Sunday Friendly
6th August 2006

And so it was that 11 ploughman arrived by car at the public transport black hole that is Bedfont.  Unfortunately I cannot tell you who won the toss as I was too busy partaking in some pre game warm-ups (I believe I was smoking and shooting the breeze). 

The plough took to the field with Ashton and Scooper opening the bowling. Whilst the bowlers hit pretty consistent line and length the openers plodded away and dispatched the odd loose ball until they bought up the 50 partnership. Soon after this Brent took his first catch for the club (well done mate) off the bowling of Ashton. Yorkshire came on for Scooper and Tom, as skipper, soon replaced Ashton. Yorkshire took the next wicket and Tom took the wicket of the other opener. Things were looking pretty evenly poised.  Tom trapped the next bat LBW after worrying him with some extra bounce.  Unfortunately the next ball saw Ashton drop a pretty straight forward slips catch which could have seen the new bat out for a golden and Tom on a hat trick. That he went on to pass 50 and top score for Bedfont was a bit of a kick in the teeth. Spewin.  Sha came into the attack and bowled quite well after he found his line and length and Ed replaced Yorkshire.  As the game progressed and Bedfont were around the 160 mark, the two older gents started to take to Tom and Ashton as they looked to up the scoring in view of a declaration. One was run out when a mix up was involved and Turd did well to keep his cool. Tom’s slower ball bamboozled the batter to bowl him out and Ashton had a successful LBW shout.  The bowlers were just starting to lick their lips at the opportunity for a couple of cheapies when Bedfont 62declared.  Spewin.  They finished on 8-241 and it was a good, consistent effort in the field by the lads.  Special mention to Ed who had the ball flying around him all day.  He took one in the nuts and one on the noggin and still came back for more.

Mmmmm tea time.

Leon and Sha opened the innings for the Ploughmen. Bedfont 62 opened with an accurate silver haired man from one end and a young leg spinner from the other. The ‘62’ may have represented the age gap between them. After having a look for about 5 or 6 overs Leon was caught from a very good catch at silly mid off.  John O’Hara joined Sha as Bedfont set some pretty aggressive fields. Sha was out a little later, bowled, as he tried to flick one down leg side. Ashton then came to the crease at number 4 without anyone bothering the scorers too much. Him and O’Hara were starting to steady the ship with the spinner replaced with someone of a little more zip. This was not to last as Ashton tried to flick a leg side delivery to the boundary but only managed to get an edge and spoon it to square leg. Spewin. The score at this stage was now 50-3. Jase Lloyd came in and was mixing it up by leaving a few and spanking a few in pretty equal amounts. This partnership was broken when the silver hair gent reaped more reward of accurate bowling when he bowled John. Tom then joined the crease at a stage of the match when we really needed time at the crease if we were to bat out a draw.  Their high total and a maximum of 35 overs was going to make a win unlikely. When Jase was trapped LBW and it was 78-5, I was starting to shit it. Luckily Brent wasn’t! Together. Tom and Brent, batted brilliantly for about 20 overs, putting on a 70 run partnership and earning us a battling draw. It was a shame that Brent was out on 16 with only a couple overs to go. Ed saw out the reminder of the game with Tom, who was not out on 73 and got my vote for man of the match.

It was a good fixture against a decent oppo, both on and off the pitch.  Just about all of us went to the pub afterwards for a well earned pint and hopefully we will play Bedfont 62 again next year.

MA