Bodley CC, fresh and revitalised after a long winter doze, started the season this evening with a t20 against new opponents The Cherwell School Staff XI. We lost the toss and were asked to bat first. Happy to oblige, our regular openers Neely and Shackleton (fresh from a spell playing in Sri Lanka and Australia - his 'holiday' being a likely ruse) strolled out to pick up where they left off last season. However, in weather that might best be described as a Yorkshire summer we did not get off to the expected flyer. The pitch was a minefield, with some balls staying low and others rearing up. The opposition wicket keeper had soon taken one in the mouth and left the pitch the worse for wear. A series of top edges, shoulders of bats and playing on soon had Bodley all out for 77. Regular number 3 Shaw played particularly well, hitting several lusty boundaries but we were left wondering if that was enough. Surely not? As temperatures dropped far enough to cause Geoffrey Boycott to turn his collar up, we took to the field. Stuey Ackland and top-scorer Shaw opened the bowling and at nine overs in we had a couple of wickets for not very much at all. Good so far. Change of bowlers saw Robinson and Shackleton come on. Both bowled tightly but it was Robinson that turned the match in our favour. A couple of wickets as the ball and pitch did just enough soon became 4 for 9 off four overs. A superb effort and one that left things ever so close as the final few overs approached. But as ever, there was a bit of clean hitting at the end, and the runs started to flow. Despite this, by the last over they needed 13 from six balls (I think!). A couple of wides brought that down and then a few scrambled runs saw the target ebb closer. With one ball to come, and needing three to win, their big hitting batter swung at it, caught the edge and the dying catch was brilliantly caught at full stretch by keeper Neely - a lovely ball from Mike Webb and a deserved wicket. So a win to start the season. Our second game is next Wednesday after work, against the St.Clements Strollers at Magdalene College ground on the Marston rd. All welcome, and players are still needed - do play if you can. GJ
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Note from the Ed.Generally always written late on the night of the game. Any accuracy, compliments or sparkling prose is purely accidental. Archives
September 2015
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