2005 Season - Eastwood - 2005/09/18
Paul writes:
And so we got to Eastwood, our traditional final fixture, where once again the weather was kind, the opposition were buoyant and I talked us into batting first. On the basis of that chat their captain with a damaged hand then decided he wasn�t playing�.obviously thought that with a fair side out he would not be required, after all they had Neil Gregory, Sukran and a sprinkling of other first teamers in their side.
We had our two top batters Ian & Nick both unavailable, both averaging 70 odd in the season, both sorely missed. Smudger also out. But with the irrepressible Steve Gaunt turning out for his first match of the year and Dean Blake his second, I felt we had enough up our sleeve to get a few on the board�.beside that with all the cloud around it would be dark later batting second.
At 34 for 3 in the 13th I wasn�t quite as confident, Blake, Flight and S Gaunt all back watching from the balcony.
Where was Nick when I needed him?....on a bit of a weekend away, 70 odd average in the bag, just needing Crossy to fail, to snatch the Batting prize.
The wicket was keeping low & slow, nipping a bit but turning more. Glad John Buckley wasn�t playing�turns it a bit him. Not easy.
Where was Crossy when I needed him?......answer either
(a) On hearing of Nick�s weekend away, Ian�s injured hand from Loughborough, suddenly took a turn for the worst and rendered him unavailable. Trophy in the bag or
(b) Our top batter was gutted at the prospect of missing out at one of his favourite fixtures, as his hand injury was simply too painful to play with.
Jamie shaped up nice but also left too soon, 61 for 4 at the 20 overs stage. I continued to nudge, nurdle and mis- hit the ball around, but then a ray of inspiration. Adey Cooper making his DCC debut strolled in and a little partnership developed and through the next 13 overs 42 precious runs were added. Adey�s 19 was just the job and only a sharp catch from Suky in the covers sent him back to the hutch. Richard bagged a duck and then Benno came in for an inimitable bash bash bowled 10. Kevin got a single, the extras got to 16 and after finally middling a couple I ended up batting 39 overs for 57no.
I had targeted 130 with Adey in the middle, we got to 136-7.
Tea.
I had used my proposed battle plan previously at Eastwood, a few years before and having seen the wicket play, it ended up being a no-brainer. It would be Benno to open the bowling.
Now Steve had had a slow start to the year, but in my opinion was coming nicely into form and 15-4-49-7 as a combined analysis of our last two matches had put him to the top of our bowling averages greasy pole. Forced into second spot in the averages was Mick, who opened from the other end. Averages were not in anyones mind though, unless we bowl we are going to get turned over comfortably. Suky was keen to dominate and we had to fight to stay on top, so Mick had to end his spell 4-0-16-0.
26-0.
Now my attention turned to Andy, who its fair to say had a slower start than most to the season and had only bowled once in the prior 5 weeks. And this is where we got started�..dot, 2,4,1,(ooh eck!)dot, snick...(hoorah)�..and Suky goes caught behind the wicket by the gloved Cooperman! Then Andy bowled a maiden, then a wicket maiden, then another wicket in his next over. Benno was doing it bob on at the other end, we�re on fire and they go from 33-0 to 36-5 in 7 rather enjoyable overs!
But Neil Gregory arrives at seven, stabilises the innings and Benno completes his allotted overs�.job�s a good un�.8-3-9-2. Andy finishes with 8-2-25-3, super stuff.
Richard was holding up at one end, but the four balls were coming a little too often. A couple of overs for Jez, which became 3 overs for 4 runs meant that he would stay on and bowl out one end, it worked that if he had a full 8 overs that would take care of that end and��Flat Jack Flight� was looking good.
85-6 at 29 overs, a fifty odd partnership growing�..its Blakey time (a bit like Chico time but without the splits)
Spin, not pace - conditions dictated and we plugged away.
95-7, lbw Blake, 109-8, run out Taylor/Cooper, getting dark now, but Neil Gregory didn�t care... bash, bash, bash.
120-8 off thirty seven became 128-8 off 39. Jez signs off 8-1-27-0, great effort, but they now need 9 off the last over, Neil Gregory eye in, 50 not out, Blakey bowling, getting dark, field spread to all parts � scene set, the business.
Where�s the ball? It's in the air! A skier hits the deck, scrambled two�s, Neil keeps the strike. 4 off the last ball required.
Another skier, not as high, is it coming to me at Long On (I hope not), no its straight up and there was Dean with his big hands underneath it, that�ll be caught & bowled then.
Game over.
Super stuff, great way to finish the season and the end of season out of date Eastwood beer had never tasted so good. Crossy (it was answer (b) by the way) joined us and we had a good old end of season chin wag. Some departed for the Eastwood curry run in Kimberley, some for a pub nearer home, some to lay in the bath resting aching bones... I was the latter.
Reflecting amongst bubbles & flannel I could help but smile, the boys had done well, not only today but its been a great year, good cricket, some brilliant performances, great grounds, top teas, a few beers and good old Dorchester team spirit � loads of laughs with a great bunch of blokes.
That felt great.