Flyford register their first win of the season with a great team performance!

 

So, Saturday marked the start of meteorological summer and my what a day old Ma Nature served up for our first home game of the season.

 

A word here for the unsung Derek who has worked tirelessly to get the ground to a point where we could play on it, despite the massed forces of the Rain Gods that have been arrayed against him seemingly since that last ball was bowled last season.  It is a thankless task which must have involved many many hours of work, I am sure I speak for the whole of the club when I send a huge thank you!

 

To the game….

 

Flyford felt they had a point to prove and a score to settle as Blakedown had already beaten us at their place earlier in the season.  After a little jiggery pokery online 11 players were rustled up and as the sun beat down on a rapidly drying Memorial Ground all was set fair for battle to commence.

 

Captain Joey Poole went out for the toss and it seemed that we wanted to field and Blakedown wanted a bat so honour was satisfied all round.  Thankfully a somewhat tardy Matt Stewart and his very welcome friend Ryan just about made it for the start of the game. 

 

And what a start, Paul ’Ollie’ Holland opened the bowling put one straight on the money and got the batsman to offer a sharp chance low down to Benny Ware’s right hand.  Unfortunately, the chance went down, and a possible champagne moment slipped by.

 

Undeterred the opening pair of Flyford bowlers, Ollie and Aaron Monk stuck to their task and bowled accurately, making it difficult for the Blakedown openers to make any great progress on an outfield that was not favouring the all along the ground shot!

 

The first breakthrough came with the Blakedown score on 11 in the 6^th over when the Monkster tempted the batsman to a drive outside the off stump, found the edge which was gratefully accepted by your correspondent behind the stumps.

 

Having restricted the Blakedown top 3 to 18 off 9 overs Flyford were rewarded with another important wicket when Ollie Holland held a good catch from the bowling of Matty Stewart.  At 19 for 2 from 9 overs Blakedown new they had a Flyford fielding side as relentless as the afternoons sun.   To their credit they stuck to their task and had moved on to 73 when they got a case of the Benny’s.  First the opener who had amassed a creditable 42 on a difficult pitch holed out to Matty Stewart from the bowling of Benny Ware.  In comes the Blakedown number 5 who promptly forgot to leave either his foot or bat behind the line and was promptly stumped by your own correspondent.  Unfortunately, that was the end of the over and Benny did not have a chance at the hat-trick ball to the new batsman.  Such is life, the moment passed.

 

Fortunately for Blakedown their number 4 Stokes (a relation?) stuck around and managed a few lusty blows to take the Blakedown innings to a semi respectable score of 121 for 8 from 35 overs (the game being shortened due to the heat). 

 

Other Flyford fielding warranting mention in dispatches was Walks excellent catch while in the quicksand at deepish mid-on and Alex’s spirited efforts in the field all afternoon.  Bowling honours went primarily to Benny Ware with 3 for 20 from his five overs.  However it really was a fantastic team effort with Ollie Holland pitching in with 1 for 18, Aaron Monk returning 1 for 21. Matty Stewart 1 for 28, Joey Poole (in front of a large contingent of family supporters a miserly 1 for 8 and finally Ryan with 1 for 22.  No bowler went wicketless!

 

So, to tea and immense thanks goes to the RAF for supplying a magnificent display of aerobatics from a lone Spitfire high above the Worcestershire countryside.  If I may be allowed a slight moment of indulgence, I thought it fitting that we watched this display while playing that most quintessentially English of games, village cricket.  Here if ever we needed one was a reminder of those that made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can continue to take part in this wonderful game which has been part of our way of life for centuries.  To those brave pilots and all those that fought, especially as the 80^th anniversary of D Day approaches we offer our thanks.   Back to the cricket!

 

So the target was 122 in 35 overs.  On the face of it that did not seem a difficult task but we knew runs would have to be earned and boundaries may be scarce.  However, despite being yet to register a win so far this season the Flyford openers Captain Joey Poole and Benny Ware set about their task with excellent concentration and resolve.

 

Indeed things were going along swimmingly and Flyford reached the drinks break without suffering the loss of a single wicket.  Benny had moved on to 42 and was beginning to open his shoulders when the team accountant forgot how to count and decided there should be a 7 ball over.  You know the rest.  That was the ball that saw the first wicket fall and Benny was on his way.  While not without incident Joey went on to make 34 and following cameos of 6 and 14 by Joe Allsopp and Mark Davey respectively Walks and Matty Stewart saw Flyford home with an unbeaten 13 and 14 respectively.   Victory was secured by six wickets with a three overs to spare.

 

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon’s cricket, played in a competitive but sporting manner by two well matched teams.

 

With the first victory under their belt Flyford march on in good heart!

 

Awards:

 

Man of the Match: Benny Ware 3 for 20 off 5 overs

 

Tit:  Our accountant and treasurer Aaron for not being able to count

 

Champagne Moment: some fella behind the stumps for a catch standing up

 

Thanks for Coming: Ryan, excellent effort.