2023 Season Review
Season Summary
We got 2023 off to a great start with victory in our first match. Obviously we peaked too soon, losing the remaining three May fixtures before rallying in the 5th game.
With two matches left we are five wins to six defeats, with several cancelled due to classic Englsih summer weather. More importantly we have welcomed several new members to the club and have enjoyed every game (and post match pub visit).
Saturday 13 May 2023, Eastleigh BC, Riverside Park
Team - Rob, Neil, Arvind, Phil M, James V, Finley, Gav, Carl, Robin, Lewis, Will.
First game of the season and a debut for Lewis, who has netted with us over the closed season. It's proper sunny and we had eleven players. So, are we ready? The winter has been long. Many have spent hours honing their technique in the nets. Others have focused on building up match fitness. Pretty much everyone has eaten a lot of crisps in preparation for our post match trip to the pub.
Batting first and it's not pretty. Neil went early, swiftly followed by Arvind and Mr Moulin. Rob digs in but is caught having scored twelve. Given the pitch and the bowling on display those could be important runs.
James has proved to be an increasingly valuable player for BP and so it proved today. He top-scored with an unbeaten 36. Able support was provided by Finley and Robin, with 17 runs each. The 26 extras were most welcome. We have got a score to defend (116).
Wickets were always going to be vital so Gav getting one in his first over was most welcome. Rob also struck early. Arvind kept things tight only conceeding 14 runs from 6 overs. Pick of the bowlers however was Will, taking 4 for 10 of his 4 overs. The rest of the bowling attack kept Eastleigh at bay. Carl's 1 for 2 off of 2 overs a nice cameo.
BP run out comfortable winners with Eastleigh bowled out for 65. A great start to the season.
Wednesday 17 May 2023, Shirley CC, Sports Centre
Team - Other Mike, Neil, Finley, Jon, Duncan, Gav, James V, Rob Sawyer (other Rob), Robin, Lewis, Will
Match two and we had another player on debut with Rob Sawyer (a.k.a. other Rob). It was eighteen overs per side with us batting second. Will continued his fine bowling form by picking up 2 for 6. Shirley however are a strong side and pushed things along well. Jon picked up a wicket but Shirley set us a challenging target of 130. A big ask from 18 overs but not impossible.
We got off to a great start with O Mike (27), Neil (23) and Finley (20) posting significant contributions. With Rob batting lower down the order Gav took the opportunity to show him how BP bat by running both James V and himself out. Great to see Gav step up to the mark with our usual run-out specialists either absent (Daz B) or batting at number 11 (Will). Watch and learn Rob, watch and learn.
Our other batsmen all got a start but were undone by Shirley's bowling attack. Even Mr Extras only managed 8. It was however great to see two BP batting debuts in Rob (2) and Lewis (5 n.o.). Never easy going in lower down the order in a midweek match with time running out and plenty still to get.
In the end Shirley's score proved too much for us. We finished on a creditable 96 in what was a tricky game for BP.
Saturday 27 May 2023, Christ Church, Sports Centre
Team - Jon, Will, Robin, Carl, Gavin, Rob T, O Rob, Tom, Samson
We entered this game having beaten Eastleigh and having lost to Shirley in a well fought game. CC are always tough opposition so we decided to go with 9 players on the grounds that “we like a challenge“. With Pete still poorly, we were again led by Will who won the toss and decided to bowl.
Even before a ball was bowled, great thanks must go to Carl who kindly brought along our heroic cover fielder Tom and also another mate, Samson who was making his debut.
To be honest, we knew it was going to be a tricky game as CC had recently dismissed the Cavs for under 60, but we had a great start with Will bowling their opener with the very first ball. Although he’s not counting, it was his 7th wicket in 3 games…..with 3 more to come later in the match.
Carl opened from the other end and got the ball swinging. Gav then came on and took a sharp return catch to leave CC 30 -2. We were on one of the smaller plateau pitches so any attacking shots were 1 or 4 and despite our best efforts, the score moved on. Rob T then came on and bowled beautifully in claiming 2 wickets - one of them being their classy South African batsman who was caught at square leg by Will after a short but exciting juggling display. BP were fielding well. one of the CC batsmen reached his 50 and the score passed 150. 2 things then happened-Other Rob came on and Samson took is sunglasses off.
