Bedouins v Belbroughton Strollers at Enville, June 7^th

Bedouins won by 5 runs

Ever known a game in which neither team turns up with wicketkeeper’s gloves? It happened in this one – not an auspicious start to a new fixture for the Beds. Opponents Belbroughton Strollers apparently have no fewer than three wicketkeepers on whose services they can call. None of them was available, and no-one thought to organise the gloves for the stand-in keeper.

The problem was compounded by the fact that the Bedouins have still not managed to solve the mystery of the disappearing wicketkeeper gloves, in the absence of the regular stumper John Howells, who, of course, has his own.

The result – Austin Gregory jumping in his car and dashing off home to pick up a pair that resides there.

Last season it was a case of the missing stumps, with beer crates having to be used as substitutes. Now, no wicketkeeping gloves. What’s left? Probably no balls …. but perhaps that’s tempting providence!

So what of the game itself? Under glowering skies (see how poetic Beds’ cricket reports are getting these days?), and with light rain falling throughout most of the game, the Bedouins had first knock. Regular skipper John Branch was missing as opening bat, having gone in the fetlock or something, so it was Jon Stanier and Adrian Susman who got things under way. The latter went early but Stanier, after a slow start, got the scoreboard moving, eventually retiring with 31 to his name; he’ll have to get out sometime, to get himself an average.

There were also 30s for new recruit Keith Dawson (he’s already been invited back) and Jono Hill, showing a welcome return to form, resulting in a 20-over total of 118 for 3.

Belbroughton made a good start to their innings, one of their openers reaching the 30 retirement point in just the fifth over. Josh Lemm did well to take 1 for 20 in his four overs, while Adrian Susman, at the other end, did his best to grasp a wet bar of soap masquerading as a cricket ball and recovered well, after an expensive first over, to take 2 for 23.

The wily (though perhaps not “wiry”) Austin Gregory, having recovered from his glove-snatching escapade, included a precious wicket-maiden in his 2 for 12 in four overs. Leaving Jon Stanier and skipper Lee Bywater to see out the remaining four overs, aided by just three extras (one of them a wide) conceded by Jono Hill behind the stumps, to give the Bedouins a well-earned five-run victory.

This was a most successful first encounter with the Belbroughton Strollers, who seem to embody the same spirit in their play as the Beds – playing to enjoy the game and each other’s company but, at the same time, playing to win. We look forward to a return meeting later in the season.

Bedouins 118 for 3 (Stanier 31, Dawson 30, Hill J. 30)

Belbroughton Strollers 113 for 5 (Gregory 2 for 12, Susman 2 for 23, Lemm 1 for 20)

Bedouins v Oldswinford at Enville, May 24^th

Bedouins won by 14 runs

To use a literary allusion (a novelty at the start of a Beds cricket report), “It is a truth universally acknowledged” (Austen, J.) that it is generally preferable to stop a well-struck cricket ball with your hands rather than the end of your nose. It is a precept to which Andy Hill will now readily attest.

Here was A. Hill thoroughly enjoying a return to a regular Bedouins spot, after some years nursing a – medical term here – “badly bent back”, and hitting 27 not out in a 50-run stand with son Jono, when Spratters delivered what looked suspiciously like a half-volley to the Oldswinford opening batsman, who promptly despatched it, full pelt, at the unfortunate Andy Hill, standing fairly close at mid-on. The ball ran through his outstretched hands and straight into the Hill hooter. At least he had the decency to sink to his knees, thus ensuring that the blood spatter was not too widespread on the hallowed Enville turf.

We were all mightily relieved when he was able to walk off, ice pack clutched to the throbbing proboscis, for an early shower and the chance of an early pint – it’s an ill wind …..

It had all been going so well for the Beds. After the early departure of Ian Woodhouse (at least he now has an average), Jon Stanier confirmed suspicions that he had been on the red meat again by hitting his erstwhile Oldswinford colleagues for six boundaries and a six in his 32 (retired). Adrian Susman also passed 30 (runs, that is, not age!) and, with Jono Hill hitting 28 not out, in company with his dad, the Beds’ total reached an excellent 144 for 4 after 20 overs.

