After last week’s last minute cancellation due to the magnificent British weather, we are back at the glorious Wok this week to take on Bexleyheath 6ths who are an enthusiastic mix of lads and dads from just down the A2. We win the toss and elect to bat on what for once actually looks like a decent batting strip, as opposed to the slightly different shade of green from the outfield pitch. Vice Lord Rossington opens with a new partner in Kuldeep, and initially everything ticks along quite nicely. Rossington negates the tight bowling at one end, whilst Kuldeep helps himself to a couple of half trackers for boundaries through square. With the score on 39, Kuldeep is trapped in front for 24, a nice brisk knock. New club all-rounder Benty strides out at Number 3 and scores a quick fire 11 before he has a big swipe and is bowled. The scoreboard is ticking along nicely as new recruit Ted comes in at Number 4. He strikes a lovely 4, before being this week’s victim of the Oakfield non-bounce. Rossington then continues his solid work alongside the Skipper, before he too is bowled, this time for 27. The score soon becomes 105-5 as Skip’s brief destructive innings come to an end on 17 as he is bowled having one swipe too many…
Walkie joins Stumpy at the crease and these two take us up to 131 relatively comfortably, before he is bowled by the young left armer for 13. The scoreboard is still ticking over but at a much slower rate now. What was looking like a potential total of 200 is now looking like a struggle to get beyond 160. Dory makes a welcome return to the side and has a few swipes in his own unique style before he is caught for 8. With Dave still at the crease, Rambo and I are unable to offer little support as we go for 2 and 1 respectively before a little dash from Paul sees him finish on 6*, with Dave on 16* at the other end. Our innings therefore closes on 165-9 from our 35 overs.
Various homemade delicacies/meal deals are devoured at tea, except for Walkie and Ted who decide to order a Papa Johns Pizza, which hasn’t arrived by the time we restart…
Opening the bowling this week would be yours truly and Rambo, a combo that has worked well this season with both of us keeping things tight at the start of the innings. And again, it proved fruitful, Rambo struck first with a catch being taken to remove the opener, before I managed to remove the other opener having a swipe at a straight one. The returning Dory soon replaced Ram after yet another fine spell with little reward, and he struck almost immediately removing the Number 3 having a swipe to leg and having his leg stump knocked back. He then struck off my bowling as a ropey call for two, resulted in him swooping at fine leg and whipping in the ball over the stumps for Stumpy to complete a run out. Just as I was about to be removed from the attack, Rossington plucked a catch out of the air at midwicket to remove the Number 5. He puts it down to great positioning and his idea – I put it down to me putting the ball in the right place to create the chance. As I am the one writing this, I will claim the credit! I claim a caught & bowled in the next over as one is plopped back to me. Then with a few balls of my spell remaining, I claim my fourth wicket as the Number 8 plays on and Bexleyheath are roughly around 30 odd for 6.
There follows a frustrating little partnership of 40 odd between the last remaining senior player and a fine left-handed youngster. They look in very little trouble in doing so as first Paul K has a go followed by Ted from the opposite end, both finish their spells wicketless from 5 overs apiece. It is around this point that Walkie & Ted’s Pizza is opened when we break for drinks. Walkie runs to his fielding position still chomping on his slice as Benty runs in from the Roger Dine end. Once he has finished his tea mid game Walkie takes the ball from the far end. Benty produces a good spell but without the luck again. Eventually Walkie stoops to take a caught and bowled of his own to remove the senior batsmen for 24. Kuldeep comes on and bowls three eventful balls: the first is a head-high no ball that goes for 4; the second ball gets the youngster caught behind for a fine 22; then his third ball the Number 11 hits straight at Jordan Garratt who gratefully hangs on to end the Bexleyheath innings on 88 all out.
Big Pat’s award this week goes to yours truly for taking 4/9 off seven overs, whilst the Shitbag award goes to the Papa John twins of Walkie & the easily influenced Ted for devouring pizza midway through the Bexleyheath innings. Absolute disgrace…
Until next time.
– Rich