Alpine F1 CC at Sandford St. Martin, twenty overs. Thursday 29th July.
www.pitchero.com/clubs/bodleiancc/teams/255079/match-centre/0-5106084 Having missed this fixture last year due to you know what, it was a delight to resume our long-running tussle against local side Alpine F1 (formerly Renault F1) at the beautiful location of Sandford St. Martin cricket club, looking out over the rolling Glyme valley. Even with less traffic around, navigating Oxford's constant roadworks meant all were quite late arriving and with the time ticking past 6pm the match got underway. A twenty over affair with retirements on 25 and 4 overs per bowler promised an even contest and with Bodley being offered the chance to bat first so the bbq could be fired up by the oppo for afters, Skipper Matthew Neely and the Dave Shackleton-usurping Dave Freeman walked out to open up. Bodley were down to 9 again for this game due to the pingdemic and holiday season (where on earth are people actually going though?!) so runs from the top order was going to be crucial to set a foundation. Fresh from his fifty-odd on Sunday Matthew picked up where he'd left off and was quickly in the groove, running hard and defending assuredly. Dave Freeman was likewise picking off the loose balls and engaging in a bit of mental disintegration for good measure. Dave was eventually out to a good ball, bringing David Shackleton to the crease at a higher than usual number three in the order. Whilst Matthew anchored the innings from the other end, David freed his arms and struck some mighty fine blows against good bowling - a straight lofted four down the ground being a particular highlight. All too soon the 25 was up (29 not out) and David had to retire, bringing Asad to the crease to join the rock solid skipper. Several meaty blows later Asad was out for a very handy 17, and Jones came and went in the blink of a reckless swing leaving breakthrough bowler of the year Dom at the crease with Matthew. With the main bowlers bowled out things loosened up a little and whilst that does provide the chance to play quite aggressively, it also causes panic as the ball floats down from on high on all manner of lines. With Matthew retiring on 27 and extras providing our third-highest score, Dom played a handy cameo to leave the Bod on 126-4 from twenty overs. Not bad when we were down to nine players anyway. This being an evening game their was no tea, so after a quick fistful of petit-fours for Mr Milner we were back on the pitch - extra fielder from the oppo much appreciated - to defend what looked a decent total in fading light. A new partnership of Asad and Matthew opened the bowling, with Jones installed behind the stumps. As seems to have been the case all season the opposition's opening batters swing hard and attacked from the off, causing much running after the ball for James Riley and Tim Philipson in particular, and general sighing and scratching of heads all round as Slazenger bats caused untold damage in the direction of the mid-on fielder. With one batter already retired after five overs, the first wicket finally fell in the thirteenth with the score on 84. Worryingly, this wicket was batsmen number four and came by way of a run-out so the momentum still seemed very much with the home team. By this point Shackleton and Dom were well into their rhythm though, and the batters proved a tad less assertive as the pace came off the ball. As Andrew Milner joined the festival of suffocating slow bowling, the runs needed exceeded the number of balls left (fans of the Hundred should be able to follow things from this point) and Bodley were well and truly back in it. With the field pushing back as the penultimate over approached, it went for a nerve-inducing seven runs, so seven to win from the final over. Having not bowled all match but relishing the opportunity to be hit for the winning runs, Dave Freeman was called upon to deliver an unlikely victory for the Bod. A wide first ball added two to the total, so five from five needed. Field is in-out, some in for the single, others right back to cut off the four. Next ball is a scrambled single, four from four needed. Few more fielders push back, and lots of chat in the outfield, exciting stuff as dusk accompanies the finale. Dot ball, four from three needed. Next ball is flighted up and bounces on a good length before clattering into the pads, bit high though, but it's given! More importantly it's a dot ball, and a new batter that will have to adjust to the light and the pitch. With four from two needed the whole field is now pretty much right back, and bang on cue Dave bowls another lovely dot ball. And so it is that three hours of at times quite one-sided cricket comes down to this - four runs needed from one ball. Dave tells the batsman he's got the measure of him, puts the field right back, and jogs in for the final act. Good length, bounce - batsman connects, swinging hard, but straight to Asad and no run taken. Bodley win by four runs! A fantastic effort and a good win. Bit of luck involved for the visitors but we'll take that anytime. David Shackleton and Dom Hewett in particular deserve praise for the bowling figures of 4-0-14-0 and 4-1-16-0 respectively. Shackleton and Matthew starred with the bat and being a fielder down was a great effort ball chasing too. Having got the cricket out the way in good time, all could tuck into a much-anticipated bbq - the nearest thing we've had a to a cricket tea in two years and very much enjoyed by all. A lovely opposition and a great location made this a most enjoyable evening, and talk turned to next year and a possible home/away fixture and Sandford and Tew. Our next game is Thursday 5th August against Oxfam CC at Great Tew. See you there! GJ.
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