub at the top of those steps?) And Hill had foot and mouth or something.

Higgs batted first facing eight ball overs thanks to the gloomy conditions. George opened the bowling and his regular net sessions showed with his immediate accuracy of line and length. Taylor (top of the bowling averages last season) supported from the other end. Again a regular at nets, he was tidy with his overs.

George took two quick wickets to leave Higgs 24 for 2. This may have been for four as Taylor was unlucky with chances being put down by Kelly and the Skipper. At this stage it looked like the Beds would find it hard to catch a cold.

Eventually he got his just reward and finished with 1 for 15 and George with 2 for 14.

Gregory and Susman A. took over at the change. Gregory was unlucky to finish with no scalps. He looked too quick for the Higgs batsmen although Barnsley did pick him up well for a six to deep mid wicket. Susman A. struggled bowling into the wind and against the slope and was lucky to pick up the wicket of Currie. Two run outs also followed to leave Higgs struggling on 63 for 5 from 12 overs. There was no let-up with Neale bowling three overs, taking 2 for 20.

Despite being in some discomfort, gritty keeper Polhill displayed his usual high standards. Higgs finished on 84 for 7.

Beds opened the batting with two tall blokes; the unmistakable frames of Susmans B and A.

Susman B proceeded to time and middle the ball around the ground – something that hadn’t been apparent the last couple of seasons. The Golf lessons must be paying off.

Neither bat looked troubled until B ran out of puff and was run out for 19. Hill came in at three and he too middled the ball well and indeed hit four boundaries which was not easy with a long, lush outfield. By the time he was out for 25 making it 82 for 2 in the 13th over, the game was as good as won. Susman A and Thomas R finished undefeated.

So the Beds carry on where they left off last season – victorious.