Due to some problems with the second pitch at Basildon a planned Eagles and Dragons double home game turned into one team at home and one away. Somehow I ended up providing the teas for the home game whilst captaining the away side. Brian is definitely a good negotiator.
Anyway a side turned up at Corringham to play Stanford-le-Hope’s 5th team many of whom had been playing for their Fourths due to availability problems. Winning the toss I elected to bat first and sought volunteers to open. Rebecca spoke up and after that deafening silence. Eventually Matt, playing his second game this year, said he’d do it if no-one else did. I always like an enthusiastic volunteer.
Conditions were clearly difficult with the ball keeping very low. Not a surprise really given the damp conditions. Matt and Rebecca started carefully and, unfortunately, Rebecca got about the only ball to bounce in the whole match and gloved a catch. 9-1
Duncan was next, gave Matt good support and scored a couple himself before being bowled. 37-2. Things not looking good.
Alex came out to partner Matt. Matt does like running so pushed Alex for quick singles, well taken twos and the occasional exhausting three. A good thing it was a relatively fit young person batting with him compared, for example, to me.
Alex and Matt slowly got the hang of the pitch and the bowling and started to build a score. And continued to do so. Matt scored 0 in his previous game but did a little better this time – 112 and a new personal best. He was eventually out in the 38th over trying to score even more.
Alex batted through to be 54 not out at the end – another personal best. Those who came in after Matt tried to throw the bat and failed – the last 4 scoring an ‘Audi’ between them showing how hard it was to score on that wicket when one was first in. The relevant individuals were also going for a score not protecting their own averages and they are to be applauded.
In the second half I have my bowling attack planned. This meant a change in wicketkeepers with Alan taking the gloves since Steve was going to bowl leggies and bamboozle the opposition. However it didn’t quite work out since Steve crocked himself before getting the chance. A speedy recovery Steve.
All the bowlers except one were pretty economical. Tom and Ben opened, kept the score down but didn’t make a breakthrough. Alex and Liam were next. Liam was a bit wayward but got a wicket. Alex was on the button from the start but didn’t.
With pressure building I brought myself on, picked up a couple of wickets and took myself off for conceding more than 7 runs an over (there is always one). Alex bowled his 8 overs straight thru ending with 8-2-19-1, pretty good. Matt, after recovering from his batting spree, came on as a ‘filler’ to make up the overs I was not going to bowl. He did quite well.
Rebecca replaced Alex and continued the pressure ending with figures 5-0-18-1 having taken a caught and bowled. Rebecca also took a good catch in the deep (off my bowling) and at the moment seems to have the safest hands in the team. The only person to give her a run for the money was the sub who took a blinding catch going forward. It was kept in the family since the sub was Rebecca’s Dad.
As the end neared Tom came back on, took another caught and bowled finishing the match in the 34th over.
Always nice to win and Stanford-le-Hope showed good spirit and hospitality. MAybe we will play them again this year.
Matt’s bowling figures? 5-1-9-4. Shame about his limited availability.
Team: Belcher M., Holyoak R., Bond D., James A., Brown A. (w/k), Godfrey R., Bond L., Godfrey T., James B., Stirk S., Humphrey M. (capt.), Sub – ‘Rebecca’s Dad’