2021 Season Review

Season summary

Having got off to a great start by winning our first game things have stalled rather. After seventeen matches arranged we have three wins and seven defeats. We have also had seven games cancelled, five due to rain, one to football and one to covid.

Saturday 18th September - Five Rivers CC - Cheriton.

Team: Jono, Will, Milo, Simon, Pete H, Robin, James V, Howard, Mark, Matt B, Dave T of EBC

Well there we go. The last game of a rain soaked and eventful season. Cheriton stepped up to the plate with a nicely cut pitch bathed in the September sun, a really quiet, lovely place to sign off our season. The day had started really well when our man Andy J announced his engagement...Congratulations!! Surely this was a sign? Phil M was talking about what reds were decent on the WhatsApp and Gavin was still showing us pictures of his new bats, even though we weren't seeing him today. Life felt pretty good.

Five Rivers CC, a new team brought to us by Harry. It would be fair to say that the horses were restless in this build up. Harry has arrived to us with a club pedigree and plays in a team that travels. We were of course up for it and happy but none of fancied meeting some 18 yr old club player who “hadn't played county for a couple of months owing to a slight niggle.”

Harry, ever the gent, reassured us and was true to his word. When we arrived there were some old friends in the their ranks (Toby, Duncan and the irrepressible Dave T) and then a fair few players who looked the real deal.

Jono, Will and Pete had had a good chat beforehand and there was NO WAY we were going to play any more than 30 overs against a team that are used to 40 over games. We agreed that they should bat first (just in case of any...”anomalies” in our batting order)...so after BP won the toss it was 35 overs then...Next week us three will renegotiate the Brexit deal as we clearly are a bunch of hard cases...anyway they at least batted first. (Ed: Harry said that they would have batted first if they had won the toss)

We had a good ten, some of our big guns were absent but we were up for it. Every player we had was keen. Pete H and Matt B opened the bowling against Harry and Toby, another quality bat. They bowled really well but woe betide you if you bowled loose to these lads, but we fielded with heart and commitment. They built steadily and with some menace. Pete held a good length and Matt B was his usual disciplined self.

Anything short or loose was punished. Mark A was behind the stumps and was joined by Simon as his first slip companion...Howard as ever lurked close in and Robin waited for the moment his arm of justice would be called into action.

Milo ran places and then other places, Pete moved the field with tactical nous and a smattering of “lets bung one over there, it's worth a try”. Ok I'll admit it, I had a small Honey Badger moment at my own rubbishness and was muttering and trying to mentally write a rude poem in my head but couldn't find rhyme for a sentence that ended in the word…”duck”

Up steps James, lean and smiling and 40. He looked like a man that wanted to get a rattle on (Ed: owing to the fact he did have to get a rattle on as he had to be away by 4:30) and that he did. He broke the openers' partnership by a stunning caught 'n' bowled with a ball driven at him and he stooped one handed and plucked it out of the air! Champagne moment nominee! It was a stunner, even the batsman applauded. He has had a great season and is a great asset to the team.

On went 5 Rivers and a tasty looking No.3 came in and was dropped first ball ! (Ed – He leathered the ball at about 100mph in the general direction of Matt who foolishly managed to get a hand to it. In my book that's a brave stop, not a drop – but see later for a real drop) That proved costly as he smacked the ball around with worryingly assured skills. BPCC sometimes don't think that they are as good as they actually are and we still fought and fielded well. Naturally we dropped a few catches (Ed: including Harry by your editor) and at drinks 5 Rivers were lurking around 120 with half way to go.

After drinks we changed bowling ends and the game changed. Jono and Milo bowled in genuine tandem. They slowed then they stopped the charge and we felt the momentum change. Jono got the big wicket of Harry who was just a couple shy of a half century and then grabbed a few others. He bowled with a killer line and length that tempted batsmen to attack (and didn't even bribe the author to say so) but they either missed, blocked quickly or went arial.

Milo bowled with height and pace attacking the off stump and giving the batsman no break. It was an amazing display by both lads who brought us back into the game and held 5 Rivers to 188. Highlights in this was Milo's caught and bowled landing at the feet of the batsman he caught out at the strikers end, Mark A should be mentioned here for taking evasive action on seeing Milo approaching him with pace when he had a chance at that catch!

Robin took a MONSTER catch in the deep off Jono that took about an hour to arrive in his hands but as ever he held his nerve and took the catch. Jono bowled so well that it all became slightly too much with him and I had to have a quiet word with him about congratulating each batsman he got as they walked off...to be fair it was a long hot day!

Pete H came back on and nearly took a hat trick...that's a place we haven't been since Howard nearly did the same and this raised excitement to a near fever pitch..well, when I say fever pitch more of a sort of happy lack of concentration!