Oldswinford made a slow start to their reply, largely due to Spratters justifying his previous “parsimonious” tag, by bowling four overs for just 8 runs and one wicket, well backed up by late substitute Lee Bywater, whose four overs cost only 17 runs. The visitors could not quite reach the required scoring rate and, with one run out and one wicket for newcomer Ray Bate (a catch behind, by John Howells after a late review, from the last ball of the innings). The final total of 130 for 3 left Oldswinford 14 runs short of the Beds total.

Bedouins 144 for 4 (Stanier 32, Susman 31, J. Hill 28 not out, A. Hill 27 not out, Branch 13)

Oldswinford 130 for 3 (Spratley 1 for 8; Bate 1 for 15)

Bedouins v Beacon at Enville, May 10th 2017

Bedouins lost by 7 wickets

The first game of the 2017 season “went down to the wire”, as the saying goes, before the Bedouins snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Visitors Beacon scored the winning run off the final ball of the last over in a game in which the home side appeared to be cruising to victory at one stage. But Beacon managed to get just the right pair at the crease at the vital time to accelerate the scoring rate and enabling Mr Beacon, Alan Green, to hit the winning runs off the last ball of the 20^th over.

In spite of playing out the first over as a maiden, the Beds made a good start to their innings. Ian Woodhouse has clearly decided that running between the wickets is not a good idea; his 31 (retired) included seven boundaries and one six, to add to just one single. At the other end skipper JB was more inclined to deal in singles, but had his share of boundaries too in 30 (retired).

John Howells contributed a brisk 15 and Jon Stanier 23 not out, as the Beds completed their 20 overs with a reasonably competitive total of 113 for 4.

Having confessed to the skipper that he was carrying an injury, Lee Bywater was immediately, of course, asked to open the bowling. He responded well – in spite of great pain (he says) – with four overs for 21 runs. At the other end, Spratters was even more parsimonious (look it up!) in completing four overs for just 10 runs.

After seven overs, Beacon had just 32 on the board, but they managed to step up the scoring rate, in spite of losing one opener to a smart bit of stumping by John Howells, and a second wicket to a run out. Austin Gregory was the only wicket-taking bowler for the Beds (2 for 17).

The visitors needed two runs off the last ball to win, and Alan Green was able to pull it to the boundary to complete the seven-wicket win.

Which just left the Bedouins and their visitors to enjoy the fruits of Sam Chambers’s first — and very successful — effort at provision of a Beds buffet. Top marks for eggy sandwiches!

Bedouins 113 for 4 (Woodhouse 31, Branch 30, Stanier 23 not out, Howells 15)

Beacon 116 for 3 (Gregory 2 for 17)

Bedouins v Beacon at Wombourne, August 3

Bedouins won by 8 wickets

Most normal people would simply enjoy hitting a six. At Beacon’s beautifully manicured ground, where a straight hit can often finish in the canal that runs alongside the ground, there is the prospect of the added frisson (look it up!) of watching the splash as the ball hits the surface – and that’s what Ian Woodhouse reckoned was the biggest thrill of his innings. Well, he doesn’t get out much these days, you see.

In fact, splashing out in that way was only one of Woody’s excitements for the evening. His second six cleared the canal, and the towpath (narrowly missing an elderly couple out for an evening stroll), and the hedge, and disappeared into the farmer’s field beyond. “New balls, please.”

For once, the evening got off to a prompt start. Congratulations to the Bedouins players, who managed to get themselves on parade, “booted and suited”, for a start at 6 p.m. sharp. That, combined with hustle and bustle between overs, meant that the game was completed in reasonable light. And all the better for it.

Spratters was back to his accurate best, as the Beds were asked to bowl first. His four overs went for just nine runs, and he had one wicket to add to a good evening’s work. Josh Lemm opened at the other end and was similarly miserly, giving away just 17 runs in his four overs. It was Lee Bywater who fared best for wickets, having two Beacon batsmen clean-bowled.

On a fast-scoring outfield, the Bedouins did well to restrict the home side to 118 for 3.

A start of just two runs in the first two overs was scarcely promising in the Beds’ reply, but Ian Woodhouse got going with a couple of boundaries, as John Branch also hit the occasional boundary at the other end – none of that “all-run three” nonsense this time! Woodhouse retired on 33, and, in fact, all five Beds batsmen who got in reached double figures, Adrian Susman rolling back the years with a cleanly struck straight six in his 18 not out.

