Chemistry/Pharmocology (Jack Cox) at Balliol College ground. Twenty overs.
On the week where we celebrate the marvelous moon landings, Bodley sought to launch themselves into the Jack Cox Plate (the Cup seems too giant a leap this year), and with it the chance to plant our flag on the dull grey surface of that estimable serving platter. A strong team had been assembled, with Bodley occasionals Asad and Ollie joining regulars only just recovering from the rigors of the annual tour. Skipper Neely won the toss, and wisely chose to bat with rain forecast for later and a decent line up to send to space. Freeman and Shaw left the capsule and walked gently along the turf to open the batting. For Freeman, this was one of the best days of his storied life - playing for the UK's, if not the world's pre-eminent Legal Deposit Library cricket club, is surely up there with the other pinnacles of Dave's life. More on that later. The pitch at Balliol is best described as a firm, polyester carpet laid within a building site next to a creche for scientists. As such, it is not conducive to good bowling, and is surprisingly unhelpful to attacking batsmen. Nevertheless, Bodley got off to a good start and a target of 140 minimum was broadly agreed to be about right, should we get there. Unfortunately, Shaw was soon caught behind by the wicketkeeper, a scrum-half if ever there was one. This brought Ollie to the crease, and the runs ticked along. Freeman, enjoying himself more than Jack Leach enjoyed Lord's, was sadly out for 21, having looked set for retirement and complementary pipe and slippers. Next up on the launchpad, out strode the skipper, and before you could say dark side of the moon, the ball had disappeared for 6 into the tennis courts and 17 had been scored off an over - as many runs as there were Apollo missions. What a time to be alive. As with all highs, there are inevitable lows soon after, and once Neely retired for a well-constructed 31, the rate dropped and wickets fell at regular intervals. Asad broke his bat trying to send the ball into orbit, Jones and Robinson swung the bat rather less destructively, Philipson and Miten came in peace, Dave Busby entertained, and finally Ackland ...erm, also entertained. At the end of the innings Bodley had racked up a bare-minimum 122-8, Defendable, maybe, but not normally enough on the Balliol runway. Bodley's fielding innings rather went by in a bit of blur for most of us, as the ball splashed down in space, the short boundaries were peppered (just how many fielders should you put on that tennis court side?!), and one of the Chem/Pharm openers blasted 33 from barely 5 overs to retire with all of his sides runs at that point. Not a good a start if you weren't a scientist. Asad picked up the other opener with a plumb lbw, and shortly after Freeman plucked and edge out of the air at slip, arm swinging wide to catch the ball like a barn door opening in the breeze, causing team-mates to congregate in congratulation as Dave leaped like a salmon in celebration. Having swung the game back our way, it just as rapidly veered away from us, despite some energetic chasing and boundary saving. The next batsmen in both went stellar into the 30s to retire, before a streaky four won the game in the name of science. Twenty, maybe thirty more runs, and we'd have been over the moon, but it wasn't to be. But we play this sport not because it is easy, but because it is hard. And by the end of this decade we will win the bloody Plate!! Well played all, a good match where we just came up short against a slightly better team on the day. Drinks and social afterwards was great fun and reminded us all why we love this game so much - especially Dave, who really did have one of the best days of his life. GJ
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
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
Categories |