The last time Bredgar came to visit there was a 400+ run fest and we won with style off the third ball of the last over. There was also some fuss about an umpire being on the phone when he had to make a decision but that really should be let go of by now!
Wombwell park looked glorious and the pitch seemed as good as at any time in the season so another high scoring game is on the cards. A negotiated toss and Bredgar are invited to bat (a brilliant decision in hindsight as you will soon see.) Timed game.
It started well with tight overs and a fine catch in the covers to have them a few for 1. The good work continued and everyone did their bit. At the halfway point it looked like we could keep them to 150 or so. We didn’t. They batted well and seemed to hit every bad ball for 4. Their Number 3 ended on 95* and rode his luck. Dropped early on (harsh call but fair) at first slip but it was a brilliant effort by Pussy to even get his hands to it. Despite the bashing we were getting, everyone kept the energy up right to the end. Ruggy the pick of the bowlers with 3 for not very many. Tom took an outstanding catch on the boundary to get rid of their dangerous skipper which Ruggy claimed as a match winning catch (could not have been more wrong!) Semtex settled under a skyer and took it well. Walkling swiftly moved to his right to snatch one at mid wicket. Candyman’s Dad, Ian (clearly has to be Sugar Daddy) rolled back the years and bowled pretty well too but despite out best efforts they scored 190. We’ve done it before, we’ll do it again. (we wont)
Royal Tea.
We bat. Well, some of us do and others stroll out and straight back again.
[NB. to show their support for their fallen leader, some of the team recorded a tasteful and sensitive music video of his period of reflection on a three-ball duck, preserved on the team WhatsApp – Ed.]
After about 10 overs or so, we were 24/5 and an early defeat had the silver lining of early to the pub. Some of us has other ideas. Walkling stuck it out for 80 odd balls. Stumpy did something similar (and hardly a surprise there). Ruggy did a bit, and Tom and Quaker were there at the end. 70/8 we finished on much to Bredgar’s disappointment but at least we stole a draw.
There were other highlights. Jez giving Stumpy batting advice at one stage was hilarious. Stumpy telling everyone to keep it on the ground and then holing out to long on. Tom thrashing at any ball an inch outside off stump as they surrounded the bat in the last overs.
That was that. Not the most entertaining of games but the pub was fun. The oppo even popped in and would be welcome again. A good bunch to play with. Our Vice skipper turned up too to explain to the oppo that if he had played then we would have won!
SB of the Day was Candyman. Misfield and then stepping over the boundary to stop the ball (would he have owned up if the oppo had not called it?)
Player of the Day was Ruggy for his three wickets and good advice to the skipper.
– Ross