Ivor Hugh J Thurston reports midweek from the village of Eckington, where the Bays went for T20 match that would probably have been better as a T5. Colonel Mustard is still unavailable dear reader, but is responding well to ‘Garden Gnome Therapy’ a new approach being trialled in Lamport Hall.
Having won the toss and deciding to bat, mainly due to the fact that all of the team’s nine had yet to all arrive (only three had at coin-time), the Bays were soon under the cosh.
With a ‘floating’ batting line-up, the batsmen made the worst possible start, with Pierce going for a second ball duck, to be followed shortly afterwards, by Alex Van Dyke being removed four balls later also runless.
The second over saw the first runs, one of them to Steve Pritchard (who disclaims any sponsorship deal with Kitchen Devils) and one to Tom Liley already in at number 4. Tom (2) however was bowled the next over with Steve (2) also disappearing ‘pavilionwards’ the next over. The score had now climbed to Scottish football proportions. Not so much East Fife 5 Forfar 4, but Bayshill 5 Wickets 4.
Lloyd Parker and Ajit Singh (numbers 5&6) now added a few runs, taking the Bays past the unforgettable worst ever of 11 all out some thirty years ago or so. However, Lloyd then went on 4 off 9, with the score on 24, with Ajit at the other end already up to 15, including a big six and four. Sean Price came in at 7, but also went soon, after eleven dots, with the score now on 31.
Steve Liley joined Ajit for the biggest partnership of the innings of 26. Liley’s contribution being 2, as Ajit plundered twenty more runs, in the form of 2 sixes and 2 fours. Sadly, Ajit was caught on 36 (3 sixes & 3 fours), before Adrian Liley joined his brother Steve. Cruelly adjudged LBW, the umpire (who will remain nameless here to save his face when back on playground duty) didn’t hear or see the involvement of the bat. Adrian did, as did two of Eckington’s fielders, who might on another occasion have asked the batsman to remain. Perchance, they considered the might of the Bays 9 and the impressive score of 57 a little daunting and instead trudged off. Adrian meanwhile was waiting for the next delivery, before leaving the pitch irritated somewhat, but at least not blubbering in the manner of a footballer. Crenan took the last wicket, making his figures of 5 wickets for two not ahabby at all.
After tea, which was a splendid affair. Sorry, I’m getting this mixed up with next week’s report. There was no tea.
Eckington found it difficult to get going quickly, thanks to Ajit and Tom Liley’s bowling, which had Green and Knight removed with only 9 runs on the board. Now, the literary amongst you, will have no doubt immediately have thought of the late fourteenth century romance, ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’, but unfortunately, there was no fairy-tale ending here.
Ellis retired on 26, whilst Flowers ended with 20 with the score reached.
Bays players resumed normal life, with some going home, some hurrying back for skittles at The Somerset Arms and with four retiring to Hop Pole in Tewky for Abbo, Doombar and a brace of Hazy Janes (a drink I assure you). The River Avon continued to flow, with swans paddling away gently. It was as though the match had never taken place. In fact, I’m not sure it did.
Bayshill 57/8
Singh 36/34/3/3
Crenan 2.4/0/2/5
Eckington 58/2
Ellis 26, Flowers 20
Singh 4/1/10/1
Liley T 4/2/12/1