Neill Smith made 19 and Jono Hill 14 not out, as the Bedouins reached their winning target, 119 for 2, with nearly two overs to spare. An unbiased view – this was the Beds’ best all-round performance for this and many other seasons.

Beacon 118 for 3 (Bywater 2 for 27; Spratley 1 for 9)

Bedouins 119 for 2 (Woodhouse 33; Branch 22; Smith 19; Susman 18 not out; Jono Hill 14 not out)

Bedouins v Oldbury Old Boys at Enville, July 31

Bedouins lost by 16 runs

“My son, Richard, will play. He doesn’t play cricket, but he’ll gladly make up the numbers.” Thus David Pearson when we were struggling to get an 11 together for the Sunday game against Oldbury Old Boys.. That led to the highlight of another of those games the Beds should probably have won but finally lost narrowly.

The highlight – two of them, in fact – was the catches Richard Pearson held in the deep field. The first was good enough, but the second was as good as anything seen at the Enville ground for many years. Running from deep mid-on to deep mid-off, he scooped the ball up just before it hit the ground, rolled over a few times, and came up triumphantly with the ball in his hand. The crowd, as they say, went wild.

Oldbury OB – a team assembled by ex-Bed John Richards — had some more than capable early batsmen, two of whom made the retirement score of 50, as the score reached 100 without loss in the 14^th over. The Bedouins bowlers managed to keep things in check in the later stages, though, and the final total was 186 for 5 in 35 overs.

Spratters picked up two wickets, and was just inches short of a caught-and-bowled, as he dived forward in an effort to get the early wicket of one of the openers. It was a vain attempt, but at least it had the secondary effect of rolling the wicket at the same time. Another Beds attempt at a spectacular catch was at square leg, where Andy Hill, making a welcome return after months off with a dodgy back (“Hill’s back’s back”), dived full length and just failed to make a one-handed catch. His ever sympathetic son, fielding nearby, immediately accused him of “dropping a dolly” Ah, the perceptiveness of youth!

There were wickets for Stanier and Susman, plus one for Stanier mate (yes, another of them – see comments in previous report) Martin Watts (six overs, 1 for 8).

After a typically tempting tea and cakes interlude, the Bedouins began the search for 187 runs to win the game. They made a great start, as John Branch and Jon Stanier put on 96 for the first wicket. The latter was first to reach 50; JB was a little longer to get to the retirement point. Along the way, he broke some kind of record by actually completing an all-run three – first time in living memory. It made the spectators gasp, and to be fair, Branchy was also gasping a bit afterwards.

There were also double-figure scores for Jono Hill, John Howells and Adrian Susman, but the OOB bowlers regained control just in time, as the Bedouins finished 16 runs short at 170 for 6.

Oldbury Old Boys 186 for 5 (Spratley 2 for 34; Watts 1 for 8; Stanier 1 for 33; Susman 1 for 36)

Bedouins 170 for 6 (Stanier 51; Branch 50; Jono Hill 18; Susman 15; Howells 10)

Photos from the day are courtesy of Mike George and are available here.

Bedouins v Pedmore House at Enville, July 27

Bedouins win by 54 runs

If Saga had got to know of the number of retirements going on at Enville on July 27, they’d have been down there in force, with their full array of leaflets about financial affairs, no-fly cruises, and coach tours for the elderly and infirm.

But they would have been disappointed. OK, so some of the Bedouins batsmen are beginning to look a tad elderly and infirm. But it’s not the Saga kind of “retirement” that was much in evidence. It was Bedouin batsmen making hay while the sun shone and hitting their way to the 30 runs retirement point – three of them, in fact.

A late start to the annual fixture against Pedmore House (AKA Austin’s Army) meant that this match was always going to finish in the gathering gloom – note to certain Bedouins, aiming for a start as soon as possible after 6 p.m. does NOT mean 6.35! Batting first, therefore, offered the best chance of a decent score in decent light.

The Beds’ batsmen certainly made the best of things. Although skipper John Branch was out for 10, Jon Stanier, Paul Lippitt and Adrian Susman all made 30 and retreated to the comfort of the Enville pavilion, leaving Jono Hill just enough time to swing the bat for 11 not out in a Beds total of 135 for 2 – certainly the best innings score of this season.

