On a glorious June Saturday, the team headed up the A1 to Maggie Thatcher’s back garden; Grantham. Most of the lads shared lifts, but eco-warrior Ant Morris took the bus. As per usual, there were a few players missing, but it did mean the return of fan favourite George, who lives in Fletton “for his sins.” Fresh off a night shift but delighted to make his second appearance.
George and Rowan coming into the side
There was a lot of bad stuff regarding the toss. The way Grantham skipper Donnellan tossed up was honestly pathetic. Next to zero elevation above initial hand position, and less rotations that a Tim Dyer stock delivery with the coin maybe rotating twice before hitting the ground. Serial toss loser Ben called wrong and Baston were sent into the field.
On the second pitch at Grantham there is only play from one end, and a particularly high headwind for the bowlers to deal with. What made it harder for the bowlers was that Grantham 2nds didn’t have a game, and overseas Antiguan starlet D'ahri Hughes-Francis wasn’t needed for the first team, so he got to open the batting against Baston. Eshan and Neil struggled to get into any rhythm bowling into the wind, as Hughes-Francis and opening partner Horrocks punishing anything short or wide, and often anything pitched in a good area too.
Hughes-Francis raced to 50 in no time, giving up only one chance in his 40s as he tamely pushed back to Neil who couldn’t hold on. Three balls were lost in the long grass of the next field. It looked like Baston would be looking at a 350+ score, and a few fielders wanted to go home. Ant was keen to get off but checked his timetable and realised there wasn’t a bus for at least another 45 minutes, so he stayed on.
Eligible but overlooked for 21 years by Lincolnshire Over 60s, Baston legend John Lamin finally got the call up this week and is looking forward to representing his county. Lamin came into the attack in the 15th over and instantly showed his class to break the partnership with his second ball. Overseas star Hughes-Francis was unable to deal with the moth botherer’s guile and was cleaned up, having to walk off for a rapid 81 (74 in boundaries).
New Lincs over 60s star Lamin
Rowan ‘Granny’ Good, sporting a horrible wispy white beard only ever seen on elderly women, made his first appearance of the season. He picked up a wicket in his first over, with skipper Ben taking a smart catch low to the ground at extra cover to get rid of northerner Horrocks (31), leaving Grantham on 120-2 with 2 new batsmen at the crease.
There was a chance to run through the Grantham batting order as their number 3 Grimes took on a crazy run to a ball that trickled about a yard to the right of slip; All Ant had to do was make a 5 yard throw to Liam to take the bails off, but inexplicably threw it way above his head. Even a wicket keeper of normal height would have struggled to reach the ball and it would have probably cleared the height of a double decker bus. This gave Grimes a big let off on 0 as he should have been run out by half the pitch.
Grimey carried on his habit of bad running, and ran out young partner Parr (2) who was a couple of yards short as Bash threw down the stumps from cover.
Granny Good (1-30) and Grandad Lamin (3-30) bowled well in tandem, and Rowan took a couple of brilliant catches off Lamin’s bowling, first running around the boundary to get rid of ‘Dot balls’ Davidge (2) and then a diving catch close in to remove young keeper Kennedy-Short (0) and reduce Grantham to 159-5.
Grimes and Grantham hard-man Corby then put together a good partnership to push Grantham over the 200 mark. At 210-5 and 2.2 overs left, a rain shower forced the players off the field. Unfortunately, the shower didn’t last too long so Grantham refused to declare which would have given Baston an undeserved 5 bowling points. Meanwhile George was sniffing around the clubhouse, with teas just around the corner. He’d already had a steak bake and half a pizza in the changing room, but George was hungry for more.
Bash had returned well and picked up a deserved wicket as Corby (24) found the safe hands of Granny Good on the boundary.
A notoriously devilish off-spinner in his native Kent, George has been struggling with his shoulder and a troublesome rotator-cuff that has stopped him from bowling, luckily for the opposition. George was given a chance to blow off some cobwebs in the final over of the innings. Established number 3 Grimes (55*) ran down the track at his third ball and was deceived by the expertly delivered nut, which beat the bat and trickled through for Liam to take the bails off. While George cartwheeled around the square and gave it the big-un to the Grantham fans on the boundary, the umpire put out his arm for a no-ball, as the ball had rolled along the floor. Grantham finished 223-6.
Grantham had kindly offered to provide teas despite the latest league regulations. Unfortunately, they can’t have told the tea lady as there wasn’t a lot of it. George was the most disappointed as he knocked back his third cup of coffee and told everyone about his wicket that was robbed from him.
George dunking chicken dippers in his coffee
With no Keeno available to get them off to a flyer, skipper Ben decided to have a go at getting Baston some momentum at the top of the order, joining Ant and his bus pass. George made his way out to square leg in his big coat for an umpiring stint.
Ben was effective with his plan, finding the boundary regularly and making it look as if Baston would make a go of the chase as they raced to 50-0 in the 9th over. Grantham hard man/slogger/medium pacer/umpire elect Corby withdrew himself from the attack after bowling another no-ball, which obviously wasn’t as he said so.
Neil loving life
Corby’s withdrawal helped Grantham as northern leg spinner Horrocks got rid of captain Ben (39) who top edged a low legside full toss and was caught at fine leg to leave Baston 52-1. Alex joined Ant and the pair ticked along nicely with a mix of occupation and aggression pushing Baston up to 85 before Alex (14) fell on his sword and was caught going after a big drive.
Eshan (5) played a lovely clip through mid-wicket before misjudging a straight one and being bowled, and then Ant (29) inexplicably hit his own stumps, batting so deep in his crease that his bat came down on top of the bails. Anyone would have thought he had a bus to catch.
Teddy (1) roped in to play the night before, didn’t trouble the scorers much. Bash (18) broke his Saturday’s scoring record for the 2nd game in a row, including 2 of the nicest sixes down the ground you’re likely to see. If he had a brain, he’d be dangerous. Baston were 125-6.
Granny Good
Any chance of a Baston win had now pretty much disappeared with the overs ticking by. Granny Good (13) played sensibly and occupied the crease for a while before being pinned LBW by a kid. 142-7 is when new best friends Neil ‘The Cobra’ Baker and George ‘The Mole’ Pope got together.
George was pumped up from all the caffeine on board and charged every delivery, which the Grantham bowlers “didn’t like”. Employing a self made rule that he had to run if he hit it, George raced to 3 before skying one which was well caught at mid-wicket. No-one could believe it hadn’t gone sailing over the rope for six, despite being caught 20 yards from the bat. Baston were 140-8 and any hope of a win gone with big hitter George dismissed. Baston seem to have finally found a replacement for disgraced vicar Knoxy.
The Cobra and the Mole, a new dynamic duo/friendship
Neil (13) painfully took one in the cobra before Liam (9*) and Lamin (7*) showed experience and good batting to push Baston over the next batting point mark and reach a respectable 164-9 from their 45 overs. A tough defeat to take and would have been a completely different story if not for a very good overseas batsman, and a selection of missing batting power in the Baston side.
Ant waiting for the bus home
Scorecard - https://baston.play-cricket.com/website/results/5175433