Peasemore CC at Peasemore, 35 overs.
To pretty Peasemore, for only our second Sunday fixture of the season, and with yet more clouds overhead. A good team had been assembled to avenge last years loss, and as we took a look round the pitch it became obvious that the Peasemore wicket had been given something of a makeover since our last visit - a bit of green, smoother than a hallway carpet, yet still with a bit of rough and the odd dull patch. Should be a good game, we thought. Skipper Gareth Jones strolled out for the toss and without so much as a moments hesitation opted to bat, having called correctly. A tried and trusted opening partnership of Neely and Burnett strode out to the crease, and the Peasemore bowlers - a few young lads, canny veterans, and a helpful wicket - charged in. A maiden first up, then Burnett releases the pressure with a four. In the fifth over Burnett fell to a deflection off his legs onto the stumps for 7, bringing Keegan-Bole to the crease. Next over saw another wicket fall as the new batsman went for a duck. Shaw joined the battling Neely, only for a tight lbw shout to go against the Bodley opener. The fit-again and potentially destructive McKiernan joined Shaw for what all hoped would be a much-needed big-hitting partnership. To our horror the next over saw Shaw nick off through to the keeper, and in an act of supreme sportsmanship, walk off despite no appeal. The home side's opening bowlers had reduced Bodley to 19-4 in the ninth over, and things were looking a bit grim. Jones hurriedly walked out to join McKernan, and if we're being honest, a very low score looked on the cards. But there's almost always a twist in these stories, and today was no exception. McKiernan's first three scoring shots were all fours, whilst Jones adopted a Boycottian approach and occupied the crease, running well in a most unlikely partnership. As drinks came and went these two held firm, scoring when the bowling strayed, and seeing off the good balls. Both batsman benefited from missed catches, and were somehow able to block out the chatty (but very friendly) wicket-keeper's best efforts to induce a swing. Team-mates on the boundary could barely believe what they were seeing, as the recovery continued apace and the score built. Who needs the World Cup? Finally, a wicket fell, McKiernan clean bowled by the returning opening bowler for a very well made 45. Hewett came and went trying to clear the ropes, whilst Jones's vigil ended in the twenty sixth over, top edging a heave to a quicker ball for a useful 28. And thus Bodley had dragged themselves to 107-6 with ten overs still to play. With a license to thrill, Robinson strode out and set about taking the score even further along with inimitable Hudson and Busby for company. A simply marvellous 34, with two sixes, took us to 166-9 from our thirty overs, a scarcely believable recovery after that early collapse. With all smiling and a rain shower blowing in, the team set about the always excellent tea. A delicious selection of baps/cobs/rolls/barms/insert regional variance here was scoffed down, along with exquisite millionaire's shortbread, fruit cake, and lemon drizzle. As the rain blew through and the pitch quickly dried, the teams reluctantly tore themselves away from the buffet, and headed out for the second innings. Chasing 167 to win, Peasemore set about building a platform running quick singles as Burnett and Robinson got things going for Bodley. A miserly opening ten overs finally brought about a wicket in the twelfth as Robinson found the edge and McKiernan pouched a great catch round his ankles at slip. 26-1 from twelve, a great start. A change of bowling saw Shaw running in, with McKiernan coming on to replace the excellent Robinson, and both kept the runs down with an attacking field - two slips at times and sharp fielding all round. In the eighteenth McKiernan struck, followed in the twenty second over by another to prise the opener out. 58-3 from twenty two, and Bodley on top. The Peasemore middle order were eyeing up the square boundaries by now, but before long McKiernan had his third and Keegan-Bole had picked up a first wicket, the first a lovely catch from Dom off a skier as the batters hit out against the vagaries of the pitch. 83-5 from twenty six. With a few big sixes being tonked into the trees on the far boundary, the skipper returned Shaw to service and in his first over Bodley's all-rounder took a crucial wicket to break the burgeoning partnership. Keegan-Bole then took two more quick wickets as the hitting continued, both caught by Jones, With Bodley well on top but wary of a few big hits making things tight, Burnett came back on to pick up a well-deserved wicket and wrap the innings up as Peasemore finished a man down. A terrific game, played in the best of spirits by two well-matched teams in a lovely setting. Thank you to Peasemore for hosting, and we look forward to crossing swords again next season. Great, oh so miserly bowling figures from all, a wonderful recovery with the bat from McKiernan and the skipper, and finally some proper biffing from Robinson. Well played all! 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 |