Richard Spratley and Lee Bywater spearheaded the Beds bowling with an accurate opening spell, the latter starting his four overs with two maidens, the second of which contained a wicket (sometime Bedouin Austin Gregory). Josh Lemm took over and had the dangerous opener Chivers stumped by John Howells – the years just rolled away, John!

Adrian Susman (“dat’s ma boy!”) completed a good evening by taking two wickets for nine runs, including a fine boundary catch by Jono Hill. There was also a wicket for Ian Blount, making a welcome first appearance for the Beds – another friend of Jon Stanier’s (does he really have so many friends, or is it just that none of them lasts very long?).

Finally the Pedmore House total fell some way short, at 81 for 6 – a 54-run win for the Bedouins. Then it was just a matter of polishing off the most acceptable fish and chips arranged by good old Austin, to round off an excellent evening for the Beds.

Bedouins 135 for 2 (Jon Stanier 30; Paul Lippitt 31; Adrian Susman 30)

Pedmore House 81 for 6 (Adrian Susman 2 for 9; Lee Bywater 1 for 10; Josh Lemm 1 for 20; Ian Blount 1 for 4)

Bedouins v Enville at Enville, Wednesday July 13

Bedouins lost by 3 runs

The annual meeting between the Bedouins and those who occupy the ground that they hire for “home” games ended in a narrow – and boy, was it narrow – win for the Enville side.  There were just three runs in it.  Another game that the Beds should probably have won.

No matter.  The sun shone, most of the evening, and that was the most remarkable aspect, seeing the appalling weather that has prevailed in this so-called summer.  Part of the game was played out against a backdrop of a magnificent rainbow, which drew oohs and ahs from the scorebox.  Alas there was no end-of-the-rainbow win for the Beds, who couldn’t quite get the scoring going quick enough towards the end.

The game had been preceded with a bit of “will he, won’t he” about dear old Lippo.  Having somehow been missed off the availabilities list for the Bedouins (an omission about which he made little or no fuss – not much!), he was then selected for the Enville side.  At the last minute, with the home team 12 strong, the Bedouins were able to negotiate, at little cost, a late transfer back to their own ranks.  There was a certain amount of banter.

Batting first, Enville made rapid strides at the start, with Mahoney hitting 30 before retiring, including three boundaries and (surely a record for Beds games) eight 2s – the scorer was going wild with excitement!.  There was a wicket each for Lee Bywater, Jon Stanier and Adrian Susman, with the latter managing to bamboozle most of the batsmen with his leg breaks.

Chasing 110 to win, the Beds got off to a good start, with Ian Woodhouse hitting a couple of sixes on the way to 26.  Other batsmen contributed well, with the skipper making 14, John Howells 13, Jon Stanier 17 not out and Adrian Susman 23 not out.  But no-one was able to find the boundary rope until the very end, by which time it was just too late, the Bedouins falling just three runs short at 106 for 4.

Enville 109 for 3 (Susman 1 for 13;  Stanier 1 for 15;  Bywater 1 for 19)

Bedouins 106 for 4 (Woodhouse 26; Susman 23 not out; Stanier 17 not out; Branch 14; Howells 13)

Bedouins v Kinlet at Kinlet – Sunday July 10

Bedouins lost by 5 wickets

“Sheep may safely graze.” That’s as may be, but when they start to show signs of ganging up on the skipper’s parked car – again! – the line has to be drawn. The attractive Kinlet ground at Moffat’s School is surrounded by wide open grazing land and vast numbers of sheep. They wander unmolested, munching a bit of green stuff here and there and pooing pretty freely.

The parking area at the cricket ground is open to their ministrations, enabling many to wander among the Rollers and the BMWs. They appear to be particularly attracted to the skipper’s shiny plaything, as they were a year ago. Having been spotted from the pavilion, this time they wandered off, rather “sheepishly”. (No, it didn’t get much of a laugh at the time either!).

We hear that one of the ewes now has mastered the art of jumping the 3-foot fence in order to get to the lush outfield of the cricket ground, resulting in one member of the home side being deputed, just before the game, to wander the ground with bucket and fork, gathering up offending items. Nice work if “ewe” can get it.

