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BGCC Oldies vs
Colwall Oldies
With a paramedic on
standby and the smell of embrocation filling the air at Barnards Green
Cricket Club, it was clearly time for the return fixture between the over
40's of Barnards Green and Colwall. The 2005 fixture saw a fairly
comprehensive victory for Colwall on their home soil, but this year the
Green were determined to take the game slightly more seriously and so team
manager and nutritional advisor Martin Heaton had had his team prepare for
the big occasion for several hours beforehand. The Colwall team looked
relaxed and even brought their own chef to look after their culinary needs.
Green captain Phil Spencer won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket
lovingly prepared by groundsman Roy Mayo who had even chosen to play himself
as the wicket looked so full of runs. Phil elected to put in a pinch hitter
to open in the guise of Robin Longmore who partnered the slightly more
sedate Rob Lewis and Longmore got off to a flier with 18 runs coming off the
first two overs before he chased a wide one and holed out in the covers off
the enigmatic Ricky Lewis who, despite his age was still swinging his balls
both ways.
Jamie Drew then joined Rob Lewis and these two took the score to 71 when, in
the 12th over Lewis was brilliantly caught by Alistair Smith off the bowling
of Kim Berry. Some may say this was the turning point of the game and that
Alistair should have dropped the catch, but that may be a little harsh. Roy
Mayo looked in good touch, but mistimed a drive and was caught off Jeremy
Leighton which brought Phil Spencer to the wicket to join Jamie Drew who had
been quietly accumulating runs.
As Spencer began to step up a gear and decided running was not the order of
the day after a hectic cricket tour to Cornwall, Colwall introduced their
secret weapon in the form of Alistair Smith and despite being struck for
four off his first two balls, he continued with his tantalising donkey drops
and Spencer succumbed, holing out to Oliver at cow shot corner for a brisk
31. Dick Brown came and went but when Ian Scullion strode to the wicket,
Drew took charge and stepped up a gear striking the ball beautifully to all
parts of the ground with several mighty sixes. He passed his century in
fine style and with Scullion joing the fun with a sound 43, both batsmen
retired to make way for Green leg end David Creese who improved his average
with a sound 1 not out and along with Marc Jones they took the final score
to 241 off their 35 overs.
After a splendid lunch provided by one of the many Berrys on parade, Colwall
resumed play in persuit of the Greens total. Dave Creese and Dave Price
opened the bowling and Colwall found runs difficult to come by with Creese
easing back into his old routine of dropping the ball on a sixpence (not his
of course). However it was Price that struck the first blow removing both
openers Neil Purser and yet another Berry with just 25 on the board. Jeremy
Leighton then showed his supreme class looking in no trouble at all as he
eased passed his half century before being shot by a sniper and pulling up
with a torn calf muscle to end his innings. Berry and Oliver then tried to
carry on the good work, but as the run rate increased the pressure mounted
and both succumbed just short of their 50's. John Berry was then well
caught by Creese to give Marc Jones his 2nd wicket and Ricky Lewis was run
out to bring Mat and Kim Berry together for a final salvo, although the
Green were grateful to see the ever dangerous Smith still sat in the
pavillion with his pads on. Kim was particularly savage on the bowling
attack with a final salvo towards the Greens target but at the end of their
35 overs Colwall were still 11 runs short giving the Green victory although
the true victor was cricket itself still enjoyed by 22 players with a
combined age of around 1100 years.
Colwall will undoubtedly be looking for revenge in the 2007 season when age
concern will no doubt be in attendance drumming up membership.
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