Baston took on Thomas Cook at their new adopted home of Uffington on Thursday night. Tim lost the toss and Baston were asked to bowl.
“One trip” Jeff opened the bowling with Stamford rat Lembo FC. The opening bowlers kept things tight early on, especially considering Clarkey was still driving around nearby fields looking for carrots the ground, and Dazzler was still getting dressed for the first 3 overs. “One trip” Jeff became “three trick” Jeff as the top 3 Thomas cook batters were castled by some decent pace bowling from the man with one F.
Lemmy bowled tightly and was unlucky to go wicketless. Dazzler eventually found his pants, made it onto the pitch, and replaced the opening bowlers alongside the smiliest boy man in Baston, “Smiler” Richardson. Darren and Smiler continued the good work and picked up 2 cheap wickets, one each snaffled by bucket-hands Adam at midwicket and running round the square leg boundary. The two also combined to remove wicketkeeper Fovargue, Darren taking the catch at mid off.
After eventually deciding to turn up, Clarkey bowled 2 miserly overs, picking up 2-3, having top scorer Pettit bowled and an SB trapped LBW. Tim brought on wicket-machine Steve Banks to finish things off, and Banksie duly obliged, taking just 2 balls to remove the last man, caught by superstar Jeff.
A solid fielding display had restricted Thomas Cook to a trés poor 74 all out in less than 18 overs. What was more shocking was that skipper Tim and resisted the temptation to bowl himself, despite a number of SBs being present. Shocking scenes!
Lemmy and in-form Jono began solidly, bashing some lusty boundaries. Two Thomas Cook fielders were seen sneaking into the nearby field in a vain attempt to take a catch. Jono couldn’t keep his good run up though, and was caught at square leg for 7.
Having bribed his captain into getting a promotion by allowing a 7-5, 6-2 tennis result earlier in the day, Adam joined Lemmy at the crease. It proved a less than successful move, as he was bowled by F. Quick for a 12 ball 1. Fellow promotees Ben and Felix fared no better, both also nipped out for 1.
Lemmy reached a very ugly but very effective 35 not out before retiring, allowing Darren and T. Clack knock off the winning runs in the 13th over, finishing on 14* and 7* respectively.
The boys drove back to the Spinner to celebrate and play a game of Baston v Stamford top trumps, which was won by Tim after he pulled out his ace. This cheered him up slightly as he was yet again suffering a bag on. The boys got behind their skipper with a good few choruses of “did not bat, did not bowl, did not field” which helped the mood no end. Maybe he is just a p***head after all!
Tim’s mood was further aided by the arrival of his bezzers and Lloydie (avec tie) from the playing field committee meeting. Felix began discussing Saturday’s team news and tactics before being reminded that Lemmy was around.....there’s a badger in the camp!