This fixture saw Stone revisit the scene of an infamous match last season when a very slow scoring rate meant that we ended up drawing a game that we really should have won. Those involved have tried to deny it, but I have the scorebook and the skipper’s report, so I know the truth! Mind you, I wasn’t at that game, so this was my first visit to Brasted Chart and those who mentioned the slope in their ground were not joking. Running fast to field a ball on the boundary at the far end of their group risk going headlong into a wire fence or attempting to hurdle it (both of which would end badly, almost certainly). Jack’s footballing commitments mean that our Twelfth Man, Walkie, gets a game instead. It’s a strong line-up and confidence is reasonably high. That’s just as well as they bat first and make a competitive score of 182 in their allotted time. Bowling is tricky as the run-up at one end is uneven and has one particular dip that hampers the planting foot for a couple of our quicker bowlers. Their Numbers 4 and 5, plus extras, do most of the damage. Tom bears much of the brunt of their boundary hitting and is a bit unlucky with some wide calls, but the bowlers all chip in on a day that is tricky in the field.
After tea, the Skipper and Dino begin our reply in a ready fashion. Much as we’d found, their bowlers are having to work hard and there are runs to be had, especially making use of the slope. Dino is stumped on 8, which brings together the leadership team at the wicket. Vice plays a typically high energy innings, smiting 26 off 17 balls (including five 4s), and the partnership is worth 40 before Vice is caught and bowled. Stumpy then joins the skipper and settles in for the long haul, per usual, but it’s not long before another wicket falls. The skipper is ‘run out’ on 28, a decision that looks about as sound as the Guildford Four conviction, but ever the exemplar, he accepts the decision and trudges off. Dartsy is next in and plays confidently for 26 (off 28 balls) but the heat proves too much so he has to retire hurt. The score is now 135 for 5, with 13 overs left – a match to be won, but it can be done in style. Since the planned number 6 ( a club man through and through) lacks anything that might even resemble style, he suggests swapping places with the planned number 7 – Scrappy. Cometh the hour, cometh the man (with added Caribbean flair), and lo, Ryan set about the task with abandon, then took the band off and keeps going. He hit a very stylish 33 (off 30 balls) and the match is won with five overs to spare. Stone won by 4 wickets and are suitably elated as there has been a bit of niggle to this game (Tom vs. the umpire; Vice vs. their wicketkeeper; Skipper vs. the other umpire and more generally the injustice of the universe).
There are the usual awards afterwards, but they were not recorded for posterity. I’m reasonably sure that Ryan got the Ainsley award for his batting and some pretty tidy bowling, but I cannot remember who got the SBotD (if indeed it was even awarded). Never mind – a very good win and the photo below sums up the mood afterwards.
– Semtex