Baston Leap-Frog Luffenham!

By Ben Hudson - June 24 2010
Baston Leap-Frog Luffenham!
Lloyd!
Baston welcomed North Luffenham for this top of the table clash on a miserable Saturday. Tim lost the toss and Baston were put in. Read about the game here..

Touted as the “biggest game of the season” by Captain Dyer, the boys were well prepared for this top of the table 40 pointer! Following a net session on the morning of the game, some of the heroes went to a local cafe for a bit of breakfast where prankster Felix drew an obscene picture in a children’s colouring book. The weather was getting progressively worse.

Joker!

 

Tim was joined in the middle by umpires Henry ‘The Colonel’ Roberts and Uffington’s very own Pat Madonkey. North Luffenham’s Captain was in a bad mood, not only did he claim to have a weakened team, but he also bemoaned the long distance to reach Baston... possibly one of the nearest games for the league’s new boys. Good luck with the trip to Burgh-Le-Marsh! Baston were boasting a good team (despite missing website favourite Lamin) with new boy Scott Downie included as twelfth man, though in such cold weather why did he refuse to roll down his jeans?

Scott (centre) with rolled up jeans

N. Luff’s superstar B. Badger opened the bowling from the far end, with a run-up starting almost as far away as the keeper was stood back from the stumps. Glen Corby, the away side’s only cheerful player, turned up but was surplus to requirements. Trying to wipe away the tears and hide his sad face, he asked for his phone back before trying to save some pride and saying he had better things to do anyway... what a trooper.

Corby, Glen

Lloyd and Anthony started slowly before Lloyd dispatched a typical six down the ground to get off the mark. Anthony was continuing in his quest to face 100 balls without scoring a run. After 12 overs and 32 dot balls Anthony played an attacking shot, shocking the watching fans and obviously My Little Pony at gulley who dropped the catch as Anthony ran through for his first run, greeted with horns and hysteria from the boundary.

Lloyd was looking in good touch, and it wasn’t long before he notched his 50 (in front of his visiting family) in the 20th over with Baston cruising on 94 for no loss.

North Luffenham were running out of ideas as Ant and Lloyd played brilliantly at the top of the order, as they racked up Baston’s highest ever first wicket partnership of 134 runs. Lloyd was finally out in the 39th over for a brilliant 74, including 7 fours and 4 sixes.

The "Ageing Yakubu" notches his top Baston score - 74

Jono tries to keep warm - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10cKRJaYH3M

With nine wickets in hand, and 16 overs remaining, there was real license for Baston’s big hitting middle order to go after the ball and try and post a 200/225 score on the Shrine.

Guy, Jon, Liam and Paul all went after the ball, while Anthony played the singles to keep the big hitters on strike. While none of the middle order went on to get big scores, they all helped in accumulation up towards the 200 mark.

Guy was out for 7, bowled by an 11 year old playing his first ever game of cricket. Jon was bowled for 9 after getting a second life when he was dropped by superstar Badger on the boundary, who then threw his hat to the ground in disgust! Tim sounded a sarcastic horn but was told off by Paul Stewart who claimed he shouldn’t be badger baiting!

Bored Liam (1) lasted just 3 balls, refusing to have a look and trying to blast the spinner out of the ground. Paul started to look good, but was caught in typical fashion trying to pull the ball for 10 runs. Last week’s hero Doug only scored as he was bowled by spinner King who went on to take 5 wickets for 54 runs. Tim scored 10 off 39 balls, as he eyed an average protecting not out a la Clarkey. Unfortunately he was ousted on the penultimate ball of the innings... shame!

Anthony carried his bat through the innings as he went on to score 60*, featuring 6 fours, a hugely important knock on the shrine, taking a lot of responsibility off the rest of the batsmen as Baston posted an impressive 209-7.

Ant carries his bat for 60*

Following last week’s kick in the face from Blankney, Tracey was on top form with teas including an introduction of scones, and the welcome return of tea. The Colonel tried it on with Tracey claiming that the chicken was “finger lickin’ good”

Liam and Guy opened the bowling for Baston. Liam was his typical tidy self, but Guy struggled in his first over with 18 runs blasted off it. B. Badger was looking to attack as he smashed the ball hard into the legside, but should have been out in the fourth over, with Ben dropping yet another catch at midwicket.

North Luffenham had made a good start but in Guy’s third over two wickets fell, with Dyer catching opener G. Nut (13) in the covers, and then Guy cleaning up number 3.

After 10 overs, Tim decided to have a joust from his favoured end, and unbelievably had a wicket first ball as B. Badger (36) popped the 25mph, short, non-spinning ball back to Baston’s number one wicket machine.

Baston were now confident of a win, with Guy bowling much better as he ripped through the middle order, taking 3 further wickets and finishing with 5-52 from his 10 overs.

5-52 for Guy!

Tim was following on from last week’s brilliant 7-17, as he took 3-3 off his 7 overs including 4 maidens, an economy rate that Billy ‘The Chancellor’ Hall would be proud of. Both of his other wickets were clean bowled with the first barely knocking the bails off, and with his second he arrogantly said “yep” with the ball halfway down knowing the batsman would miss it.

With Guy doing too well and likely to take more wickets, Tim brought on Adam for a couple of sympathy overs and he picked up two wickets, with Doug taking a good catch diving forward at short square leg, and clean bowling King (12) for the last wicket as North Luffenham finished on 89 all out, just 120 runs short of their target.

The boys got back to the Spinner to watch a thrilling Cameroon vs Denmark in the World Cup. They were joined by Tim’s best mate Billy Hall, as they chatted about the good old days, compared economy rates and talked about arranging some tennis matches.

Best friends forever!

As the match finished, the Spinning Wheel filled up with a Welsh choir who had been performing at the church. After buying their drinks, they followed the Baston boys into the front bar and began to sing hymns. Not to be outdone, the Baston boys pulled out all their favourite team anthems as the banter went back and forth across the bar.

No match for BCC!

After some friendly competition, and a lot of mutual respect, both sides of the bar came together for a beautiful rendition of “When the Tarts go Marching In”. Unfortunately there was one joker within the choir group, a young man with glasses sporting a joke tie. After a couple of songs though, he was sent packing by the Baston faithful, with everyone’s favourite “Cheerio” finishing him off.

It was a great win for Baston against their promotion rivals and sends them to second in the league behind Stamford 2nds, though they will probably fall down the table as there is no league game next week.

http://baston.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=10891761