On a gloomy, riot-threatened Wednesday evening, Stone CC loaded up their weapons of choice and stormed up the A2 into the world of midweek T20 action against Blackheath CC. A terrible shock greeted Dicky as the game was switched late on to their astro pitch, which brought horrendous memories of last year’s trip to Wendover flooding back. In a terrific start to proceedings, Ryan took the helm in the absence of the usual leadership, promptly lost the toss, and we were bowling first. An old pink ball was produced from somewhere, wides and no-balls counted as two runs (with no extra ball), tiny boundaries were eyed up, and away we went.
Dicky’s worst fears were fully confirmed and he will never ever ever bowl on an astro surface again, with a combination of the pitch proving decidedly springy (possibly hiding a trampoline or two underneath) and two very decent batsmen ruining his night. On their regular square – a minefield if ever I’ve seen one – he’d have been quids in, but that didn’t make him feel any better. Meanwhile at the other end, Benty was producing some lovely stuff and was unlucky not to find the edge of their lefty overseas opener, his spell being the most economical of our bowlers. No wickets for form bowler Walkie either, but Benty produced a brilliant stop at short midwicket and completed an excellent run-out in combination with tonight’s keeper Gracie, who smashed all of the stumps out to square leg just to make sure. Deano came into the attack and struck first ball, with Tom taking a good catch (possibly with his tits) out at deep midwicket. Skipper Scrappy and Pablo couldn’t find their rhythms as a couple of theirs moved to 50 and retired out, before Tom and Harry (?) combined to get rid of their Number 4 (again in the deep), and then the Skipper held on off Harry (again in the deep) late on. When the ball actually came near us, we were pretty good in the field, but the short boundaries were tricky to protect – all their batsmen striking at well over 100 S/R. Blackheath finished 215/4, with not much daylight left.
No time for a Papa Johns as we turned around within ten minutes, with Harry and Tom stepping up to open and sticking it out for three overs before both fell in quick succession for 5 and 4 respectively. First game of the season for me in at Number 3, and first game ever for debut boy Chris at Number 4. Chris eventually got off the mark against their better bowlers and hit a couple of 4s on a successful bow before he clipped one to mid off for 11, bringing in Gracie and another brand new bat (possibly an oar) at Number 5. He and I put on 54 for the fourth wicket, featuring Dan’s first ever six, before a loopy straight one did for him, gone for 29. At the other end I was busy tearing every muscle in my body trying to win the big bash trophy in one innings and moved to 50 in quick time. Quick time was the story of Benty’s knock, the ball skipping up in the fading light as he clipped it straight up to the keeper, departing for a two ball duck. Skipper came in at Number 7 with us still in the game, needing around 30 an over to secure the win. He was gone five balls later c&b for 3. Wrapping up our innings: Walkie wafted at a couple of wide ones and technically didn’t face a legal delivery, I was skittled with five balls left for 55, Deano went for a golden, and Paul the Wall blocked out the last four balls as we finished on 127/8, defeat by just 88 runs.
Despite the tiny margin of defeat, it was a very enjoyable first foray into the T20 world (Dicky may disagree) – shout out to Blackheath for playing in great spirit and having a good laugh. I dare say it would have been a lot closer on a proper pitch. No awards, but a good number back at the pub for the post-game debrief finished off a good evening.
– Bill