Two buzzards, a pied wagtail, a good number of house martins and other birds did their best to liven up an encounter always in danger of being derailed by the weather.
Worcester batted first and slowly amassed a total that was going to be an interesting chase for the Bays. Owen and Ali pushed the score to 151 before Ali finally fell to Pierce LBW. As the rain slowly strengthened, it was clear that the innings was over for 184, seven or so overs short of the 40. Bays used 8 bowlers with various degrees of success. Tom Liley 5/2/13/0 and Paul Saunders 5/1/18/0 were the tightest bowlers, but N Price, N Pierce and S Pritchard took the wickets – just the one each though.
After a tea of Abbot Ale and cider from the clubhouse, the Bays began batting.
Horner smacked a creditable 33, with Sean Price at the other end grinding out 12 off 44. Pritchard was bowled for 8 off 17, leaving the pitch worried about the filthy lies and references to chips in this write up. (Can’t understand it). Pierce and Liley T made 14 & 10 to help bolster their averages before the rain had the last laugh.
Players and spectators left as the rain slowly increased and the match was over – a draw. Players left for a late supper – some to the chip shop in Chipping Campden.
A spokesman for the club outside Bayshill House said off the record that the match info was on Play Cricket, but only if you had a pooter.
Report by Colonel Mustard & Major Sauce of Worcester.
Worcester CC Dev XI v Bayshill CC
Worcester 184/3
Owen 63*
Ali M 49
Goodman Z 32
Bayshill 101/3
Horner 33/33 4&1