This week our fixture sec greased a few palms late on a Friday night and managed to secure us a game against old foes Borden CC.
With Ross chasing his lady around Waitrose for the afternoon, it was my chance to go down in Stone CC history and become the first stand-in skipper to win three games from three. Unfortunately I spent the weekend before embracing the philosophy of peace and love at Glastonbury so when the opposition skipper said they were weaker than before, I didn’t have the heart to go for the kill and decided to put us into bat.
After everyone had made their case about where they should bat, the opening duo was Dave Darts and Matt Goodfellow Blain. It’s fair to say that even if I’d lost my ruthless edge, they certainly hadn’t. The opening partnership yielded 90 runs within 12 overs before Dartsy was bowled for 35 and Blainey retired (unhurt) on 58.
Jordan ‘Godber’ Oaten was unlucky not to take advantage of being promoted up the order and departed for single figures. Scrappy in at 4 found his groove and played an innings full of Caribbean flair. After smashing their main bowler around for several overs, the decision to bowl around the wicket paid off and Ryan departed for his top score of 36 edging to slips. Highlights of the innings can be seen here: https://www.instagram.com/stonecricketclub/
In the midst of the Caribbean wave, Semtex came and went before Matty G, fresh from his disappointment of not opening the batting took the fight to the opposition. Desperate to prove I’d made the wrong decision he dispatched the opposition all around the park before being caught on the leg side for 47. Jordan Walking continued the big hitting trend and found the boundary regularly. His best shot for me was a sumptuous straight six that just cleared the boundary for 6. He finished on 34* (???) and playing for his average Stumpy was n.o.( no idea how many you scored).
Stone finished on a great score of 257/5 from 42 overs. A season best I think.
With plenty of runs on the board and wickets needed, Darren and I led the charge to bowl Borden out. Vol au vent (still a terrible nickname) picked up the first wicket before skip for the day took two in two balls including an unplayable middle stump yorker. It was after the first couple of wickets to fall that Borden really started to batten down the hatches. No matter what Dino and Scrappy threw at them the oppo gave very little away for a long time. They bowled a very probing spell but ultimately finished wicketless off six and four overs respectively. To mix things up a little the new Golden Arm Dave Darts came onto bowl and it proved to be an inspired decision. Keeping one straight, Dartsy sent the bails flying and there was belief all round that we might be able to do it. Jordan Walking picked up a couple of wickets in quick succession to keep the pressure on Borden but alas it wasn’t to be, we ran out of overs and the game ended in a winning draw.
With a decent turn out at the pub, player of the day proved to be a contentious decision. Scrappy fresh from his top score 36 was disappointed not to make the final vote but it was between Jordan Walking for his two wickets and 30 odd runs, Matty G for his 47 and Blainey for his 58. In the end it was decided Matt “Saddam” Blain should get the accolade. SB went to Jordan Walkling for bowling out a youngster and making him cry although I’m sure Dartsy shouting retard was partially responsible for the tears. Roll on to next week as we welcome our skipper back into the fold. Well done all