Renault F1 at Barton Abbey, 20 overs. Bodley played the last of three games in quick succession last night, against regular opposition Renault, playing on a pitch in the middle of Middle Barton Estate whose beauty of location is matched equally opposite by the dangerously unpredictable bounce of the wicket. Such is the fear of this bounce that one regular player, on the receiving end of a snorter last year that he just managed to get a bat on, knackered a finger in the last game, thus ruling himself out. The sporting equivalent of a self-inflicted wound in the trenches. This time we were lucky. Not in the sense that the pitch played well, it didn’t, but in that the opening oppo batsman decided, selflessly, to take on all the knocks and unpredictable balls himself. First a lifting ball into the arm, than a gloved catch to wickie from one that lifted dangerously off a length, then more to the chest. Not content with the pummelling he took when batting he then got hit a few more times in the field, truly an example of heroic sacrifice. Test-match bowlers of the quality of Broad and Anderson train for hours in the nets over winter to get the ball to do things that more humble bowlers at the very lowest levels of the game can do regularly, if not intentionally, on pitches such as this. Bodley win the toss and bowl first, working on the assumption we chase better than we set. Players from both teams slowly arrive, a journey made worse than usual by Townyfile at Blenheim. Phil and David Shackleton open the bowling, both putting down a good line and length and keeping the runs down. Phil gets a wicket off a rising ball which is gloved behind to Matthew – who had an excellent game behind the stumps – but the skipper called the batsman back, a typical sporting gesture from a fine leader of men which met with almost/hardily universal approval from the rest of the team. Gav and the reporter take over, runs dry up and a wicket falls. 8 overs of medium pace from one end and slow and varied deliveries from the other in the middle of the innings pegs back the opposition score rate. Gavin, who has been bowling like a dream all season, deserved a wicket at least last night, the fact that he didn’t get one goes to show how cruel and unrewarding the sport can be sometimes. Leigh and James finish off the innings, both getting a wicket and keeping the oppo down to 97 off 20, not bad at all. David and Matthew open, a cautious start against accurate bowling before both start to score. Matthew is caught going for a shot, Leigh comes in and hits out from the start and David starts to find his range. Then Leigh is out and James joins David. These two are as well matched a pair as the Bod have had for a long time, both able to hit boundaries and run well between the wickets but equally well suited to defence if the ball demands it. James gets a few useful runs before getting out and David reaches the set 25 and retire mark. Phil, Tim and David all contribute and the run-rate is well under control before Alec, having one of his best games for the team, is joined by Ackland at the death. With the team still needing about 20 runs to win and with enough overs left and the prospect of David coming back in all momentum is with the Bodleian. Ackland scores a few but then is caught reaching for a wide one…that desperate felling of being out to a shot we know we shouldn’t have played at a time when we’re starting to score runs and can see the team home, we all know it, don’t we…brings David back in. 14 needed off the last over after Alec had heroically defended 4 balls in the penultimate. But cruel fate, David whacks the ball onto his ankle and is left hobbling, limiting both stroke play and running between the wicket. Despite this he manages a few boundaries but in the end the team fall short, 92 off twenty. An excellent game, played in the right spirit against like-minded opposition in truly glorious surroundings and, a rare thing for a limited over match, a tea as well. Bodley can take, despite the result, a lot of confidence from this game but we need to start asking ourselves why, more often than not, in tight games like this we often come out on the losing side. The season now dribbles towards the end, three games left with Sunday afternoon fixtures against friends old and new; OUP, the Authors and the Mads, all teams that we’ve lost to recently, a victory or two to finish off the season would be most welcome. SA And finally a rare insight into the running of a cricket team, from an unnamed player earlier this week... '...Have lost a wickie glove on Tues. am going to Manny Road this lunch to see if it is there, if anyone fancies coming down for a pint. Can you all have a good look in the back of your car please. Worse of all, I didn’t take a copy of oppo scorebook, so we have no record for our bowling which is a shame as it was another good performance. On a personal note, managed to leave half my kit and work shoes there and will have to go back at weekend.
0 Comments
Stats/Medawar at Mansfield Road, 20 overs. Bodley took to the field for what they hoped would be a first completed jack cox match this season, after some awful weather and lack of interest scuppered the rest. Our opponents, the catchily monikered Stats/Medawar, had like us had an indifferent tournament, and looked keen with nets taking place beforehand as Bodley rested their finely-tuned bodies. With drizzle overhead we crossed our fingers and hoped for the best. Skipper Neely duly lost the toss, having called incorrectly. To our surprise we were put in to bat. Which today, was our stronger suit. Neely and Horden opened the batting and make a steady start, Neely playing some lovely strokes to keep the score ticking. Horden struggles with a stiff quad but soon finds his range and hits some powerful fours. Neely retires on 31* to bring newly promoted Burnett to the crease. Sadly the wicket was soon taken and Webb went out to join Horden. A few more are scored and the runs are coming, but then Webb is bowled by a sharp one, bringing Jones to the party. Horden was soon retired on a well made 30 odd not out. Robinson joined Jones and with a very flighty, slow over the wicket bit of bowling on offer runs were quickly accumulated and the score looked healthy. A good partnership built from these two with Robinson pinching twos and guiding it to the boundary while Jones hit out to square. Jones soon fell for 18 trying to up the rate only to be caught skying one. Philipson - Bubba to his adoring fans - strode out and after some energetic swinging and missing found his range and smashed a high six over square leg. With Robinson resolutely romping away at the other end the score ended up on 137 for (insert score once scorebook is nearby). A fine score and very well batted by all concerned. So 138 to win. There was barely time to glance towards the bar and consider the post match refreshments before we back out and fired up to defend our total. Burnett and Robinson opened the bowling, quickly locking down a pattern of tight lines and precious few runs. Burnell bowled some beautiful swinging deliveries that had the batsmen grasping at it, and was unlucky not to be rewarded. Robinson meanwhile was unstoppable, getting a plumb lbw to take the first wicket. Shortly after a second fell, Robinson again, a catch very well taken by Dale in the covers. Busby, fresh from his fielding masterclass on Sunday was likewise prowling at deep square leg, snaring everything that came his way. Dale was soon brought on, with Triggs at the other end, to produce what must be one of Bodley's most contrasting bowling partnerships. Express pace (painfully express, actually, as a broken finger would later attest to) at one end, and round the wicket leg spin at the other. Jones, keeping wicket, certainly seemed somewhat befuddled by the change, though a run out chance of Dale narrowly failed to pick up a wicket as the runs started to build. After tidy spells from both, including a cracking bowled for Dale that was just reward for such a fine, proper and very effective bowling action, the tide began to turn as a huge six was hit off the final final ball of the over. Sadly this seemed to mark the commencement if hostilities proper, and the next bowlers, Neely and Horden, were punished by some fearless swinging of the bat. the score was by now rapidly climbing and Bodley's hopes of a semi-final were looking slim. However, it is a Bodley tradition that at this point in a game Philipson is brought on to bowl. And so it was, the poor chap being tossed the ball just as Stats were seeing how far the could really hit the ball, causing a leaping and hopping Paton to enjoy some late-overs ball chasing. Sadly the winning runs were hit in the sixteenth over, bringing to a close Bodley's Jack Cox season for this year. Well played Stats, and good luck in the semi. We can reflect on a very decent batting performance against a mixed bag of bowling, and hope for better things - and better weather - next season. Good to see our new pace bowlers Dale and Burnett in good form, the evergreen Robinson shining brightly, and the skipper back in the runs. GJ |
Note from the Ed.Generally always written late on the night of the game. Any accuracy or sparkling prose is purely accidental. Archives
September 2016
Categories |