It was a good fight back and we went into tea/lying down facing 188 but happy and a bit more confident. Jono had set the batting order and our top three looked good until Mark “Mutiny on the Bounty” Atherton announced casually he wouldn't open as he had done his elbow in. After some casual glancing and coughing in my direction I said I would open with the in-form and keen-to-get-to-his-birthday-party James and off we went ..

Harry was again true to his word and there were no speedsters in his team, just good straight and tricky bowlers. James and I scampered a few and were nipped out early. In wanders Simon and just does what Simon does and always has...smoked the ball hard around the ground and looked in great nick. Knees and the occasional contact lens can slow him but what he offers with the bat and his level head is invaluable. Jono went cheaply, unfortunately, and shook everyone's hands as he left the field; and then in strolled Milo.

Editorial space added to increase tension.

Milo's had a few issues with the bat recently and lost his batting mojo but today it roared back. Simon and Milo stood their ground and batted together like kings. They faced quick bowling and canny field placing. Simon has this round the corner shot where anything on his leg he swivels and dispatches and this he did a number of times. Milo hit a cover drive 4 that was so pretty that he held his pose post shot (normally if one of our batsmen holds his pose it mean his back's gone and he is frozen in that position and needs to be stretchered off).

They jogged along together and although we were never going to win we held our own. Simon fell short of a half century but came off to his team and his mates clapping him like they always do. Milo suddenly was in his mid 40s and looking for his first ever half century. The rule is don't tell him. He got to 49 and sat for a few balls, supported by batsmen coming in and out. I found this time quite stressful I have to say. (Ed: The actual phrase used by your author was “Milo will be unmanageable if he doesn't get to 50 and unmanageable if he does,” providing an interesting insight as to how important this milestone was.)

He was delighted and the team gave this boy now man a warm and happy celebration. He's off to uni in two weeks, what a way to sign off! Some great running by Howard and Robin saw us reach 133 that allowed us to think we held our own. Some teams walk off dejected, some players have histrionics when they are out cheaply but not BPCC, we chatted and laughed like we won the match, the season and the 100!

So ends the season. Thanks to Pete H for excellent skipperring, thanks to Mole and Jono for organising, thanks to Howard for doing the stats. Thanks to the players who come and score and field and don't see much of the bat or ball but are as part of this great and wonderful team as any of us. Thanks to the new chaps for fitting in so well and getting what sort of team we are.

Saturday 4th September - The Cavaliers - Postponed 2nd Test - Cheriton

Team: Jono, James V, Simon, Gavin, Pete H, Robin, Howard, Matt S, Carl

BP win the Ashes 2-0 with a tight victory over the Cavaliers

So the weather was good, we were at Cheriton, and the Ashes were on the line. Admittedly we only had 9 players but amongst that number at least 3 for whom this was probably their favourite ground – Matt S, Pete H and Howard and by the end, we had probably added a fourth in debutant, Carl.

Now, it didn’t actually start that well - Cavs pulled a masterstroke by adding Jetin to their team in that he can bat, bowl and field. Added to Matt Brown, their master of length and line, this meant that it was going to be tricky batting for BP in the first innings. Jetin soon made inroads with the early wickets of Jono and Simon. James V however was playing beautifully and was joined by Pete H. They got the score to 30-2 until James was bowled for an brisk 13 by one that just didn’t bounce. Several of us were wondering if this could mean an early visit to the Pots, but Robin then joined his Dad in the middle and the recovery was on. Both hit the ball cleanly and had got us up to a much more healthy 65 when Robin was run out by a slightly unorthodox but effective direct kick from James in the covers. Gareth Southgate will be in touch…

Pete batted on now with Matt Shroff who immediately found his form and raced to 20. Pete was eventually out for 15 and Matt then took the score on towards 100. Gavin and Carl were both unlucky to arrive at the crease just as Jetin returned for his second spell, but Howard played a brilliant supporting role for his 11 before being trapped by mystery bowler Tony “The Shorts” Kushner.

Matt was out just before the end for a high class 45 and we had reached a competitive but not decisive score of 133 off our 30 overs.

Would it be enough? Well, step forward Yorkshire. Gav opened with Pete H and bowled the dangerous Duncan before claiming a second wicket to return amazing figures of 2-12 off 4 overs. That put the Cavs under pressure. Scoring was not easy, but Jetin looked very handy and was playing well to take their score to 35 until he took a sharp single...the ball went to James V in the gully who, ignoring all BP etiquette, kept calm, took aim and hit the stumps. It was one of those moments which games turn on.

