Holton & Wheatley CC at Great Haseley, timed game. www.pitchero.com/clubs/bodleiancc/teams/255079/match-centre/0-5106086 Another wet Saturday, another nervous check of all the weather apps the app store can offer, repeated glances at the sky, consulting the stars and asking the local farmer, and then you get up on Sunday morning to clearer skies and a favourable forecast. Never can a sport have been so maddeningly susceptible to the weather Gods and their fondness for a blustery showery just as you get your whites on after breakfast. But not today, the weather looked ok and it was to the bucolic surrounds of Great Haseley that the good ship Bodley sailed in assorted convoy to play new opposition Holton & Wheatley CC. New opponents always come with two competing emotional pulls – one that they look a great bunch and we’ll have one of those near perfect afternoons of gentle, evenly matched cricket, and the other that they’re a league team in disguise using our poor wretched souls as fodder for future glory to a soundtrack of sledging that would make an Australian wince. Which would it be? Well… On arrival at Great Haseley we were met with a view to bring a smile to anyone’s face, rolling hills and neatly tended fields as far as the eye could see. Our new opposition were friendly and welcoming, and the format explained to a Bodley’s bemused Captain – timed game, with the first innings being two and half hours, then tea, then the chasing team have one hour and twenty overs to chase down the total, with the prospect of a drawn match if there are wickets in hand in failed chase. The skipper weighed all this up, decided he couldn’t do the maths to work out the overs involved in the first innings, and so having won the toss decided to bowl and then if all went pear shaped, we could salvage a heroic draw. Team mates reacted sceptically to this news, but came round when told that batting second meant they could spend most of the innings prolonging tea. Like Andrew Milner. In an uncharacteristic display of cricket thinking, the skipper had also noted the damp wicket – a result of the sheets failing the during the overnight rain – and concluded that a collapse was quite likely should Bodley bat on what was described by one old sage as a pudding. Astute? Cowardly? Time would tell! A new-look Bodley eleven took to the field, with friend of the club Max taking the gloves, and owner of Bodley’s best ever bowling figures Thomas Marsh further bolstering our ranks. Special mention must go to Tim Philipson too, turning out with a year’s supply of tubigrip on his leg to strap up the calf he crocked the previous weekend. Bravo Tim! As Jones set the standard ring field and the sun shone through the high wispy clouds, Phil Burnett charged in to extract whatever bounce could be garnered from the green pitch. From the other end young Dan Shaw was likewise tearing in to give the Bod what is becoming our regular opening pair. The Holton & Wheatley openers were flying from the off though, thumping fours to the leg side as the bowlers found their line. But then in the fourth over Dan clean bowled the rapidly scoring Taha to put the brakes on. Over the next ten overs it was a largely family affair as James Shaw joined Dan with three wickets – just reward for a magnificent five over spell of immaculate control – and Phil picking finding the edge with a peach of a ball, cleanly taken by Max behind the stumps. Proper cricket this, we all thought, as we held our hosts at 39-5 from twelve overs. If you read Bodleian match reports often you’ll know by now that when you find yourselves ahead like this, there is invariably a twist to the tale - it is just a question of how you react to it! And so it was as a partnership took shape, the pitch dried out and the batters punished anything short or slightly wide. Bodley stalwarts Gavin Robinson and Andrew Milner both put in shifts but it was young Thomas Marsh – smooth run-up, fluid delivery and high action – that wrestled things back for Bodley as he picked a lovely lbw to leave the score at 120-6 in the twenty seventh over (about an hour to go!). Hopes of more breakthroughs were to be short lived though, as a careful partnership was assembled from anything stray and the batters grew in confidence. Bodley fielded well, bodies being flung around the field, with Tim using his non-compliant leg as an effective barrier, David Busby and James Reilly manning long off and Max collecting everything behind the stumps. By the close of the innings at 4.30pm the home team had racked up an imposing 181-6 from what turned out to be 39 overs. Now that the hard work of fielding was finished, tea could be taken. Regular readers will know that Bodley take their tea very seriously, with one member of the club taking it especially so. 1980s TV heartthrob and evergreen silver fox Nigel Havers has already been lined up to play Bodleian ragamuffin Andrew Muffin in the story of his storied life, and the real thing was tucked into his rattan lounge chair before you could say taramasalata. As team mates spread themselves out on the hard grass and took to their simple fare, a reclining Andrew carefully navigated his Levantine feast. Jumbo couscous, subtly spiced dips and spreads, bread from Oxford’s choicest bakers, and meats prepared to Roman recipes were all enjoyed in the utmost comfort with a civility our Edwardian forebears would doubtless approve. This being a warm day, and Andrew being that most exacting of diners, all of this was washed down with the finest Italian sparkling, kept pleasingly cool in a chiller. Bravo Andrew, a truly memorable tea today. To be quite honest the rest of us are getting a little jealous! Enough of all that though, we had a chase to undertake. Aspiring opening batsman Gav again strode out first drop, with Thomas completing the new partnership. With 182 to win, or a draw if we manage not to be bowled out, a good run rate was needed, as was