Flyford once again make hard work of a victory.
Mother nature can be very capricious at this time of year. Your correspondent’s eyes opened to a bright sunny if fresh early autumn day. Unfortunately, modern technology is so all pervasive that I knew it was not going to last.
By the time teatime provisions had been secured from the local Coop it was looking less summer and more late autumn.
Still, as a village cricketer it is essential that one always travels with hope.
Arrival at the ground revealed something of a snafu on the fixtures front, with a juniors game in full swing. While I do not have all the details to hand to report on that game, I will say that by my observation there are some decent young cricketers coming through locally. Great to see the game thriving at all age levels.
Eventually with a steady drizzle pervading the ground, the juniors were off and the covers were needed for a short spell. Thankfully the weather did relent after a while and we were able to get the game underway, a little truncated at 35 overs a side.
This is the second fixture that your correspondent has played against the Unicorns and I would take this opportunity to commend them on the excellent spirit in which they play the village game. Both games were an absolute pleasure to play in.
It was decided (and this will come as a shock to no one) that Flyford were to make first use of the ball. Bowling to be opened by Parsimonious Pete Holpin and the ever-improving Andrew Ward. Pete drawing first blood when he clean bowled one of the Unicorns openers for a blob. Both opening bowlers showing good accuracy and economy with Pete returning figures of 6 overs 3 maidens 2 wickets for 12 and Andrew 4 overs 1 maiden no wicket for 12,
By the time rain intervened again Flyford were in a very handy position having restricted Unicorns to just 26 runs from 10 overs. Following the break, overs were further restricted to 30 a side. The highlight of that first period being George Teal’s excellent diving catch at cover. It must be said that catches of that skill are rarely seen on the village cricket pitch!
Following the rain break the Unicorn’s middle order knuckled down and indicated that they were not in the mood to roll over. By the 20th over they had progressed to 70 and in the end had amassed a total of 137 for 7.
Flyford’s bowlers had never been dominated with skipper Joey Poole weighing in with 1 for 25 from 6 overs 1 maiden, Dickson Ward 5 overs, one maiden 1 for 23, Steve Nullis 5 over 2 for 41and Steve Bevan 4 overs 2 for 17. Game on.
Thankfully the rain held off and after an abbreviated tea break Flyford took to the crease to do battle with the bat. Dan Miller and George Teal to open.
It is difficult to think of a greater contrast in styles. At one end Dan, prepared to bide his time, look at the bowler, assess the situation, as he carefully amasses runs. At the other George. We can be certain that when George goes to the crease there will be the sound of leather on wood. This may be the thwack as it flies off his bat on route to hitting one of the many trees that surround the Memorial Ground or the clatter of the stumps as he is clean bowled without troubling the scorer. Sadly, for all concerned on this occasion it was the latter and to a peal of somewhat ironic laughter from the pavilion, George trudged back his afternoon over save for a penitential stint as umpire.
This brought Mark Davy to the crease. What to say about Mark? This is a batsman who does not give up his wicket lightly and while he would almost certainly not take it as an unfounded criticism for me to say that he does not have quite that range of shots that others do, he knows his strengths and plays to them. One Flyford wag was heard to remark that Mark would not so much have a wagon wheel as a pizza slice. Consequently, Mark amassed a new Flyford career high total of 41. A total that included some very nice leg side shots and without which Flyford would probably have not won. Well-deserved Man of the Match.
Following the reaching of his 51 Dan Millar generously (though at one point it looked like ill-advisedly) gave up his place at the crease for the newly minted ‘cricketing god’ Mark Walker. Those batting 5 and 6 can usually at this point sit back and relax. With Dan and Walks at the crease it is unlikely there will be much for them to do. The cricketing fates are however fickle and after just three balls Walks was on his way back without troubling the scorer. I think I speak for us all when I say you are allowed that one Walks as you have got Flyford out of the smelly stuff on many, many occasions and even cricketing gods can be shown to have feet of clay.
Steve Nullis came it at 6 and added as many runs as he had wickets, a nicely balanced performance there Steve. This brought Andy Ward to the crease, and back again, having only faced one ball which he claimed not to have seen until it went past his bat and castled him. Special mention for Andy’s fit of pique where he essayed a drop kick with one of his batting gloves only to miss with a total air shot. Sometimes when you are in a hole the best thing to do is stop digging. Still Skipper Joey Poole is unflappable and reliable , no need to panic. Suffice to say the cricketing gods were having a right old time and Joe too departed for a very round total.
At the other end while these coming and goings were, well, coming and going Steve Bevan was looking much more his old self, getting in and executing a few of his signature square cuts.
It must be said that while Flyford’s progress had never been spectacular at 99 for 2 they were in danger of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory (sometimes gentle reader only a tried and tested cliché will do). At the 25th 0ver they had slipped to 116 for 6. Thankfully a swashbuckling two 4s in successive deliveries from Dickson Ward steadies the ship. Unfortunately, when he went for the third he missed and was comprehensively stumped.
This left your correspondent, with scores tied to stride to the wicket and steer the ship home. Thankfully, Dickson was out from the last ball of the over and Steve Bevan was facing to score the winning run. Oh well, red ink is red ink. Steve finished with an unbeaten 15.
So, on a day when the weather did its best to make life difficult and the Flyford middle order followed suit a 3 wicket victory was secured.
Ironically, the match finished, the sun came out and bathed the ground in early autumn sunshine was that a smirk I saw on mother nature’s face?
Once again, a big thank you to Unicorns who suffered defeat on both fixtures but never lost sight of the real reason we play village cricket – for the fun of it.
And so, the season draws to a close next week with the traditional last fixture away to Himbleton, before whites are washed and put in the draw and cricket bags hoisted up into the loft. Is it me or are winters getting longer and summers shorter?
AWARDS:
Man of the Match: Mark Davy for an excellent 41 essentially as an opener
Champagne Moment: George Teal for an excellent one handed diving catch at cover
Tit: Andrew Ward for his hissy fit and failing to connect with the batting glove drop kick.
Thank for coming: Walks 3 ball duck, no bowling and nothing fielded in anger.
Heard of getting all your ducks in a row but this is taking it a bit far.