Matt S followed up his batting with a tight spell of bowling of 4 overs for just 9 runs and with Jono at the other end, the scoring slowed so that at the half way point, the Cavs were 54 for 5. This meant that 80 was needed off 15 overs – tough but definitely possible. It was at this point that Carl entered the fray, having fielded well, he now bowled 4 great overs and got a wicket thanks to a smart catch from our new favourite fielder, James V. So far, Carl had a run and a wicket.

Inspired by the wily performance of Tony for the Cavs, Pete then unveiled our secret weapons - Howard and Robin. Both bowled with accuracy and more flight than Heathrow on a busy weekend. Robin picked up 2 wickets – could the mighty H follow suit?

He did just that when first Carl (obviously on the BP taster menu) took a stunning catch to add to his run and wicket, and then when he had Matt B caught behind by Simon. Howard’s celebrations involved running fast in a wide circle – we decided it was best to wait in a group until he ran out of breath and then congratulated him. As ever he spends the entire winter on the potential second wicket of that hat trick...

A great team effort and after Pete received the trophy, it was off to the Pots, where we all had a drink to celebrate Gav’s upcoming birthday, and Howard did a further lap or two of the car park.

Tuesday 31st  August - Deportivo - Riverside Park

Team: Neil, Gav, Howard, Simon, Milo, Will, Pete H, Harry, Robin, Matt S, Jon

Well...the nights draw in, autumn's in the air and the conversation turns to Christmas. That always means that BPCC have at least three games left in their rain soaked season.

So it was in the dusky gloom a strong BP team arrived at Riverside to play the relatively unknown Deportivo. They are the unknown team we always play but are always nice chaps. Some quick negotiations by torchlight agreed that 14 overs was best (per team obvs) and off we went. We took to the field having lost the toss (albeit we didn't have a coin so Jono lost a quick game of Rock / Paper / Scissors with the opposing captain.

Pete H and Milo opened up from the same end as we were using the novel half-and-half system where we change ends only after half of the overs have been bowled. This is supposed to save time. It was quickly apparent that the City Council's pitch preparation of municipal pitches by letting football teams play and train on the cricket square day in and day out had really paid dividends. To say the bounce was “uneven“ was an understatement. ( Ed: there were two strips on offer, and we chose the flatter one!)

Milo's pace made for some lively bounce and Pete got good swing. BPCC fielding was sharp and concise and this is a bit of class at Riverside, in the dark, with a dark ball coming out of the gloom. Milo took an early wicket and was skillfully then taken off by the skipper who had one eye on what was going to happen further down the line (Like Howard complaining that he wasn't getting a bowl).

Deportivo were held back by good bowling by all bowlers and fielders.(Actually it was good fielding by the fielders) Even Simon looked reasonably happy. The Honey Badger (aka Howard) at slip even looked pretty chipper.

Gav bowled well with some real fizz and turn, Matt S did well as ever. Harry bowled his mystery. Some excellent work in the field between Gav, Jono and Milo saw what we believe is the world's longest run out being executed. None of us were quite sure how it happened but the batsman walked off confused and we celebrated. Gav took a good looping catch out of the gloom although the Yorkshire phrase of “ Buggerit” as the ball soared towards him was comedy.

Milo took an excellent catch, Jono lurked in the gloom, Robin shot down the stumps for fun, Neil (ever the gentleman) fielded in close and missed nowt (which  believe is Yorkish for “nothing”).

We got a fair few of the Ds out by top fielding and kept them down to a lowish 60 odd. Skipper Will was pretty chipper walking off at the interval. We had a strong batting line up and some form players . The tradition of telling Jono he wasn't batting at 11 was dealt with quickly and he opened with Neil.

These two boys played well. Neil hit the ball cleanly and sweetly and Jono ran hard at most things and this got us off to a great start. The Honey Badger (yet to bowl this season, which we all know is a crime and his massive Twitter fan base #howardmustbowlatleast50oversaseason were warming up their keyboards) umpired well and calmly.

We lost Neil after a bit but he set a real base and left the scampering and cantering Jono to team up with Gav who always looks correct. Gav unfortunately got a real stinger which got him plumb LBW. Will had to give it despite feeling guilty. Gav took it well, he works in criminal justice and understood that sometimes your luck runs out… He didn't even announce that "it was so far down leg it was on the next pitch" or "I was sooooooo far forward that I could shake hands with tha bowler." He will go and work on this during the offseason session with Simon and Howard.

Harry arrived bedecked in Trojans cricket club clobber and a bat that's worth the entire contents of the club bag to join Jono and they made scoring look easy. Languid Goweresque shots from H made the game look like ours. H then got out hitting a ball back to the bowler which was controversially taken. A bump ball? A ball that rolled several yards along the ground before being scooped up? Perhaps but hey, one can only ask the question. Cricket, its a funny old game . Matt S came in and looked to do damage quickly but went to a wicked ball. Milo top edged one, but we were around the run rate. What could possibly go wrong?

