Baston welcomed a youthful Spalding 2nd XI to the Shrine on Saturday. The selection issues of the early season seemed to be left behind with 13 players available for this one. The game saw the welcome return of young gun bowler Ruben, and the unwelcome return of cake munching Micky Flanagan lookalike Alex.
The new scoreboard with the team
The opposition skipper strangely called tails and decided to have a bat. The start of the game was delayed as a media circus consumed the area around the scoreboard. Local self-storage experts MoreStore were down to get some photos of the brand-new scoreboard they’d sponsored for the team. After waiting for Roffy to turn up, and everyone making sure they had clean whites for the photo, the boys finally took the field.
Despite a diet consisting of 96% potato, Ruben (6 overs, 1-9) got rid of both openers. He clean bowled Sawyer with a ball that seamed back in, and got rid of Timothy with a sharp run-out, as the batsman naively took on a second run to the most mobile Baston fielder.
Ruben's pack up for tea
Buzz (8 overs, 3-9) bounced back from an early no-ball issue, to clean up 3 of the Spalding middle order (all bowled) celebrating each one with a typically passionate “come on”.
Buzz celebrating bowling a 14 year old
Lamin looking more cheerful as the weeks go on removed the number 3 bat, with Roffy claiming a good swirling catch at point, and took a very simple caught and bowled chance to leave the visitors 39-7 at drinks. Neil (1-18) struck with the first ball after drinks as Morris (14) found Ben in the covers.
It took 12 overs to take the last 2 wickets as veteran Seymour (8) stubbornly dug in. It took a brilliant one handed caught and bowled by Lambo to dislodge him. Lamin (4-15 off 9.2) took his fourth in the next over as Spalding finished 59 all out.
Lamin 4-15. Still got it
With a whiff of rain around, both captains agreed to continue the game rather than stopping for a proper tea break. Keeno took this news the worst as he had to postpone his sandwich and bowl of slop.
After demolishing the Ancaster bowling attack last week, Keeno was far more interested in demolishing the aforementioned bowl of slop, and was cleaned up fairly early for just 7. Opportunity knocked for Roffy though as he was given a chance to open the batting with Keeno. Roffy (0) took it well, pushing a drive up to mid-on, calling yes, and being run-out comfortably by a direct hit.
Keeno and his bowl of slop
The combined lowest IQ of a Baston top three ever saw Bash walk out at 3, with a chance of Baston getting blown away by Spalding. Bash (11 – his highest ever Baston score) played sensibly and very straight, hitting a couple of nice fours down the ground before prodding a short wide one to point.
Baston had 50 overs to score 35 to win the game, and normal openers Morris and Eden met in the middle, the only two batsmen who could have trouble with the scoring rate.
Don't worry, not another repressed young hoodlum up to no good. Just a 68 year old man in a tracksuit.
There was nothing to be concerned about as the partnership remained unbroken. Ant scoring 8 while Alex sped along to a quick 22* clearly with an eye on his plan to watch the Champions League final around fellow Liverpool fan Andy Burrill’s, as he had a free house.
Back to back home 20-pointers for Baston sends them up to fourth in the table.
Scorecard - https://baston.play-cricket.com/website/results/5175414
Later that night in Ryhall, Andy and Alex enjoy the Champions League Final