This meandering had better stop, in favour of reporting the fact that the Bedouins actually managed to get out on the cricket ground and complete a game, albeit heavily interrupted and truncated by the rain. After a disastrous start to the season, caused by cancellations due to weather and some teams not being able to find enough players, it was a treat to be out there again.

A 40-over-a-side match was finally reduced to 30 overs, as players came and went during the rain-soaked afternoon. Shots which would normally have found their way to the boundary went for ones and the occasional two, as the lush outfield and wet conditions stopped the ball in its tracks.

Invited to bat first, the Beds lost opener Paul Lippitt to the first ball he faced, unluckily played on. Skipper John Branch went for 8 and John Howells for 11, before Jon Stanier and Adrian Susman put a decent stand together before falling for 21 and 25 respectively. It was left to Jono Hill (35 not out) and Tony Hancock (16 not out) to add 36 runs in the last three overs of the allocated 30, to bring the score up to 128 for 7. Jono hit the only six of the innings, and the hon. treasurer recorded the shot of the innings with a meaty straight driven four that fell inches short of the boundary.

For Kinlet, Julian Engleheart and Andrew Mooney both had three wickets, the latter with the excellent figures of 3 for 9 in 7 overs.

The Beds suffered the misfortune of losing opening bowler Spratters, who had to disappear home with one of his frequent migraine attacks. That weakened the bowling department considerably (oh yes, it did, Spratters). However David Pearson made one of his infrequent but most welcome appearances, completing six tidy overs.

Mike Moody made his customary good score for the home side, hitting 34 of the first wicket’s total of 48. His opening partner, David Alsop, went on to register the game’s only 50, and Andrew Mooney added an accomplished 21 not out, as the Kinlet XI won the game with five wickets but less than three overs to spare.

Another classic encounter between Bedouins and Kinlet, and we are already looking forward to the next!

Bedouins 128 for 7 (Hill 35 not out, Susman 25, Stanier 21, Hancock 16 not out)

Kinlet 131 for 5 (Stanier 2 for 22, Branch 1 for 15, Lippitt 1 for 20, Susman 1 for 32)

Bedouins v Beacon at Enville – Wednesday June 8

Bedouins win by 7 wickets

One of the more remarkable aspects of the Bedouins meeting with Beacon CC at Enville on June 8 was the fact that it took place at all. At around 5 p.m. all over the West Midlands, the heavens opened. Roads were flooded no more than half-a-mile from the Enville ground; some team members from both sides were delayed by flooded roads on their way to the ground. But in the grounds of Enville Hall all was sweetness and light. At last the weather gods smiled on the Beds.

The Beacon batsmen found themselves up against it from the very start of their innings. And this time, it was the Bedouins spinners who took centre stage. Step forward Messrs Susman, Stanier (senior and junior) and Lippitt. Their bowling was so tidy, and backed up by excellent fielding and – OK JB – some shrewd field placings, that the Beacon total limped along to just 16 after 6 overs.

The later batsmen got things moving a bit, but a final score of 75 for 9 was unlikely to trouble the home batsmen. Jack Stanier – another off the production line of Stanier cricketers – took 4 for 16 in his four overs, and there were two wickets each for Stanier senior and Lippo. The only Bedouin medium-pacer used was Josh Lemm, who had a deserved wicket in his final over, as Tony Hancock took the catch and followed it next ball by dropping a hard-hit shot that went on to prove rather painful for his knee – how’s that for retribution?

Skipper John Branch had managed to extricate himself from the wilds of Scotland to turn up for this game, thereafter opting for permanent retirement, to lead his team to a seven-wicket victory. He and Ian Woodhouse made a blistering start to the innings, both hitting six boundaries and both reaching the 30-run retirement point in quick time – two “retirements” in a week, therefore, for JB. After a bit of a middle-order hiccup, it was left to our beloved treasurer to hit the winning boundary off the first ball of the 14^th over.

A comprehensive win, therefore, for the Beds – all taken in good part by the Beacon men, who have a similar philosophy to the Bedouins about their cricket. It’s as much about enjoying the occasion as winning the game.

Beacon 75 for 9 (Jack Stanier 4 for 16; Jon Stanier 2 for 16; Lippitt 2 for 13)

Bedouins 79 for 3 (Branch 32; Woodhouse 33)