a little luck on a pitch still showing a little low bounce as it dried out. Gav duly tonked the first ball for four and the next for two, after which all decided the game was in the bag and set about raiding the scraps of Andrew’s banquet. What we had not realised from our lofty position on the boundary, was that the bowlers were generating quite some swing at quite a good pace, and Thomas was unlucky to be the recipient of one such swinger that homed in on the stumps and deceived our new young opener. This brought James out to join Gav and though Gav fell in the next over James and new number four Max thereafter gave the wicket taker the full face of the bat and scored where they could from the other end. 4-1 from a five over spell tells you just how well that opening spell was. A change of bowler brought more opportunities, though ten overs per bowler meant you had to take your runs when you could. The partnership built quite wonderfully, with the skies clearing and the sun helping even out the devil in the pitch. A fluent James eventually fell to a good ball, nicked behind for 24 in the fourteenth over. Phil joined the energetic Max and again a partnership built, these two taking us into the final twenty overs and just about up with the required rate. Phil was unlucky to be run out – though it was a terrific bit of fielding and throw – for 21, leaving us on 91-4 with sixteen overs left and 91 to chase. So treat it like a T20 basically, definitely chaseable. Dan Shaw was now batting with his good friend Max and these two proceeded to put together a punishing partnership, running hard and striking some lovely boundaries as they pounced on anything wide and carved the leg side open. Dan was finding his range with increasing ease and had soon overtaken Max as Bodley raced towards the total. A dramatic run out with the score on 146 put a premature end to Max’s sparkling innings, an invaluable 36 runs added and plenty gained for his partner through sharp calling and running too. Thirty six needed from eight overs – skipper’s orders were to keep going for it and the by now hungry for runs Andrew walked out to take up the cause. Sadly, but also a reflection of some great second spells from the home team’s bowlers, nobody could keep Dan company and after Andrew was well caught at square leg, the skipper and James Reilly were cleaned up by what we’ll agree were unplayable deliveries. With just a couple of overs left to play the home team had restricted us to fighting for the draw, those wickets cutting the run rate right down. David Busby joined Dan and whilst runs were still being made we fell what felt agonisingly short, despite it being a deficit of 23 as the draw was indeed claimed with two wickets in hand. Dan finished on a superb 47 not out to go with his first innings wicket, whilst honourable mentions go to Thomas’s figures of 5-0-16-1 and to James Shaw for 10-4-29-3 and a quick fire 24 runs. Bodley fielded well – thank you again Tim for such a committed effort on one leg – and a close game ensured that all results were a possibility until close to the end. A huge thank you to our hosts – we couldn’t have asked for a better game or a more picturesque setting and we certainly hope this is a fixture we’ll see on the calendar for years to come. Our next match is Wednesday 1st September at Jordan Hill, against old friends OUP. No tea at this one so if you’re coming to watch please do bring Andrew something to eat. GJ.
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Oxfordshire County Council Staff Cricket Club at Witney Mills cricket club. Sunday 15th August, 35 overs. www.pitchero.com/clubs/bodleiancc/teams/255079/match-centre/0-5106085 On a rare dry day the Mighty Bodley, on an unstoppable run of two wins in a row but after three cancelled fixtures, made their way to gentle Witney to play a new fixture against the marvellously monikered OCCSCC for a 35 over game at Witney Mills Cricket Club. Short boundaries straight and long boundaries square were duly noted by the batters, and the wicket looked a good one for a bat after a dry night. Skippers Gareth Jones (for the Bod) and Ben Parish (for the County Council) walked out for the toss, agreed 35 overs, no retirements, and seven overs per bowler. Parish called incorrectly and a delighted Jones elected to bat, after both laughed off any notion of setting retirements as the low, slow pitch would ensure plenty of chances... A new opening partnership of Gav Robinson and David Shackleton strolled out to get things going for the Bod, with Shackleton asserting his divine right to bat at two, leaving the door open for Gav to face the first ball. Gav was licking his lips though, as eager to get out there as Phil was to parade his pooch to all and sundry. The Council bowling was sharp but varied in line, allowing the batters to get in with a few leaves and some determined blocking. The field was up and it wasn't long before Gav freed his arms and tonked a four to square leg in typical fashion. David was running well at the other end and Bod looked fairly comfortable. Gav moved into the teens with another boundary and just as things were looking settled a straighter, fuller ball thudded into the pads to bring our new openers innings to an end for a well made 16. That kind of scoring will get an England birth these days. But this only brought in Bodley's mightiest run-getter James Shaw, who was immediately into the groove as he tucked into the bowling. Over the next hour or so David and James carved, cut and drove their way to fifties, taking the Bod score beyond 150, and leaving the fielding somewhat ragged in their wake. All this was brought to a halt when, sadly, there was to be a forced retirement for a fielder, as a well struck ball resulted in several broken teeth and a trip to the A&E. Big thank you to Dave Busby for ferrying the injured, was much appreciated by the oppo. We send our best wishes to the