Click here toRainmen at Great Haseley, 35 overs Scorecard - www.pitchero.com/clubs/bodleiancc/teams/255079/match-centre/0-5388974/scorecard A week of weather watching had ensured a somewhat slow build up to this week’s instalment of the Bodley cricketing soap opera, but with grey clouds overhead, dry ground underfoot, and Summer most definitely over, the team arrived – some later than others thanks to Oxford’s love of congestion – and set about a 1 o’clock-ish start against the Rainmen. We first played each other in 2021, and all involved enjoyed what was a very good natured, quite close fixture. Hopes were high that we’d not be on the end of another loss, as has been the case too often this year. Skipper for the Bod, Jones, managed to win the toss (tails, obviously), and chose to bat. This was as much to ensure tea could be prepared and indulged in as promptly as possible, as it was about the state of the pitch (green, uneven bounce, but otherwise no gremlins). Neely and Webb opened the batting for the Bod, and settled in well against some handy bowling whilst they got the lay of the pitch and the measure of the fielders. Mike’s return to the side after a brief sojourn has been warmly welcomed by his team mates, and he looked in good touch today, finding the boundary behind square and defending well, properly, with a straight bat. Neely continued in the ridiculous form he’s shown all season, and steadily built a score with assurance. Rumour has it that David Shackleton selects Neely when he plays Brian Lara Cricket on his PlayStation. Anyway, having seen off the opening bowlers Mike was unfortunate to be stumped by the first change bowlers, looking to up the scoring. Whilst this was all very unwelcome from a Bodley point of view, it did draw our attention to the fact that the Rainmen wicketkeeper was called Trimingham (it’s all in the pronunciation) – a wonderful surname for a keeper, particularly one who stood up so often. Shaw (James) replaced Mike and set about the bowling with those long levers, whilst Neely likewise started to tuck in. Those same change bowlers eventually did for Neely too though, a well-made 26 taking him well past 500 runs for the season with a game in hand. Very, very well played, a stunning achievement. The skipper joined Shaw and the two batters decided it was probably fine to attack a bit, which resulted in Jones being unceremoniously bowled shortly after. Philipson was next in and started well, connecting and finding the fielder but looking in good nick. Alas, the collapse had begun, and Tim was out, followed by Shaw in fairly quick succession. Bodley hopeful Shorten was now at the crease and may as well have been dressed as a ship’s anchor so clear was the need for someone to settle things down. There were runs in that there field and we meant to find them. With Robinson at the other end and the bowling changing again, things took a turn for the better and a partnership built, and the watching crowd settled a little. Gav was sadly out before he could do as much damage as he’d threatened, and then Busby had the sheer misfortune to have one keep very low indeed first ball, which is just bad luck. Seven down and not yet 100 on the board, and in walked today’s debutant, Francis Bertschinger, an actual genuine Bodleian employee (Music Department, Weston Library), and we hoped an actual genuine cricketer too, having come from Somerset and played at a good level ‘about ten years ago’. The crowd leant forward in their seats. It was immediately apparent that young Bertschinger could bat a bit, and whilst sterner tests will surely come, the omens were good. With Shorten finding his range and Francis playing in an expansive manner that had eluded his new teammates the two batters staged a superb recovery, passing 100, then 150, then a 100 partnership, then a destructive 50 for Shorten, before ending the innings with a four to take the team to 201-7, Francis finishing on 44, Shorten on 58. Well played both, bravo. edit. And so, for the penultimate time this year, to tea. Another home game for Bodley and once again Stu stepped up to give us a buffet to feast on – nowadays the only kind of buffet Stu provides, having become the most miserly of bowlers. If you liked pickle you were in for an absolute treat, and along with savoury contributions from Dave and Tim, Dom and Matthew had presented a blanket of cake that was surely designed to inhibit physical activity and ensure a close game. All of this was gratefully devoured by all, and after seconds and sometimes thirds the two teams hauled themselves onto the pitch for the chase.
201 is a decent score in anyone’s book, and in Bodley’s it was a very good score – though it must be said we‘ve found some end of season batting form having posted 200-odd last time out too. Could a back to back victory be on the cards? We’ll see. Ackland and Robinson were given the new ball in grey conditions with rain on the distant horizon beyond the miles of fields that unfolded beneath us. Ackland, as has been the case recently, began in a miserly manner, like Scrooge in whites with a west county accent. Maiden. Robinson likewise started with the purse strings tightened, like a, erm, Yorkshireman. Maiden. Third over and Stu gets a wicket to cap off another maiden, Robinson taking the slip catch on the second attempt. Stu insists he come off at this point, with his skipper strongly suspecting this is to protect his now ridiculous figures. Hewett comes on as able replacement and sets about what would be a superbly controlled six over spell, picking up a wicket to boot. Robinson, unlucky not to strike, bowled four overs for seven runs and is replaced by debutant Bertschinger, who is very excited indeed to bowl some leg spin. With Hewett settled in at the other end Francis spent his first over finding his range – though also taking a wicket with an LBW given in a manner quite alien to Bodley. A few overs later, and with the field generally remaining up so as to avoid the rabbit holes, another wicket for Francis, and then in the next over, with the match in the balance – partnerships proving hard to come by for the visitors – Francis bowled a triple wicket maiden, leaving him on a hat trick for the next over. Seems he can bowl too, we all thought. With Busby now on at the other end and totally befuddling the batters with no respite as he tossed the ball way above the low clouds that threatened to bring Duckworth-Lewis in to play, Francis is quite unexpectedly tonked for four on the hat trick ball. Boo, and hiss. But then in a perhaps not entirely unexpected turn of events he takes the wicket next ball, followed a few balls later by another, taking his remarkable tally to seven in the innings. With Rainmen now nine down it was time for the Fielders Union to have a bowl, and so Philipson and the skipper loosened up and plugged away as the final wicket proved rather more difficult to dislodge. Eventually Jones bowled a full and straight one that bowled number 10. Bodley win by 116 runs in an enjoyable game, hopefully for both parties given the eventual scoreline. We’ve been on the wrong end of the scorecard several times this season so whilst nice to get a win it was even nicer to be able to welcome a new player, and see contributions from everyone. Well played all and thank you to our opposition for a good game. Notable mention to Francis for a terrific debut – 44* and 5-0-19-7, pretty good! Our next match is the traditional season ender at Aldworth, and a trip the lovely Bell Inn. Team to be announced imminently. Then it’s Whippersnappers on Sunday 25th September at Great Tew. GJ.
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Note from the Ed.Generally written on the night of the match after a valedictory pint. Any sparkling prose or accuracy is entirely accidental. Archives
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