 
Off the last five balls we need six to draw and 7 to win (now that's maths!).

Will came in, calm, confident and cool. Simon was the non striker and looked relaxed. Over to Will to describe the last over.

"I'm ready. This is so in the bag. Cometh the man cometh the hour. I literally had visions of my teammates carrying me shoulder high. I missed 4 out of 5 balls and lost us the game. Damn IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would like to say they were wide, I would like to say the light was bad (it was), the pitch was unplayable (it was). I think it's fair to say I just missed the sodding thing."

This was a good game and we played well and just didn't score enough runs. To be honest this team in all its forms just makes playing the wonderful game of cricket a brilliant, brilliant thing. We are so damn lucky, and there was a box of birthday cake as well.

Onwards to Cheriton…….in a field far, far away. 

Saturday 28th August - Christ Church - Venue Riverside Park, strangely, an away fixture

A record turnout for BP

Scorer - Robin

By the Tuesday prior to the game we had a mere 4 players available, and made strenuous efforts to get the game called off, but the opponents wer made of sterner stuff and started to gather ringers. By Saturday BP were down to exactly ZERO players, which is, as I said, a BP record, but the game went ahead anyway, the injured Robin gamely going along to score for the game, Christ Church Vs Rest of the World.

Wednesday 18th August - OMCC - Sports Centre

Team - Will, Milo, Mark Ath, Gavin, Neil, Matt S, James V, Pete T, Harry, Pete H, Robin, Arvind  

After one of the longest rain breaks in cricketing history we are finally in danger of playing a game. Despite the traffic we all managed to make it to pitch 4 at the Sports Centre for 6pm. It was a bit gloomy so sensibly we agreed to a 16 overs a side game. That made it pretty much a 'The Hundred' game, just without the fireworks, DJ, silly clothing or talent. Dave Perks did his  best to get a Mexican wave going but it's tough when it's just you and some bloke walking his dog.

Anyway, on with the cricket. OMCC, rather unsportingly, started with accurate bowling from both ends, making scoring tricky. Neil, Milo and Arvind batted well and put away the bad ball, there just weren't many of them. At the halfway point we looked a little light on runs but with plenty of batting to come still felt optimistic. 

Pete T has not played for a couple of seasons but clubbed the first ball he faced for four and looked in great nick until he fell LBW. Mark Ath and Harry both added valuable runs but the pick of the batting was a great knock from Matt S who raced to his 25. He always makes batting look so simple. If only it was.

We finished on 94, which is more than we often manage against OMCC on this pitch but still felt like it might not be enough. With the light fading it was a quick turnaround and we were out in the field. Fielding twelve players we rotated a fielder off every few overs. 

Milo hit his mark from the off and picked up a wicket. Maybe we can do this. After an initally slow start OMCC started to get on top of the run rate. With the BP team packed with bowling Will rotated our attack regularly looking for a breakthrough. OMCC skyed a few but it never quite fell for us and they started to look quite comfortable.

With only a handful of runs needed things finally turned our way and we picked up a few wickets. It was too late however and OMCC hit the winning runs with some room to spare. Not the result we had hoped for but at least we played a game.  

Saturday 7th August - 3rd Test Vs The Cavaliers - Venue - Riverside Park

Guess what?

Once more overnight rain called this game into doubt, and the Sports Centre authorities on this occasion sub contracted the decision on whether the ground was fit to your correspondant.

At the inspection the sky was blue, the sun shone and there was a pleasant breeze, but the strip was wet and muddy.

Whilst (with my bowler hat on) it might have been fun to watch the batsmen struggle, the possibility of too many two-bounce no-balls would be a real one. 

This means that BPCC have now won back the Ashes from the Cavs by a score of 1-0. It's just a shame that this website has been more concerned with the weather than with cricket.

Wednesday 28th July - Museums - Venue  The Sports Centre

Jono and Andy J carry their bats!

Team: Jono, Andy J, AJ, Will, Robin, Pete H, O'Mike, Gavin, Matt S, Arvind, Daz

Reasonable weather lured us into the hinterland of the Sports Centre for this evening game, and after a false start where our team gathered at the wrong pitch eventually both teams met on the big No. 1 pitch.

A toss, a decision, the openers carry their bats onto the field, the fielders take position, Jon marks his guard,  the umpire decides it might be a good idea to use bails on the stumps, the bowler is at the end of his run...and then the rain started. Jon & Andy then carried their bats off the pitch and everyone huddled from the torrential downpour under the scorer's shelter in the most covid-unsafe way imaginable. 15 minutes of heavy rain and there was loose water all over the pitch. Good job there's a pub on site.