fielder in question - hope you get back on the field soon. James retired at this point for a well made 58, bringing young Dan Shaw to the crease to keep Shacks company as the game recommenced. Unfortunately nobody else could quite find the same fluency and a scorecard of single figure scores for Dan, Phil, James, the skipper and Dom eventually left big-hitting Tim Phillipson and Shackleton at the crease with nothing but big swinging on their minds. David was in the nineties, with not many balls left to get the hundred, and Tim was swinging hard and running even harder. Running so hard in fact, that he appeared to have been the victim of the wicketkeeper tying his shoelaces together between balls. And so after running, hobbling and hopping a single, a second match-ending injury in the innings took Tim out of commission as his hamstring gave up the ghost. Tim did however battle through the over on one leg, though David couldn't quite get to a deserved hundred, ending on 93 not out and Bodley on an imposing 192-8. David and James were the stars of the show with 93 and 58, against some decent bowling on a low pitch. Next up was the main event, tea. I don't think we'll see a return to traditional cricket teas this season, so it'll be competitive sandwich-making for what's left of the year. Currently, the very well fed Andrew Milner is clear favourite to take the packed lunch of the year award, but in his absence this week there was a more relaxed approach and I think less pressure felt by his normally drooling team mates. Phil Burnett dispensed with lunch entirely - Great Tew Deli is not on the way to Witney after all (not that taking a detour would necessarily stop him...) - and instead must have snacked on the dog biscuits being used to bribe the pooch into obedience. Or the other way round. Gav had a suspiciously healthy looking salad, whilst the skipper had the remains of a homemade pizza from the previous night, both utterly delicious according to their recipients. Tim had a good grumble and a nurofen to supplement his epic doorstep sandwich. Andrew - we look forward to your raising the bar again next week. With our usual keeper off teaching old people to play tennis, it was decided that the housewives' favourite Stuart Ackland and the skipper would share the burden, all agreed by a process of being politely told by everyone else that they did not, under any circumstances, wish to keep. Ironically our by now horizontal hamstring expert Tim was very keen indeed to keep wicket. Sod's law, I believe. Next time, Tim! With Stu excitedly reminding everyone that he wouldn't catch anything but was very excited to have big gloves, Phil Burnett - with poodle trotting a few yards behind - ran in to wrap up the victory. A four first ball of the match was not what we had hoped for but Stu didn't give any byes away, and we didn't drop a catch, so not all bad. After that it was solid stuff from Phil and opening partner Dan Shaw, with Dan delivering two maidens off his first two overs. The bowling was tight, and Stu was doing a great job behind the stumps, animated though it was. Sharp fielding was keeping the Council from getting away and on another day we'd have had a few lbw's too as Dan was finding the pads with regularity. Before long a good catch was taken by David Shackleton at point as the opener chipped one straight to him, leaving them 31-1. Good start. With a change to James Shaw another wicket fell fairly soon after, a really lovely clean bowled with the off stump bail clipped in classic fashion. With things going quite well and those short straight boundaries having not been an issue thus far, it was then a rude shock to see the ball suddenly, and rapidly, fly over the very tall trees on the boundary and into the field behind as the new batter followed up some worryingly hard-hit fours with a monstrous six off a pretty decent ball. Ominous. Both batters had been pretty lucky to escape a run of lbw shouts but were by now well set and seemed determined to hit the ball out of the ground as often as possible. More impressive still were a succession of perfectly timed flicks off the pads - a high risk shot that fully illustrated just how well they were playing. Bodley had likewise seen two batters dominate, so it was somehow quite poetic that the same course of events was unfolding as we fielded. A target of 193 was good enough to require some big hitting and a few risks though, so the field went back a bit, and Bodley tried to find a length, a line, a pace, that wouldn't get lined up. Shackleton, Dom Hewett, Gav, and our new keeper once he'd handed the gloves to the skipper, all sent down overs and aside from some excellent control from Phil and James it was pretty brutal stuff, though you simply had to admire the skill shown to hit the ball so cleanly. We all agreed we could've done without fetching the ball from the middle of the road so often though. Maybe some evergreens to replace the deciduous trees on that boundary. Try as we might, and the fielding stayed sharp throughout with barely a chance given, these two were not for budging and in the thirty first over the winning runs were soundly struck and a total of 195-2 firmly had the Council as victors. Top scores of 82 and 59 from the number four and number two batter respectively, further emphasised the similarity of the batting innings. Well played. A good game, and one that could've gone either way despite the eventual scoreline. Both teams unfortunately losing a player to injury was an unwelcome blow (get well soon, both), and Bodley fielding a man down the entire innings was great credit to the effort shown. Thank you to Ben and the team for hosting us, and we look forward to a rematch, maybe at Tew, next year! Next match is Peasemore CC at Peasemore, always a good game and a lovely part of the world to spend a Sunday afternoon. See you there. GJ. |
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