The forecast for this one was ropey at best. An hour before the game was due to start, a 30 minute barrage of heavy rain battered South Lincolnshire. Fortunately, Baston have been in possession of a fine set of covers for around 8 years and a groundsman who would normally put them on in the middle of a drought. Unfortunately, Lloydie chose this week to leave them off the square.
The covers in use after the game (not before)
Thankfully the rain stopped, and a game looked possible despite further showers forecast later in the afternoon. A sensible decision would have been to reduce the overs to ensure the best chance of a game being completed. Boston refused to reduce the overs, won the toss (obviously), and chose to bowl on the damp track.
Keeno was allowed another Saturday off by Queen of the house Mel, and opened the batting again with Ant. Boston left armer Lawson bowled a tidy line to the openers, but at the other end a young lad was given the chance to impress. Keeno took a liking to the bowling, and twice should have been out early; picking dreadful balls to smash and finding the unsafe hands of the same unfortunate Boston kid.
There was one young Boston player whose parents had brought him to the game. They took up a nice spot on the boundary in their comfy chairs, wrapped up in blankets. Dad hopped up with his camera and walked around the boundary to get some footage of his lad as he came onto bowl. Keeno was seen speaking to the dad later on to see if he could send him any videos, as he smashed the poor kid’s first ball for a monster six into the trees, and the next 2 balls for four.
Boston skipper Foxy (a doppelganger for Ben’s dad) brought himself into the attack, and bowled tidily stump to stump, removing Keeno (46) LBW in the 19th over. LBW candidate Martyn was in at 3, and looked in excellent touch, finding boundaries regularly, as Baston reached 84-1 at drinks.
The senior pair piled on the runs for the second wicket, as Baston reached 150-1 in the 35th over. Martyn reached his maiden fifty for Baston, loaded with boundaries including 10 fours and a six. He had to depart soon after though as the silly billy got his pad stuck in front of middle stump AGAIN, and gave umpire Neil Baker no choice but to raise the finger. Martyn took it well as he strolled off with 52 against his name; being given out LBW is very much a weekly event.
Neil watches on as Martyn walks off
Lamin was unable to bowl due to a shoulder injury, so was given a promotion to number 4 in the batting order. It seemed like his shoulder also made him unable to bat as he was bowled for a duck.
Ant had to adapt his game due to the pitch, and scored 90% of his runs through the legside, including a couple of slogs over mid-wicket, and a ridiculous top edge that sailed over the square leg boundary for six. As usual he showed the importance of batting deep, as he finally departed for a well made 37, to leave Baston in a great position at 167-4
Fantastic base provided by Martyn and Ant (pictured)
Baston’s power middle order didn’t really get going. Garmo (7) and Liam (8) were both caught well in the offside as they tried to go after the bowling. Bash walked out at 7 and played all around a half volley for a golden duck.
With just over 5 overs left, Baston were 179-7 and within reach of 200 for full batting points. Ben had woken up with a bad back and had hoped not to have to bat, but he strapped his pads on, and limped off to join Teddy in the middle.
The two put on a good late spurt and reached 200 in the 44th over. For some reason, skipper Ben (18*) didn’t think that was enough and went on a rampage in the last 7 balls, running out Teddy (11) and Darren (0) in his hopes on an even bigger total to defend.
Darren admitted in the pub that the run out was his fault
As the last ball was bowled, the rain started to come down again, and as soon as the innings was finished, the covers were pushed on. The Baston players ran for the changing room, while the Boston players mixed it up; some went to the changing room, three went to the pub, and 4 or 5 got in the back of a transit van to stay out of the rain.
After half an hour of rain, and the forecast not looking very promising, Ben managed to reach Boston skipper Foxy (in the pub) and they agreed to abandon the game.
It was a fantastic batting performance. Keeno superb at the top of the order, and Ant gave the team a fantastic platform to build on. It was great to see Martyn show his class with his 50. Boston’s senior bowlers Lawson and Fox bowled well and combined for 4-48 from 24 overs. The other 162 runs were scored off the remaining 21 overs.
The Baston boys made their way to the pub for the rest of the afternoon.
Scorecard: https://baston.play-cricket.com/website/results/5175408