Saturday 24th July - Eastleigh Baptist - Venue - Riverside Park

Hoo Hum.

After a couple of weeks of solid heatwave, an overnight thunderstorm dropped sufficient water that the game was called off. We now have not played for a month.

Saturday 10th July Christ Church - Venue - Winchester

Lots of rain made this game never likely to happen.

Wednesday 7th July - St. Cross House  Venue - The Sports Centre

An unusual reason for cancellation

By some bizarre fluke, England reached the semi-finals of the Euro 2020(sic) football tournament, so we called this game off due to anticipated lack of players. Had we known what would transpire the followign Sunday we might have preferred to play the cricket.

Saturday 26th June - 1st Test Vs the Cavs - Venue - Riverside Park

Team -  Jon, Pete H, Simon, Robin, Neil, Howard, Gavin, Harry, Mark, James V, Finley

Daz - loaned to the Cavs

Official Photographer - Mole  

Scoreboard Operator - Dave P

Cake Bakers - Lottie & Alex

A day of light drizzle - mainly lemon

After a series of defeats to our oldest rivals, BPCC arrived with 12 players in the hope that the Cavs wouldn’t notice. Riverside was a perfect sunny day, and Daz kindly agreed to join the opposition who were a player short.

We batted first, and had in our mind that the 122 that we had scored against Eastleigh had not quite been enough.

We opened with Finley and Mark who scored steadily for the first 6 overs against excellent bowling from Dan and the wily Barrat. The ball was spinning, and we were pleased to reach 30 -0. Finley and Mark then upped the tempo and we reached 55 without loss after 10 overs including a sweetly struck 6 from Finley. On the touchline the rest of us showed our support by chatting and eating Gav’s daughters' amazing lemon drizzle cake- we’re good like that.

On 70 – Mark smashed the ball into the covers but was well caught by Dan. On 72, Finley (with his score on 47 unbeknown to him) pulled a short one to deep fine leg where he was well caught by the same Dan. On 73, Simon got a good one from Arvind (who was playing for the Cavs to the confusion of some of the newer members of BP who had only seen ever him in the colours of the circular saw brigade) and we found ourselves on 73-3. Neil and Jono arrived at the crease slightly unprepared and lightly dusted in cake crumbs.

Due to either the cake or the rapid loss of wickets, they took a few overs to get going but after 22 overs had seen the score past 100. At this point, O'Mike appeared with his young son Freddy who was making his first appearance on the boundary – he looked thoughtful, possibly about the quality of cricket, or just wondering where his cake was. (Ed: I observed the young man munching on a rice cake but looking hungrily at his father's much more yummy lemon drizzle cake, then bizarrely dropping the piece OM gave him. Needless to say, it found its way into OM's mouth PDQ.)

Neil was now getting into his stride and was scoring freely all around the wicket, doubtless showing off in front of his family who showed up to jeer watch. Pete came in and hit some quick runs until Neil was brilliantly caught one handed by James' telescopic arm for an excellent 41. Robin – who announced his first permanent teaching job – then finished things off with Harry. We had posted a very promising score of 160 off our 30 overs.

The Cavs opened with Barrat and Arvind and took the score to 12 before Harry got the key wicket of Barrat. The first of 4 wickets in a man of the match performance. Dan and Arvind played well but at 38, Harry had Dan out LBW and then and Arvind followed shortly to the same bowler. James V was bowling a great spell from the other end and when he also picked up 2 wickets the Cavs were suddenly 45 – 5. Harry then bowled Dave 'Bruce' to get his fourth and the game was definitely swinging our way.

Pete then bought on Gavin who bowled beautifully in 2 spells, picking up 2 crucial wickets. Robin and Howard bowled well in tandem with a wicket for Robin and several near misses for Howard.

The Cavs were now on 85 – 7 with about 10 overs to go. Pete asked Gavin and Jono to bowl and each kept it tight until we reached the last over. Pete delivering the ball to Jon with the immortal line:

“We’ve got 64 runs to play with – good luck!”

This time we did get home...and as always headed to the Hop Inn for a considerably more cheerful pint.

Saturday 12 June - EBC - Venue Riverside Park

Team - O'Mike, Will, Jon, Pete H, Simon, Arvind, Robin, Neil, Howard, Matt B, Daz

Scorer - Mole  

Scoreboard Operator - Dave P

Cake Bakers - Lottie & Alex

The weather was bright and sunny, and we went into our second match against Eastleigh this year with a full team.
As always, the pitch at our home ground was going to be a mystery -  both sides knew that runs would have to be hard earned.

