Colonel Mustard reports from Kabul after Bayshill’s match with Droitwich.
A year is a long time in politics, but it’s even longer in cricket. Last year the Bays travelled northwards to Droitwich to lose to the hosts in a match marred by unsavoury behaviour. I’ll not go into detail here as my dander is currently up and it’d serve no purpose but encourage those who don’t deserve a mention.
To this year’s game without my usual prevarication, verbose nonsense or even a jibe at our own players.
Nobby the Nobster was away in the outer regions of the Hebrides and Horner (vp no2) unavailable due to an appointment with bucket loads of champagne. (Never ask Mr Horner to open a bottle of the bubbly with a sword or knife. I say this with personal experience of Crazy’s exuberance, having been caught by the flying glass. The wounds have healed but the mental trauma still surfaces when I think of celebration! Today we celebrated! And thank God’s trousers for that!)
So Mr Van Dyke (A) – half the captain today with Tom Liley as the other half won the toss! Please note Nobby! Calling heads on an antique 20p coin.
So the mighty Bays took the field. Droitwich batsmen came and went, the first being sent back by Michael Harding, caught behind by Steve Liley (vp no1). Only Phillips 23, Ayers 38, Blackford 22 and Foster 20 really troubled the scorer. Tom Liley took two good catches moving into position before hand showing his great half-captaincy. Tom also had a good LBW near the end of the innings. Michael Harding also had 2 clean bowled, finishing with 3 wickets. Charlie Worrel on debut impressed with 3 for 33 off 8, with left arm in swingers. Well done to him I say!
Paul Saunders took 2 for 20 off six, bowling a good line for an LBW and one of Tom’s catches. Droitwich made 179 off their 40 for the loss of 9. Importantly after 2.2 overs 2 obsidian crows had a disagreement overhead. Harbingers of things to come!
After tea, which didn’t go too well thanks to half captain Alex VD, who ate a whole bag of Twiglets without sharing a single twig. Bad form I say!
So to the game, without a Twigoid in sight. 3 overs gone and Phil Steers back after an untimely hiatus, went for just the one, with the score on 6.
17.2 overs were reached and finally Sean Price went for 12 off 53, with the score on 47. Gio Capaldi back in the team after a couple of months, took control and started pressurising the bowling attack. Alex Van Dyke played a great aggressive knock with Capaldi as they took the score to 126 before Gio went for 58! Alex carried on to make 48 and the game was in the balance.
Charlie Worrel and Tom Liley took up the challenge and pushed their way to victory! Tom hit a massive six and three fours to see the team over the line. Charlie in a game that deteriorated into some sort of controversy, batted well for his 11.
Well done to the Bays for winning a game of cricket that became a game of attrition due to the tactics of Droitwich in the fading light.
I won’t be drawn into describing the detail, but the mighty Bays will never travel to play this team again.
(Details can be provided if necessary, but it’s probably best to move on and play teams who wish to play in a friendly and cricketing spirit! If you want to behave differently and in the ‘wrong way’, then play football!)
Colonel Mustard signs off with a scowl and frown and pint of Abbot to calm his nerves.
Droitwich 179/9
Phillips 23
Ayers 28
Blackford 22
Foster 20
Liley T 7/0/19/1
Harding M 8/0/42/3
Worrell C 8/0/33/3
Saunders P 6/1/30/2
Liley T 2 catches Liley S 1 catch
Bayshill 181/5
Capaldi 58/69 6&0
Van Dyke A 48/38 4&2
Liley T 26*/19 3&1