Ivor Thurston brings to you the spurious delights of Bayshill CC’s progress in Cheltenham Indoor Cricket League.
New and shiny captain, Chris Horner Esq took to his elevated role like an Eider Duck ? to the calm and balsamic waters of Fossvogur. Of course he won the spin of the groat!
So in the way of Boycott, he chose to bat! But not to bat in the way of Sir Geoffrey, but to bat like Livingstone (not Stanley)!
With Fran Stirrup at the other end, VP number 2 (Chris) went immediately for the jugular, the Aorta and the Pulmonary Vein with the foremost desire to plunder runs at an almost indecent haste. Indeed, both Chris and Fran pushed, nurdled and blasted their way out of the blocks. Both retired having reached 25 to return later to push the score onwards.
After the retirees took to the balcony, Adi made a quick 9, with a beautifully timed 6, Alex made just 3, Steve L (VPno1) only 2 and Rod 4.
Just as well really as it meant the openers could return and continue to cause mayhem. 119 all out after two run outs!
Chris made 42 and Fran 45 – top bananas all round!
A quick turnaround with no time for Twiglets, cheese and mustard sandwiches and indeed a quick snifter or two of Abbot – more’s the pity!
So the Bays took to the field or more precisely to the rectangular plastic playing area.
It started well enough with tight bowling ensuring that Whitminster scored slowly and indeed lost early wickets.
Alex Van Dyke showed the way picking up 3 wickets for 14 off 3 and at the same time becoming the leading wicket taker in the division. Adi Rai and Fran also picked up a wicket a piece. Fran took a sharp run out and a catch, whilst Adi also took two good catches, whilst Steve L took one catch behind and rounded off the game stumping last man and leading scorer for Whitminster Medcroft for 34.
No birds to report, but there were a couple of ? spiders hiding in the netting high up in the balcony area and a rather forlorn looking moth which almost moved a wing to show approval of Chris’s positive captaincy and belligerent batting. There were no bats however. (Yes…you know what I mean)
The game finished with the Bays victorious and time for just a couple of liveners in the Rotunda!