Pete won the toss and we chose to bat. Other Mike was delayed by either

a) Traffic as he claimed or
b) slow service on his pint and pasty order

Neil stepped up to open with Arvind and they got us off to a great start.  
We were 30 – 0 after the first 10 overs. Batting was not easy with a lot of variable bounce and Eastleigh’s fielding was up to its usual high standards.
At the half way point, we were 55 – 1 with Neil out for a classy 12 and Arvind retired on 16 no.
Simon and Jono took the score to 73 before Simon was run out by an amazing direct hit from 30 yards as they chased a cheeky bye.
Simon had hit the ball crisply for his 27 and then OM came in and continued to put the bowlers under pressure.

Jono was stumped for 17 as the score passed 100 and OM was then out for an excellent 28.

Things then got a bit …well, BPCC.

Will thought he was LBW but wasn’t, however while standing there reflecting on the nature of chance was run out. Similarly Matt Brown smashed his first ball into the covers, set off for a single and was run out by a direct hit. If Eastleigh weren’t a church team we’d have asked for a drugs test. We ended on 122 – 9.

At this point Gavin appeared with his delightful daughters, all the more delightful because of the Victoria sandwich cake they had made and shared around, whose qualities deserved a match report in its own right. 

Back at the cricket, BPCC knew that we would have to bowl and field well...a message which Howard in particular took to heart.
The opening bowlers were Matt B and Will, and kept Eastleigh behind the run rate and bowled brilliantly.
Will’s first 4 overs were 1-16 and Matt’s an amazing 1-4! Pete and OM then took over with Toby and James batting strongly until the crucial breakthrough with Toby lbw to Mike.
Pete then took 2 wickets in his sixth over but the score was nearing 90 with 9 overs to go.
Howard had kept wicket well but now swapped with Will and was fielding close in (for the specialists it was “over there but a bit nearer” aka "The Mole Position)

Jono was now bowling with Arvind. Jono had a successful lbw appeal and Eastleigh were 7 down. He then bowled a low full toss and Clive for Eastleigh smashed it away – 4 all the way until Howard plucked it out of the air with his left hand and lobbed it back to the umpire. Silence …followed by mayhem. Champagne and an ice pack for Howard.

The score crept up and Matt B came back on with 4 overs to go and bowled another maiden.
Eastleigh though weren’t down and their young all rounder hit Jono for 11 off over 28 and they reached 121 – 8.
Game over? Matt B came on for the penultimate over – another maiden. Jono began the final over wishing he wasn’t – Will was dealing with one ball at knee level and the next at his eye brows.
The first 5 balls were dots…one ball to go.

They were bound to go for it and hit the ball into a gap …mad scramble but they got back for the second.

Congratulations to Eastleigh – respect to BPCC. And so to the Hop Inn for a pint and a few what might have beens.

Wednesday 9 June - OMCC - Venue Sports Centre

Team - Will, Finley, Simon, AJ, Daz Beckett, Andy J, Neil, Gavin, Howard, Harry, Arvind

We are back at the Sports Centre and like last week are on pitch four. The small but not tiny one.

Will won the toss and we elected to bat. Finley and Neil were up first. OMCC bowling was tight but Finley goes through the gears and retired having got to his 25. Neil was joined by Arvind. Our opponents go through several bowling changes but all are hard to get away. Neil was particularly unlucky with a number of beautiful drives that only yielded singles.

Neil gave way to Harry having reached his 25, with AJ replacing Arvind for the same reason. Some late hitting took us to 101 at the end of our 18 overs. We had not lost a wicket but somehow still do not seem to be favourites.

OMCC got off to a good start before Gav picked up a couple of wickets, one thanks to a great (champagne moment) catch by Arvind. We plugged away but with OMCC well on top of the run rate we needed to bowl them out to be in with a chance which is unlikely in the short evening format. Our fielding was tight with Andy J making a number of excellent stops in the deep. Howard looked increasingly at home behind the stumps.

As OMCC got close to the target we go for one final throw of the dice and bring on Will and AJ. Both bowled well but it was AJ who stands out, finishing up with a double wicket maiden. This is likely to be his last game for us (where have we heard that before), so not a bad way to sign off. (Ed: I was wondering if there is a special word for 'the one after the last one' in the same manner that penultimate means the one before the last one. With this second-after-the-last-game game, AJ is creating even more lexicological conundrums)

Next over and it was all over. OMCC ran out comfortable winners on the night but we were not downhearted. A fine all round performance with a number of excellent individual contributions.     

Wednesday 2 June - Museums - Venue Sports Centre

Team - O Mike, Arvind, Simon, Jon, Will, Daz Beckett, Pete H, AJ, Howard, Andy J

After several days of glorious sunshine the clouds are back. Rain briefly threatened (Ed: like for about 3 hours in the afternoon) the match but luckily it stopped just in time for us. Game on at the Sports Centre.

