Colonel Mustard files his latest cricket report for your delight, before heading south to the Iberian peninsula in search of something called by the locals, most who seem to lithp, ‘Cerveza.’
The Lesser Stag Beetle as our team coleopterologist, will no doubt verify (if pushed a little), is a harbinger of success in our game cricket. Now, the Cricket (the beast that is) is unfortunately no such a harbinger to the Germanic Beetle Community, with their air-cooled noisy machines. But enough of piffling trifles! This particular stag beetle known as Roodolf to his six-legged amigos, was seen scuttling across the floor of a certain Bayshillian’s greenhouse, on the very day of our club’s latest indoor outing – if such an oxymoronic phrase could be promulgated.
‘Enough!’ I hear you cry, and for once I’m with you all the way. In Prince Willie’s balcony, which I hasten to add is not just for the enclosed members, is I’m afraid, still in good need of a right regal clean. The coin was then spun, to see whether the Bays would bat or bowl. Naturally, the Bays won the toss and off they went to field, but not before several bespectacled observers noted with deeply furrowed brows the presence of a Bayshill hero. Yes indeed, I dare not jest. There, in the said forlorn balcony, next to the scorer and indeed yellow and white scoreboard, was none other than Father Damo himself. Hard to believe I know, but there he was, as plain as the nose on your face. Later, after the cricket had finished, a whistle no less was found on the floor under the scorer’s table. If this priest had a calling card, then this would be it. Now, to the cricket, before Fran becomes impatient at this ‘cricketing foreplay!’
As in previous weeks, the Bays applied pressure on the opponent’s batsmen right from the start. Angus went for just two off his first over, setting the tempo. Tom at the other end bowled unusually four wides, in an over that finished with eleven added to the score. Adi Rai bowled the third for six, but crucially clean bowled Fowler for just seven. Alex Van Dyke reprised his Bertie namesake delivering a twelve ball over, which included three wides and two no balls, which thundered into the wall behind the keeper on the full. The rest of his deliveries were as good as any bowled in the evening and there was a good run out by Angus. Truly, the ridiculous, to the sublime!
Adi continued his good work, with arching deliveries that tied the batsmen in knots. Only 5 off his next over. Alex then went for just seven, including a four, to be followed by Adi’s last over that went for the same, but also included a considered run out by Adi, dispatching Nichols for 7. Alex’s final over went for just the five again, with not the slightest hint of the earlier lack of control.
St. Philip’s North were now on 51 for three with 8 overs gone. The next four overs show why cricket is still a mystery enshrouded in a quandry, surrounded by a riddle. Angus had six singles hit off him and Tom just the two, meaning just 8 runs between them in overs 9 & 10, with just two overs left. The score had climbed, if so bold a word may be chosen, to 59. To the amazement of the players of both sides, overs 11 and 12 yielded 34 runs, more than the
first five overs! Angus went for 19 and Tom 15. The last ball of the innings was a rare 5 runs, which should have been a fairly comfortable run out. The score had rocketed to an improbable and half-decent 93. The Bays’ captain summed up the mood in the balcony by asking, ‘Has anyone died?’ before leading his troops into bat.
Chris began the assault on the 93, with 5 in the first over and a couple of gratefully accepted wides. Adi, seemingly with an urgent appointment later in the evening, took 13 off the second over, including a six and a four. Two overs gone and already twenty posted. The third over saw Chris ran out closely, to be replaced by Fran, who like Adi, was also seemingly needed elsewhere. 15 runs added and now the score on 35.
Adi and Fran continued the attack, with a further 15 added in the fourth over and thirteen the next. Adi retired on 26 off 13, including two fours and a six. Fran did the same, but managing 28 off 12, (2 sixes and 3 fours), by bludgeoning his last ball for six. Tom Liley (11) and Alex van Dyke (7) took over, before Tom was bowled in the 8th over. Alex faced just four balls (including the winning 4) and Angus (1) just the two deliveries, before the winning line was crossed.
So the Bays beetle onwards, with three wins from three! Talk in The Rotunda was centred on whether the Bays would ever consider playing indoor cricket on a Tuesday. The question is whether the Bays are wise and brave? If they think they are then Tuesday should be all right, as it is named after Tyr, one of the Aesir in the Norse Mythology, who personifies these traits. Then again, the beer will taste the same, whether it be 2nd Division Tuesday, 3rd Division Wednesday (11 years for the Bays), or Fourth Division Thursday (25 years for the Bays). Can it all come tumbling down? Can the Bays repeat their 10/10 in Division 3 11 years ago? Only time will tell. This is Mustard signing off until the next match but one. I look forward the one of the Hughs reprising his role! Hurrah!