Ivor Hugh J Thurston reports on Bayshill’s latest glorious victory that sees them climb to second in Division Three of Cheltenham’s Indoor Cricket League. (Colonel Mustard is currently away on Olympic duty, having been catapulted at huge expense into The Russian Olympic Committee’s team as ethical guidance counsellor for those skating on very thin ice. He assures me that he’s going to keep a close eye and tight lid on the extra large bottle of his angina pills, that they’d asked he bring with him)
With the Winter Limpics passing and with all the Brits falling over or sliding too slowly, it is refreshing to see a fine body of men in their prime having a ‘sensible go’ at a proper winter sport; that sport of course being winter indoor cricket.
Having beaten the top team last week, the Bayshill put the second placed team to the sword a week later. Having decided to win the toss and field, captain Chris Horner (didgeridoo and trumpet player) did the second best thing by losing the toss and still managing to field. Jedi mind tricks again methinks.
Birdlip made the sort of start that no team wants. With just two runs on the board, they lost Shetty caught brilliantly off the back wall by Chris Horner off Ajit Singh. Indeed Shetty looked quite confused as to whether he should climb the stairs or carry on batting. With the score on 37, opener Holder went also caught, but this time by beetle expert Alex Van Dyke, off Glyn Bayley’s bowling in his second Bays’ game. Williams was next to go for 6 off 9, caught this time by Ajit off Bayley again. Prakash made his 25, to be replaced by Kevin Blackburn, who made a steady eleven off 21, before being caught by Ajit off Fran’s bowling. Bradley Jacques made eight off seven before being run out by Fran with a throw to the keeper which left quite some work to do. Modesty forbids further description of this dismissal.
At the end of the eleventh over Prakash was well caught and bowled by Fran Stirrup. Birdlip all out for 82. One or two clear mistakes in the field, but these will be quickly skimmed over due to lack of space here… (phew got away with that one)
After a break for champagne, truffles, Twiglets and a three pints of Abbot Ale per man, the game resumed. Bays batting was a little rocked when the captain limped off claiming a leg injury having scored 9 off eight. Fellow opener Ajit (Usain Bolt) Singh shot off to 23 off 15, his speed possibly being the demise of Chris’ leg. Fran batted solidly with Ajit to finally fall bowled for 19 off just 9 with two fours, with the score on a nice neat 50. 5 more were added before Ajit was caught by Prakash. Steve Liley then helped the game along and indeed the scorer, by equalling the world record for shortest innings, being caught at square leg by Holder.
Meanwhile, Glyn Bayley followed up his tight bowling with 24 not out off sixteen, with 2 fours and Alex Van Dyke 5 off five, saw the Bays over the line, with 84 for just three and with a full three overs to spare.
Bays best bowlers this week were Stirrup with 2 for thirteen off 3, Bayley 2 for 11 off two, Chris going for just three off one over and Ajit three overs for 25 runs and one wicket. Best Bays batsmen this week were Singh 23/15/0, Stirrup 19/9/2 and Bayley 24*/16/2.
Another win and just the one game to go in a fortnight. Come on the Bays !!!
(A spokesperson standing outside Bayshill House in the driving snow said and I quote verbatim: ‘ There is no truth in the unsubstantiated rumour that Bayshill are to be sponsored by Toilet Duck next season.’)