First XI Match Report Saturday 25th June vs Bradley Stoke (A)

This Saturday we went to a new ground for many in the form of Bradley Stoke. The only previous memory I had of the ground was turning up for the game to be called off for weather. When it was pouring down as we arrived, I was afraid of another game being lost to the classic British summer. Contrary to the forecast, we managed to start on time after a minutes applause from both sides in the middle after losing club member John Palmer in the week. Some black armbands worn by all the boys was a very nice touch from skipper Grove, as we send out support to all Johns family, including grandson Chris Munden. Having seen the forecast of rain, it was LWT’s intention to bowl first, which was a first toss win of the league season. It turned out to be maybe a day that the toss was, on reflection, a good one to lose as scores regularly exceed 250 with a good pitch and small boundaries.

As the Bradley Stoke innings commenced, their number 2, Peach, must have had a party at 1pm because he came out batting in a hurry. As he ran down the wicket, swiping away he played some brilliant and some… unorthodox cricket shots, giving Duffman Josh Whitemore particular issues in knowing where to bowl. At the other end teacher Mr Tickle bowled a beautiful opening spell, regularly beating the bat and tying down BS’s star batter Tom Laver. After a few tidy overs from Little Miss Show Off, who replaced Duffman, he got the first breakthrough getting Peach (22) with the swinging arm ball, trapping him in front LBW.

Then JR took the wicket of Fletcher with a perfectly set up around the wicket ball. Which, as he feigned to bring the ball back into the right hander, it nipped away, clipping the top of off stump. Apparently it was PK’s idea, but the execution was excellent. Proper cricket.

Overall it was a good looking scorecard for Brislington after the first 20 overs with BS 70-2. However, as T Laver continued to find his way, striking a few nice sixes, it took a couple of brilliant pieces of wicketkeeping from Mr Bump Jack Gunningham with a run out and a stumping. Some smart bowling from Little Miss Show Off Cam and Little Miss Magic PK took the game on. Mr Tall, Chris Bolton, found himself being constantly run down to third man, even with two gully’s in, as a new partnership between BS’s Skipper Baber and Onslow built. At first, the partnership was frustrating, but soon turned into worrying, as both players found the boundary with regular consistency, targeting the shorter side well. As balls were lost over and over again, the innings seemed to be going on forever. It seemed like a shock to the umpires every time we lost a ball, even 10 balls later. Even writing about the innings makes me feel tired, in the field we were laboured at best, and with first team manager Nobby on the sidelines surely with steam coming out of his ears. And I won’t name names, but Mr Perfect, Will Thomas’s, performance in particular was useless. Polo hands.

Enough of that though, more on to the good stuff. The good stuff was again provided by Mr Tickle who returned to break the partnership which neared 100 between Baber (58) and Onslow (44). With BS 238-8 after a wicket for Duffman it was time to hammer home the advantage. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be as some great striking from Srinivas (34*) took them to 272-8 from 50 overs. Overall it wasn’t the greatest display from the team in green and gold, but we knew it was chaseable on a fast scoring ground!

In response it was Mr Perfect and Mr Quiet again to open the batting. An aggressive start took us to 48-1 from 7 overs with Thomas (30) playing across a straight one trying to hit the ball too hard. Rubbish. Then as Little Miss Magic , PK, joined Brain in the middle we got to 71-2 before a mix up caused the downfall of Mr Quiet (28). We do love Charlie Brain.
‘Sing it louder, sing it clearer
Knowing everyone will hear you’ (Gary Barlow, the Military Wives and Charlie Brain).

As Little Miss Show Off came and went for 1, Briz were 76-3. Along came Chris Munden at 5, who looked back to his brilliant best. As the right and left hand combination rotated the strike well, they both got down and swept, finding the boundary. Scoring quickly, the pair took us to 140-4 from 25 overs with Munden out pulling for 29. As Whitemore hobbled to the crease, the unfittest PT known to man, he combined with PK. He also batted nicely, cutting the ball through point (his signature shot) before knicking off to what looked like a good seed from the boundary for 26. 187-5.

Skipper Grove played positively, finding the boundary twice early in his innings before getting a toughie on 9 LBdouche. 211-6.

At this point Gunners had gone in and PK was well set, no need to panic. PK slices the ball to short third man for a measured 72(64) and we were 211-7.

At this point the game had shifted, we had two new batters in, and the equation was 60 from 10 overs. For some reason it looked like BS had finally found their combination, with D Laver bowling particularly well despite his late introduction. As Mr Tall and Mr Bump rotated, capitalising on the combination they looked to find their feet before again a mix up run out meant we were 232-8.

As Cam the man (Little Miss Chatterbox) arrived it was all to do. Chris cleared the boundary off a free hit, providing briz with much needed impetuous and again just as things started to get going he departed for 15 bowled. 247-9.

Mr Tickle walks in. Swaggers in. Dice rolls in. Prowls in. As he turned round to the Bradley Stoke supporters with the demon stare of Jonny Bairstow I knew we were in for a treat. One task - take the game deep. And they certainly did. Cam was earlier advised from PK to not play any ‘cheeky shots’. I think he was referring to Mr George’s unprecedented urges to sweep, scoop or reverse sweep. He took it on board. 17 off 11, cam clears the front dog and swings a slower ball over mid on for six. Unbelievable. 8 off 5, cam runs down the wicket and hits the ball into orbit for another six. I wanted to see a reverse sweep, but PK was pleased. 2 off 4 and Cam absolutely bottles it. Takes one to secure the tie, giving the responsibility to the senior batsman. Cack Handed Bairstow had this equation at Twyford 1 off 3, but this was before Baz (Nobby) had come in. This time he was ready, he was poised. As he crouched down D Laver strayed onto the pads and James slapped the ball through mid wicket. Unbelievable.

Scenes. Streakers. Win. Dress up. Beers. Hangovers. OBWs next week.

By Will Thomas