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'Victims of our own Success?'
By Rob Davies
Graveney 107 all out (from 35.4 overs)
Blindley Heath 111-2 (from 28.4 overs)
Graveney Lost by 8 wickets
We should have
guessed we would be in for a rough ride when we discovered that our
normal pre-match boozer for this fixture – The Blue Anchor - has been
turned into an American themed family restaurant called Smith & Western.
Several players (well Rob & the chairman at least) were less than
impressed they don't serve beer in pints let alone one of the real ale
variety. Can we meet elsewhere next season, please? One shock to the
system was quickly followed by another when the rumour that the Blindley
Heath clubhouse had installed showers turned out to be true.
The pitch looked a
belter & our re-instated skipper had no hesitation in electing to bat.
Barry who had been operating as pinch hitter in previous games was
dropped down the order (under protest) and Tristan opened with Paul.
Unfortunately he failed to trouble the scorers. Rob only made 10 before
playing on via pad to the evergreen Alan Jenkins who was operating in
tandem with his son Matt. Paul made an uncharacteristically stodgy 16
before succumbing while Nick made the cardinal error of getting out to
the first ball of the first change bowler Beedon (codename "118") .
Barry matched
Tristan's score and GCC were in the mire at 50 for 5. Tim Eveleigh
managed a slightly more respectable 10 & Jez accumulated 15 but Chris
Garland got amongst the tail to finish with a "Michelle" (8-2-24-5) with
O'D perishing for 5, Dave for a single & Tim Bunn last out for 4. KC was
left stranded with 17 unable to find a partner capable of hanging around
and an early tea was taken. During his cameo he performed an exquisite
pirouette of which Darcey Bussell would have been proud. They all say
that catches win matches but just as importantly though much less
catchily so do partnerships and that GCC could only manage one of more
than 20 runs tells its own story. 107 all out it was and very much an
uphill task remained to get an unlikely result.
Early wickets were
crucial but GCC were unable to remove their nemesis Neil Burchett (57*)
in spite of the best efforts of Tristan (5-1-16-0) , KC et al. Tristan
was however afforded praise by the BH opener and groundsman for his
probing line. There was concern at one point that the only batsman GCC
might dismiss would be BH number three Fernando (3) who was nicely
caught over his shoulder by Tim Eveleigh off KC (7-2-28-1). The other
opener Kearney (30) had had to leave the field after a distinctly
average shy at the stumps from Nick struck him on the bonce & drew
blood. Thankfully Jez (4-1-5-1) managed to send him back shortly before
the inevitable courtesy of Rob's catch at cover. Increasingly desperate
for wickets while simultaneously becoming more resigned to defeat Nick
had called upon five other bowlers (six if you include KC's off spin)
with even O'D and Dave the keeper (pads still on!) getting in on the act
but to no avail as BH cantered to an eight wicket win.
We
discovered afterwards that the opposition had felt compelled to draft in
a couple of Sunday regulars having learnt of the recent demolition job
at Abinger Hammer. Given the margin of victory I wonder if they wished
they hadn't? We also discovered that KC is unable to resist the lure of
the dance-floor even when it is broad daylight and completely empty. The
only thing to be said in his favour is that he displayed no small amount
of talent.
Man of the match:
Kirk
Clarke.
Champagne moment:
Tim
Bunn
bowling when the square leg umpire was hurrying to
don his coat somewhere in the vicinity of third man.
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