2020 Season Review

The 2020 season was a rather short affair.  After many cancellations (usual things, rain, global pandemic, etc.) we finally managed to get underway in late August and squeeze in three games. In all the confusion we ended up writing only one full match report (see below). However, thanks to stats genius Howard we do have comprehensive data on all three games.

The big news is we managed to win two of them. After victory over St Cross we were beaten by Christ Church. Our last game was the annual BP v Rest of the World end of season match, with BP winning by 97 runs. Suddenly 2020 did not look so bad after all. 

A total of 17 players played for us over the three games, including three people who had featured in our very first recorded fixture (Pete H, Jon, and Will). Not bad considering atleast four of this seasons' squad were not even born then. There were also BP debuts for Neil Manners and Gavin Sumpter. 

It's hard to say anyone has a great season given the lack of games overall but the stats highlight several excellent performances. Simon hit our top score for the season with 52 whilst Other Mike managed an aggregate of 102 over three innings. In addition Will, Finley, Mark Ath and Neil all averaged 20 or more.

Of the bowlers Will stood out with 6 wickets for only 36 runs. Howard repeated his nack of taking wickets cheaply with figures of 1 for 8 to again record an excellent season bowling average. Matt Shroff's spell of 4 overs cost only 7 runs and included a wicket as well.    

In the field the stats are less kind.  Will took our only recorded catch, whilst our opponents took seven.  We really should try and stop hitting it in the air straight to mid-off. I know its a trademark BP shot but it is costing us. The only player to be run out was Gavin (on debut). It does take time to adapt to the BP calling system where both "Yes!" and "No!" are shorthand for "maybe, what do you think?" Don't worry Gavin, it was bound to happen sooner or later.

In summing up a final word of thanks to those who in spite of the pandemic remembered the joy cricket brings to our lives and went the extra mile to get these games organised and teams selected.  

Until next year.

Weds  26th Aug        St Cross House                       Sports Centre

Team : Will, Finley, Simon, AJ, Pete H, Robin, James V Gavin, Daz, Howard, O'Mike

After three months of mostly fantastic weather and not being allowed to play cricket, then a few weeks of the opposite and two false starts, BP's 2020 season finally got going at the Sports Centre against St. Cross on a pleasant Wednesday evening in late August.

The build up was notable for several reasons, the new-found celebrity of TV's latest tough cop Will Whale (the self-described 'blunt tool') pulled in a larger than usual crowd of spectators (Before the game Pete approached what appeared to be their full team to sort out the start only to be informed that there were only 5 actual players there - Ed). Howard continued to assert that he was on a hat-trick and we didn't have the inclination to dispute this, although we didn't let him bowl either so the saga continues (can we stretch this out into next season? -Ed). Gav was selected twice on his debut so expectations were high although traffic delayed both of him from the start (Funnily enough only one of him arrived - Ed). And given the lack of staff and open toilets, it was even more of a challenge than usual to find which pitch we were on and arrive in a suitable state to play cricket.

BP started in the field and although the St.Cross openers looked dangerous for a short period, we soon began to exert pressure and bring down the run rate due to tight bowling from Will, Finley, Pete H and O'Mike. The latter, BP's newest parent, celebrated the end of his paternity leave (games missed: 0) with a wicket towards the end of his spell. This gave us a chance to deploy the much anticipated socially distanced wicket celebrations (which are amlost indistinguishable from the non-socially distanced celebrations - Ed). O'Mike was also rewarded with a classic sledge from a team mate of 'You're better than you usually are this evening'.

Good fielding continued all round with notable contributions from AJ, Finley, Howard, Daz and Robin, and Gav qualified for the Dinner Dance by touching the ball at least once. James V and AJ came on to bowl and Finley pulled off the most amazing catch which he had no right to get anywhere near. Unfortunately the fates agreed with this as the impact with the floor forced him to spill it just after most of the team had prematurely celebrated, which they did their best to transform into a rather strangled consoling noise.

A few shies at the stumps didn't trouble the umpires, Simon doing solid work with the gloves behind the innings. St. Cross made steady progress with one opener retiring on 25. James V dropped a catch off AJ but took a wicket with the last ball of his spell, enticing a play on. The new batsmen tried to hit out towards the end of the innings but we did pretty well in restricting them to 92 off 16 overs.

O'Mike and Finley opened BP's reply and soon settled into a strong partnership which quietened down St. Cross's fielders. Finley smashed two sixes into the trees, the second taking him to 29 for an almost-maximum retirement, a good consolation for 'only' 3 overs bowling. O'Mike fell for 19 just before this which had brought Simon to the crease. Simon picked up immediately and played a great innings, which was marked by a high runs-to-contact lens loss ratio (15:1 - Ed). At this stage we were well ahead of the required run rate and looking good for the win.

Finley's retirement brought Gav to the crease for his debut and he was soon off the mark, playing several shots which looked worryingly like 'real' cricket for those of us who have to be compared to him. Daz came in following the loss of Simon and unfortunately it wasn't long before a classic BP run out came to pass, snuffing out Gav's promising first innings, although it did earn him a part in the nominated champagne moment of the evening.

James V joined Daz and there followed a nervy final few overs in the gathering gloom as the possibility of rescuing defeat from the jaws of victory seemed to grow. However, some sharp runs and a few handy extras (never turn them down)(Extras 18 n.o.) saw us over the line with two balls to spare.

So, 2020 is indeed an unusual year, BP with a 100% win record in August and perhaps the best chance of preserving this for the season lies with further weather issues or the unwelcome intervention of NHS track and trace over the next couple of weeks.