BP magnificently won the toss and opted to bat first. Following several tweaks to the batting order we opened with O Mike and Jon. O Mike clubbed his first ball for 6 but was then out LBW to one that kept low. Simon got to 13 before he was bowled by the Museums captain Duncan. Jon was then joined by AJ, playing his first post-retirement game only one week after the event. A crucial partnership then ensued.

Both Jon and AJ batted excellently on the way to 25 before they each retired. Late cameos from Will and Daz pushed the score along nicely. With our 18 overs nearly up we lose quick wickets trying to push the score along. Pete H is the unlucky last man out, run-out off the last ball trying to get us to 100. So, 99 it is. Museums need a ton to win.

It is fair to say that the Museums reply started OK but then hit the ropes. Pete H got a wicket in his second over, caught by O Mike, who also executed a quite brilliant runout to remove the other Museums opener. Arvind picked up two wickets in an over, one great catch by Andy J and the other a nice take by Will behind the stumps. Museums are ahead of the run rate but four down with a long way to go. Enter O Mike.

Now, many people would be happy with hitting a 6, taking a catch, and a direct hit runout. Not O Mike.  Bowling fast and straight he picked up three wickets (all clean bowled) in four overs that cost only four runs.

We were in the driving seat but things were not as rosy as they may have appeared. Museums continued to match the run rate and with their number 5 (Dominic) retiring on 25 he was free to return should we take enough wickets. The old adage that 'catches win matches' is also a nagging worry. In what has generally been an excellent fielding performance we manage to put down at least five catches of varying degrees of difficulty. It may have been more than five but at that point we lost count. 

With four overs to go it was getting very dark and both batsmen and fielders are finding things tricky. AJs first over went for 6. Museums needed 14 off 3 overs to win. By this point Will has passed the wicketkeeping pads to Howard and was brought on to bowl. It was a great over, picking up a wicket and going for just one run. 13 needed off 2 overs.

AJ kept it tight with 4 runs from his second over, but crucially picking up a wicket with his last ball to allow Dominic to replace the No 10 batsman.

Last over. Museums need nine to win, with their danger-man back at the crease along with the Museums skipper Duncan. There was discussion about whether we needed to stop boundaries or stop Duncan getting a single to allow Dominic on strike. Will pitched it up and was backed up in the field. The first five balls all went for singles. They needed four to win off the last ball. Will bowled it full and straight and all the batsman could do was hit it back to him. Dot ball and the match is ours. Great to win a tight game as these often seem to get away from us.

We head up[ to The View for a well earned drink. AJ is awarded 'champagne moment' for a glorious pull shot for four, although voting may have been influenced by him also getting a round in. Watch and learn Mike, watch and learn. 

Saturday 29 May - Christ Church - Venue    Riverside Park

Team - Pete H, Robin, Will, Finley, Simon, Mark A, Arvind, James V, Daz, & Super sub Ray

After some truly poor weather, we finally had a cricket day when there was no doubt about whether there would be play or not. Sun sun sun!

Needless to say this ensured that we had insufficient players, BP turned up with 9 and Christ Church with 10. We agreed to play 10 a side and Christ Church lent us the services of Ray, who was excellent value in the field (and the pub afterwards), so much so that we hope to have him turn out on his own account for BP at some point.

The defining point about this match was that despite the overhead sun, the pitch bore a startling resemblance to bread pudding in texture if not colour (unless the bread pudding had been left to go mouldy that is).

This meant that plenty of just-short-of-a-length deliveries fell foul of the 2 bounce no ball rule.

Anyway, to the action. BP fielded first and within 2 overs CC were 1 for 3. Yes, 3 wickets in the first two overs! The sun was shining figuratively as well as literally. Needless to say (but I will say it anyway), the next pair of CC batsmen mounted a stout resistance to first Arvind and Pete H and then to Will and the Flying Squad of Finley who was visiting for the weekend though I doubt whether he actually flew back from Exeter Uni.

Scoring was slow as the ultra low bounce took its toll, but they reached in excess of 50 before James V finally dismissed one of them exposing the remainder of the team who were all out on the last ball of the 30 overs, Pete H turning in career-best figures of 4-18.

In reply to the CC total of 107, Arvind and Finley batted carefully for 11 overs until Arvind's dismissal resulted in the sort of batting collapse with which regular readers of these pages will be familiar, the team being all out for 89, but having plenty of overs left to get the runs should we have been able to do so.

This just went to show just how well Finley, Arvind and the middle pair of CC batted. The pitch was so very difficult to bat on (Ed: I didn't even see the ball which bowled me, so I fear the pitch had little to do with it).

