After last week’s defeat at Ancaster, attention turned to Saturday’s home game with... Ancaster. There were more changes for Baston, and a couple of late dropouts. Thankfully Baston royalty John Lazarus Lamin and Andrew Malcolm Keen made themselves available to save the day, and keep the stress off their under pressure captain.
Amazingly Ancaster had only 5 of the same players that had played the previous week, and importantly were without superstar Fish who was busy filming the latest series of Chatty Man. The wicket looked good and away skipper Probert decided to have a bat.
Roffy enjoying the sunshine with an Ice Blast
Buzzer returned to the side and made an impact in the first over, with opener Ellis chopping his second ball to Lamin in the gully who took a smart catch. He had a second a couple of overs later as Wetherill (2) was cleaned up, leaving the visitors 9-2. Wilson (19) played well at number four featuring a couple of powerful drives to the boundary before slicing one up in the air, caught by Ben at cover. Buzz had his fourth as Rag N Bone Dan (4) smashed it straight to the safe hands of Keeno at mid off for 42-4.
Three good catches so far and no drops, something was wrong. Sure enough, with Buzz chasing his 5-fer, a couple of chances went down in his 11th over. Dutch international Im-Poort put one down in the covers, before keeper Dave, Nozza and PC dropped one between them in the cordon, in what can only be described as a mess.
Ancaster Legends: John Lamin (left) with old team mates Neill Butters and Nick Bottomley
SBF Ben Ashwell (9 overs, 0-28) had shared the new ball and bowled well, before being replaced by Lamin. Lambo took the 5th wicket of the innings as the impressive Dave took a good catch stood up to remove Harley (7). Buzzer got his fifth in the next over, with Dave diving in front of the wank handed slip cordon to get rid of opener Lewis (10). Andy finished with 5-20 from his 12 overs and his second five wicket haul of the season.
Lamin 4-22, and Roffe 1-8 cleaned up the Ancaster tail. Probert (15) and Bottomley (10) put up a fight, Ginger Darren took a good catch at square leg, and a 12 year old hit Roffy for four. Ancaster finished on 97 all out in the 36th over.
Jon BigKnee Digby
At tea Jon Digby turned up sporting a very large knee. He claims its from the other week against Newborough 2nds, but his knee could have always looked like that for all we know. Unavailable this week, but there watching the whole game, Liam was also milking his injury from last week.
With no Alex Eden there to cost us the game at the top of the order, Keeno (avec lucky pants) was asked to open with Dr Ant. Keeno played like he hadn’t been away, smashing the ball to all parts from the first over as he looked to knock off the target in quick time.
Ant (2) departed in the 4th over as he missed a straight one and was given out LBW by Andy Burrill, remembering the drop off his bowling from earlier. PC World joined Keeno, and watched the carnage from the other end. Every bowler was being given the same treatment; proper cricket shots hit very hard.
Keeno's lucky pants
Keeno raced to his 50, and was dismissed for 63 off 58 balls nicking one to enthusiastic keeper Ellis. The score was 75-2, and just 23 needed. Keeno had hit 10 x 4s and 1 x 6.
Knocking off the final 23 runs seemed to take longer than the first 75, as Coulson (10), Im-Poort (13*) and Ginger Darren (7*) got the job done, and a big 20 points for Baston. Not long after Darren had come to the middle, he spurted one into the offside and set off on a run, but lacked the necessary coordination, stumbled and fell down in instalments halfway down the track. Very funny for everyone involved, but there was a fantastic spirit of cricket gesture as Ancaster legend Nick Bottomley refused to run him out.
Representation of Darren's tumble
Scorecard - https://baston.play-cricket.com/website/results/5175406