It’s that time of year again, our trip to most people’s favourite ground of the season. The beautiful surroundings, the peaceful countryside… Well, it would have been peaceful if Ross knew how to lock his new car (the colour and model wasn’t chosen by his better half at all in the slightest!), with the alarm going off when he moved more than ten feet away. Eventually he put the car into park and not neutral which seemed to solve the problem – it just took about 10 minutes to work out. Everyone managed to arrive in reasonable time. That is, apart from Rambo, Kuldeep and Kuldeep’s son Bukkan, who must have taken the (very) scenic route and proceeded to blame each other when they eventually turned up ten minutes before the start.
Teston won the toss in a 35-over game and elected to bat. The new ball was taken by Mike Chung and myself. Mike bowled very well at the start and was unlucky to see a few streaky edges run away to the boundary. I managed to hold on to a caught & bowled for the second week running to remove their opener Alistair for 1. At the other end Mike had another edge just drop short of Rossington at slip and next ball Stumpy shelled one out of his gloves to leave Mike still wicketless. However, in the next over, he pounced at fine leg to run out the other opener with a direct hit. Eventually, Mike was rewarded with his first wicket of the day as Stumpy held on to a fine edge to remove the Number 3. He then got his second wicket with his worst ball of the day as the batsmen larrups a wide ball straight into Walkie’s [extensive – ed.] midriff at cover. Walkie comes on to bowl and gets a wicket almost immediately, bowling the Number 6 for 1. A little partnership held us a up a bit before Muttley took a great catch above his head to remove their skipper for 20 off the bowling of Walkie. Rambo came on, but this week had no luck as he bowled 5 tidy overs without reward.
Meanwhile Walkie was replaced by Paul K and, after a few streaky edges that found their way to the boundary, the batsman danced past a straight one and was bowled for 27. He then quickly claimed a second victim as their Number 9 was cleaned up by Paul in the next over. Unfortunately, that would be the end of the wicket taking for us, as a little ninth wicket partnership proved to be stubborn. Benty and Kuldeep went wicketless, but at the other end a battle between Bukkan and a 16-year-old from Teston was taking place. It was a joy to watch as both battled each other, Bukkan bowling with great control for a leg spinner and the 16-year-old watching and playing him extremely carefully. Eventually Teston’s innings closed on 132-8, a gettable score certainly, but this is Stone. Mike finished with 2-22 off 6, Paul 2-12 off 3 and Walkie 2-19 off 5
With tea devoured, we set out about chasing 133 to win. Kuldeep and Skip-for-the-day Rossington strode out to bat. Unlike like last week, Kuldeep’s innings was over sharpish – after a lovely shot for 4, he went back to a ball that possibly should have gone forward to and was bowled by a daisy cutter (the third such victim in as many weeks). Rossington survived a caught behind appeal, mainly because he took a small chunk of the pitch instead of the ball – the bowler swore in disgust, but immediately apologised. However, he was not to be denied as he claimed Rossington in the next over with a ball that angled in and flicked the off stump. Muttley in at Number 3, fresh from demolishing half a lemon drizzle cake, didn’t hang around. A few boundaries including one lost ball in the hedge that took forever to not find, took him up to 16 before he was bowled by the change bowler and we were suddenly 49-3.
It was left to Mike Chung and Paul Bent to repair the damage with plenty of overs left and the run rate still at only around 4 an over. Mike played patiently and knocked it around, while Benty was only dealing in boundaries for a while [28 of his first 29 runs came from boundaries – ed.]. I believe both gave chances to the opposition, but the catches went down as these two raced towards a 50 partnership. Benty finally slowed down and nudged a single or two before bringing out a reverse sweep for 2 – genius. He tried a conventional sweep next and missed the ball entirely! With things looking comfortable, Mike was bowled for a fine 28 with 8 needed. No need to panic. Benty was then cleaned up in the next over for a wonderful 40 that included eight 4s … ok, panic now … As I raced out of the olde world score-box to pad up, Stumpy and Walkie looked to bring it home. Stumpy had said he would be quite content to finish 1 not out and see the job home – well, he went one better and finished on an unbeaten 2 as Walkie hit the winning boundary to finish on 8 and see us home with 4.1 overs to spare, finishing on 135-5.
A few drinks after the game as post-match awards were dished out. Big Pat’s Pat on the Back went to Benty for his fine 40, although Mike ran him close with 28, 2 wickets and a run out! SBoTD went to Stumpy for dropping a catch on a day where there wasn’t much to choose from… apart from Rossington being unable to lock his car, but sadly the voting had closed by then, much to his relief and everyone else’s annoyance. Ah well I’m on holiday now, and I definitely will not be typing this from a windswept balcony in Devon. Gotta love the British summer. Over and out!
– Rich