Flyford Flavell CC V Blakedown CC at Blakedown 5^th May 2024.

THE SEASON IS UNDERWAY

Flyford snatch defeat from the jaws of victory!

While most of us had resigned ourselves to no cricket until the middle of May, the generous people of Blakedown rode over the hill and offered to switch the fixture to their astroturf equipped ground.  So it was game on!

With the weather apps being checked regularly (some might say feverishly) in the last few days, few could believe that the rain would stay away long enough to actually allow a fixture to be played.  As it happened mother nature relented and the sun shone!

Once the Blakedown captain arrived the toss could take place without the charade of people looking at the pitch.  After all who has any idea what astro turf will do!

Toss won, Skipper Joey Poole elected to field.  Just as well he won the toss as Blakedown would have elected to bat had they won!

Flyford opened the bowling with Paul ‘Scritty’ Rone-Clarke (herein after referred to in this and all subsequent reports as ‘Scritty’ to save your correspondent’s typing finger).  For the first over of the season Scritty hit an excellent line and length from the very first ball.

From The other end Aaron Monk (The Monkster) generated decent pace of of a few paces and again dropped straight on to a consistent line and length.  Blakedown toiled well but the breakthrough came when Scritty unleashed a corker that took the top of middle stump.

More consistent bowling from Josh Nullis and George Teal meant that Blakedown were not going to post a huge score.

Special mention in dispatches on the bowling side goes to Connor Andrews who had the  Blakedown middle order more than a little mesmerised with his fast leg spin ending up with figures of  .  Which earned Connor a well deserved Man of the Match award.

From the vantage point  of your correspondent behind the sticks I would judge it a pretty good bowling effort considering it was the first game.  Fielding probably fell firmly into the category of ‘village’.  Not short on effort but not long on skill!   A couple of notable catches though deserve mention, Walks at first slip and Connor on the boundary.

So set a target of 129 Flyford took their refreshment feeling that while the runs had to be got 129 in 30 overs was not a massive ask!

Special tea time mention to the Nullis family who put on an excellent spread of comestibles including continental meats, tiger bread and cheese, and had the generosity to invite other team members to their veritable feast.

So to Flyford’s efforts with the bat.  Until now the sun had shone brightly for most of the afternoon but by the time play got underway again somewhat dark and forbidding clouds were beginning to gather. Was this portentous?

With Skipper J. Poole and Steve ‘Bev’ Bevan opening things got off to a steady but less than spectacular start.  A combination of accurate nagging line and length bowling and a seemingly unerring ability on the part of Flyford batsmen to pick out the Blakedown fielders, progress was slow.  However, things had started to pick up when Bev got a wide one outside the off stump.  When I say it was wide it just about pitched on the astroturf.  Not having been given much loose stuff so far Bev went after it with gusto.   He may have been better leaving it alone to remain simply fresh.  The ball though hit well arrowed straight to a fielder at point.  As your correspondent was umpiring from the bowlers end I can say  that this was a mighty blow as Bev was looking like he was about to take control.  Lady luck is a wicked mistress.

The rest of the Flyford innings coughed and spluttered its way along in a way that could best be likened to an asthmatic ant that was returning home carrying several bags of heavy shopping.  Ending inevitably in what has to be said was a somewhat ignominious defeat, leavened only by Joe Allsop’s totally village dismissal of clattering into his own stumps having run out the Skipper in a valiant effort to push the score along.  It could be wondered if Joe;s night time activities may be interfering with his cricket!  Joe, for anyone who doesn’t know is the club’s resident party animal.

Special mention to  George ‘Tealer’ Teal who had been sent into apply some much needed steel to the innings but only managed the first Golden Duck of the season!  Still George the only way is up from here!

The innings ended not with a bang but a whimper with the Flyford total only amounting to an insufficient 99 runs.  Modesty forbids more than a cursory mention of your correspondent’s battling and unbeaten 3 runs!

So with more than a little muttering and cursing the dejected Flyford team trudged in the direction of the stalwart place of solace all cricketers are familiar with – the pub, for post match analysis and awards!

Awards:

Man of The Match - Connor Andrews

Tit - Joe Allsop - For his hit wicket dismissal

Champagne Moment - Connor Andrews getting an authentic edge snaffled by Walks at first slip.  An authentic cricket dismissal!

Thanks for Coming - Walks

Golden Duck - George Teal