2006 Season - Breadsall - 2006/07/23

Spinno recalls:

On a lovely sunny afternoon I arrived at the ground ready for a 2.30 start, never mind that the game was almost under way at 2.10.

In true Dorchester style we were batting first and did not disappoint our many camp followers nor indeed our straight followers.

Jez and Paul opened up, with Jez looking to stretch his lead in the batting and obviously Paul looking to repeat his not gout of two years ago.

In fairness to everyone it has to be said that the bounce early on was somewhat unpredictable especially downhill, whilst uphill the opening bowler was getting more turn in a delivery than I get in a career. Paul seemed to face a lot of the bowling from the top end and to describe his innings as workmanlike grafting doesn't do justice to some of the shots he actually played- one in particular was the up periscope which had it been used more often would no doubt would have had the fleet air arm looking for U-boats. Jez however was a different kettle of fish, he was particularly hard on anything whether it be length, short, or full. Jez looks a class act and doesn't seem to mind who bowls what- it's treated on merit and the reward is the pile of runs accumulated this season.

Back to the report and the first 50 came up in 8 overs, the 100 in 16 overs and it has to said that a mighty total looked in prospect. Unfortunately all good things come to an end and Paul was run out backing up too far with the score on 136 in the 19th over. This brought Nick to the wicket however he appeared to be suffering as the result of the thunderstorms the previous day- he had got wet but not on the outside if you get my meaning.

Three overs later Jez was out, I'll just repeat that Jez was out for 71 which bought his average plummeting earthbound to something almost human. Enter Ian with what seemed to be an unmarked bat somewhat in the manner of an illegally purchased firearm without a serial number. Having despatched the ball to the boundary and indeed over it several times the role of the hitman was a case of typecasting.

Meanwhile Nick found the fielders with amazing regularity and for a Ferrari of a player appeared to be misfiring like my old Skoda but credit where credit is due and in the face of his condition he battled manfully on to help Ian put on a century for the third wicket in 15 overs. Ian was next out caught behind for 65 and when Nick finally fell in the penultimate over for 51 out strode the Thin White Duke.

With seven balls to go in the innings and Jamie and Smudge together the rest of the team thought that 281-4 would quite easily become 290. However taking a single off the last ball of the over Smudger clearly fancied a repeat of the Leicester Teachers last over. Alas it was not meant to be and 3 runs were all that resulted to leave Breadsall a target of 285 to win.

Special mentions for both captains at either end of the innings. The skipper of Breadsall politely informed us that he had 12 men so would it ok to rotate his dozen and they would umpire at one end. After three overs the penny dropped- he'd only got 10 fielders and so yours truly went out to umpire and managed not to laugh...

As for Paul, traditionally the lowest scoring out batsman collects tea money and in error Paul had informed Crossy that it was he but only after tea was the error discovered- must have been the heat.

Breadsall started their reply in the face of some hostile bowling from Rich Brown- although it has to be said that the hostility seemed to suffered by Smudge behind the stumps. At the other end and uphill Andy wheeled away with a delightful spell of bowling which caused many problems for the openers with movement in the air and off the pitch.

After the opening 16 overs Rich had 1 wicket and Andy 2 as Breadsall were 60-3. The double change brought Mick and myself into the attack. The Vicar bowled a tidy spell and took a couple of wickets. The notable thing was that he had deliberately placed fielders at mid off and square leg. How many other bowlers or captains would have done that? I managed to winkle one out thanks to an athletic stumbling stumping by Smudge and at the end some hostile bowling from Jamie down the hill and accuracy from Kev up the hill brought the Breadsall innings to a close at 157-8.

In the field however there were a couple of drops most notably for the Vicar, maybe when he puts his hands together he should pray that the ball will stick(even if his eyes are closed).

Now it must be reported that the best feature of the game wasn't the first century opening partnership of the season although that was good, nor was it the fact that the first four bats all passed 50. No, tea was the highlight and it's impossible to do it justice here. Just a brief mention of Sausages in barbecue sauce, chicken skewers, the most chocolatey chocolate cake in the world and a banoffee pudding to die for gives a flavour of what is one of the finest teas on our journeys round the East Midlands.

In the final analysis it can reported that Dorchester 284-4 beat Breadsall 157-8.

One final point after the game Mick confessed that he had a little difficulty with his eyesight and couldn't always see as far as he'd like. I wondered why when he was umpiring at square leg he stood right on the boundary.......


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