Those of a statistical bent might be interested to know that in the BP innings Extras scored more than the rest of the team put together with a particularly fine showing from their top scorer Mr Wides (35 no). We shall be offering him a permanent contract.

Wednesday 26 May - St Cross House - Venue Sports Centre

Team, Will, O Mike, Pete H, Robin, Simon, AJ, Howard, Gavin, Neil, Harry, Arvind 

After victory in our opening match we rocked up at the Sports Centre full of confidence. St Cross House also have a 100% record this season having won four out of four, so one of us will be losing their unbeaten record. Having a full eleven is always good news, particularly so today given we are on pitch one with its spacious outfield.

Prior to play St Cross House proposed an innovation to try and speed the game up. The suggestion is to bowl the first nine overs from one end, and then switch round and bowl the second block of nine overs from the other end. Batsman will change ends at the end of each over. Evidently this is what a lot of 'proper' clubs are doing, which might explain why we have never heard of it. After a brief discussion we agreed. 

BP batted first and found the outfield slow and very hard to pierce. St Cross House use their bowlers in two over bursts but none of them were easy to get away. The pitch eased as the match progressed with Simon, Harry and O Mike managing to find the boundary on occasion. Wickets fell in a late charge for runs. A final score of 96 looked OK but not that challenging, given SCH's excellent batting record.

St Cross House got off to a good start in reply. They kept up with the run rate whilst we were unable to find a breakthrough. Both openers retired in the 20s but their new batsmen were able to keep the scoring rate up. Our fielding is good, with Howard tidy behind the stumps, but we still could not make a breakthrough. St Cross House reached their target with a couple of overs to go.

The evening concluded with a presentation to AJ who will shortly be leaving us to move to Sheffield. AJ has been an asset to BP since he was first brought along by his dad Simon. Known for his lightning fielding AJ can also bat, bowl, and eat crisps. In many ways he is overqualified to play for BP. AJ, it has been a pleasure to share the field with you. You will be missed.

Saturday 15 May - The Cavaliers - Venue - Riverside Park

Rain the day before and a forecast for rain during the afternoon... Well, what would you do?

Saturday 1 May - EBC - Venue North Walls, Winchester (Away)

Team - Mark Ath (wk), Other Mike, Simon Morris, Milo Whale, Neil, Jon Whale, Daz Beckett, Matt Shroff, Will Whale (c)

Having completed our covid-19 risk assessment our season got underway at a new venue, North Walls in Winchester. The pitch looked good with a large hard outfield. The wicket was spongy due to recent rain so it looked like not a great deal of bounce will be on offer.

Eastleigh batted first with BP opening the bowling with Matt Shroff and Milo. We made a key breakthrough early when Matt bowled Toby. That coud be crucial. On many previous occasions we have had to watch Toby stroke his way to a fifty. The early wicket was backed up by two more for Matt who finished with figures of 3 for 14 off of his 6 overs. Other Mike took an over to find his range but then picked up two wickets including one well taken by Mark Ath off a skier. With a tight opening spell from Milo BP were well in control.

Regular covid breaks to clean the ball (every six overs) are a minor inconvenience. More problematic was the rain, which at one point was heavy enough to stop play. Despite the interuptions Eastleigh found better form with the bat and slowly progressed to three figures. Jon rattled through his overs, conceding 16 from his 6 over spell, whilst Will picked up a wicket late on. Simon got a bonus over thanks to a minor miscalculation from our skipper (no, you cannot bowl yourself from both ends). Eastleigh finished on 110 from their 30 overs. So, Nelson (111) is the target.

In reply Mark and O Mike got us off to a great start before Mark fell for 10. Simon replaced him and together with O Mike started to take the game away from Eastleigh. After fifteen overs we just needed 15 to win. The only thing that could stop us now is if we got bowled out. In a last throw of the dice Easteligh brought back one of their opening bowlers to slow our progress.

With Jon and Neil (numbers 5 &6) batting we leveled the scores. We still had 10 overs to go so surely we were home and dry. Surely.  At this point BP made a late bid for a draw. Jon went for a big shot and was caught. He may have been watching a bit too much of the IPL during lockdown. Daz was in next and hit the ball down the ground but great fielding by Eastleigh resulted in Neil being run out. Suddenly it's Matt and Daz (numbers 7 & 8) at the crease with just Will to come. Luckily we had left it too late and quickly seal victory. 

Overall an excellent performance by the both teams, many of whom had not picked up a bat or ball for some time.

15th April - The Vine - Venue -  Burseldon Rec

We were saved from the prospect of playing in the middle of winter in the traditionally arctic location of Bursledon rec by the decision to call the game off on account of the covid 19 pandemic