Hendricks XI CC at Stanton St John Cricket Club ground. Thirty five overs.
Bodley's latest game in their 25th year is against Hendricks, Tim Saunders side of University friends named after a brand of gin. Suitable for a team formed round a love of alcohol quite a few hadn't finished their tour night till 5.30 that morning, and looked it as well. Bod have a bit of a scratch side out, only fielding 10 players including Dan Shaw, Max Baldock, Alec and Asad (both practically Bod for the amount of games they play for us) and Dave Shorten. As Hendricks have 12 we also borrow Tim off them. Game at Stanton St John, weather cloudy/sunny/raining all afternoon. Hendricks coming to us after a defeat against the Mads on Friday and then a win the day before, chasing down 205 and winning in last over. As they are on tour Hendricks are asked what they want to do and, surprisingly considered night before, opt to field first. In the spirit of the game Max and Dan open for the Bod, youth policy well to the fore as both were born well after some of us started working for the Bodleian. Dan scores quickly with some lovely boundaries while Max accumulates. Dan then out caught behind (27), which with James in next scuppers any chance of a father son partnership. James scores quickly and pushes the singles along before getting caught for a quick 41, including a lovely six (and these are proper boundaries, not your Renault skip away from the wicket). Tim Philipson and Dom come and go before Dave Shorten hits a quick 38, including another towering six. Max looks like he's going to carry his bat until he's out near the end for a well-crafted 35. Alec, promoted up the order to nu 8 scores a few and along with Asad takes Bod to 190 off 35, a more than defendable total on what is usually a tricky wicket to score on. Tea. Bodley aware that Hendricks are a good batting side but looking around at the Bod team it's apparent we have plenty of good bowlers, two of which, James and Asad, start. And it is Asad that quickly makes the break through with tight bowling carrying on from Thursday and Renault. A ball on a good length is blocked up in the air for Alec to take a good catch close in. Asad picks up a few more wickets, including one of their more dangerous batsman well caught behind by (very) occasional wickie Tim Philipson. James is bowling well from the other end and gets a clean bowled as reward. Hendricks are losing wickets too quickly so an early bowling change brings Dom and Dave Busby on. Dave bowls a tight line of his looping bombs while Dom just bowls a good line and length and is rewarded with two wickets. Dave Shorten and Max carry on the good work and are soon amongst the wickets, Max a bowled and Dave gets a dangerous batsman out with James taking a fine catch coming in off the boundary. Hendricks fall well short of Bod total, even with Tim Saunders, playing for us, going off at the fall of the penultimate wicket to bat for the oppo. Hendricks all out for 115 off 33 overs. A lovely game to play in, and hopefully Hendricks enjoyed it despite the result. Bodley wait with anticipation for the announcement of player of the match award by Hendricks, the recipient rewarded with a bottle of the gin the team are named after. Under-age drinking proves a common theme, after last years award to Dan this year Max is chosen, reward for an excellent batting display and good bowling. SA
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Note from the Ed.Generally always written late on the night of the game. Any accuracy or sparkling prose is purely accidental. Archives
September 2019
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