OR bowled an amazing spell of 5 overs 1 wicket for only 9 runs- great stuff and even better when it turned out that he had injured his hamstring in the process. Will then invited Samson to bowl and the first ball was a good length and went through to Jono our unsuspecting wickie. In a Clark Kent way, he then took off his sunglasses- and the next ball surprised the batsman and almost knocked over Jono. He bowled a great spell at express pace - think Milo on Red Bull.
CC closed on an impressive 203-7.
We opened with Rob T and Gav and within 12 overs they had hit a flurry of fours, one a classy flick for six from Rob. The score was 73-0 and Other Rob advised that we were ahead of the run rate or possibly behind it.
Both RobT and Gav played so well for their 38 and 28 respectively. The game then turned when both were out together with Robin just before the drinks break. CC bowled well and fielded tightly. Jono and Samson then added 30 for the fourth wicket and we passed 100.
Finally the pressure told and BP were eventually all out for 120 ish, although not before Tom got his first run.
A brave effort - a top debut from Samson and off we went to the pub.
Wednesday 31 May 2023, OMCC, Sports Centre
Team - Will, Rob T, Gav, Jon, Phil M, James V, Robin, Arvind, O Rob, Howard (wk), Pete H
Back to the Sports Centre for a 14 over match against OMCC. We are batting first.
Rob T (20), Gav (15) and Jon (18) gave us a great platform. We then suffered a middle order wobble. A trademark BP affair where the pursuit of quick runs ends up as a run of quick wickets. Howard's classical on-drive for 4 lifted the mood. Late cameos from Pete H (9 n.o.) and Will (18 n.o.) got us to 103 which is defendable from 14 overs.
In reply OMCC got off to a decent start with their top three all making decent contributions. Will continued his wicket taking form by winning an LBW decision in his second over. There were also wickets for both Robs and a run-out. As is often the case OMCC found a way to chase down the runs and we were once again second.
Saturday 3 June 2023, Eastleigh, Riverside Park
Team - Pete H, Robin, Rob, Other Rob, Neil, James V, Lewis (wk), Russ, Carl, Eastleigh loanees x 2
So there we were, sitting enjoying post match drinks in the garden of the Sporting View/Pub-in-the-Park or whatever they call it these days, musing about Ibiza and American customs (which are pretty weird I will admit), when the subject of next Saturday's game cropped up.
Dire news abounded:
“Only got 5 players signed up”
“Not good”
“We'll have to cancel”
So your humble correspondent contacted Toby from Eastleigh whose game it was only to be told that he had booked the pitch that very day and was most keen to avoid the embarrassment of the phone call to the Sports Centre “You remember that I called yesterday wanting a cricket pitch booking? Well I don't now…”
“Don't fret” he said to me, “I'll get you some extra players.”
In the intervening few days our numbers expanded to 8 plus Carl if he could make it back from holiday in time and if the Missus gave the OK. (Ed: my opinion is that after a week she was probably glad of a break).
Arriving at the ground we were given two ringers, Dave T and Jamie B and such was the embarras des richesses players wise that it was to be a 12 a side game not 11 vs 5.
A magnificent correct call on the coin toss and a less than magnificent arrangement of the batting order saw BP go into bat with Rob & Neil, who made a good start although they were not able to keep up with our old stalwart Mr Extras.
The pitch at Riverside is quite large, and the grass surprisingly slow, meaning that boundaries were hard to come by.
BP finished on what looked to be a rather light 154, including an excellent 62 n.o. from Other Rob and 32 from Neil. In a manner familiar to those who have played at the so called Garden of Cricket, a number of batsmen fell more to the vagaries of the strip than the intention of the bowlers.
Tight opening bowling from Pete H and Carl (showing what a nice holiday can do) ensured a slow start, the first change bowlers of James and Jamie getting a few wickets whilst a good innings of 43 from Nigel kept Eastleigh in the hunt, never falling much behind the asking rate.
The wickets continued to fall, including a catch from debutant Russ and a very fine catch off a hard drive by Rob T.
When the 11th (yes, 11th) wicket fell in the 30th over, Eastleigh were on 145, needing 10 runs, and BP emerged victorious and keen to post things to WhatsApp. (Ed: whatever that is).
Well done all concerned, welcome to Russ and thanks to Toby for gathering all those extra players.
Wednesday 7th June BPCC v Museums, Sports Centre
Team Pete H, Jon, Carl, O'Mike, O'Rob, Phil, Duncan, Robin, Will, Neil, Howard
Two teams, two very different strategies. One team, of seemingly Druid origin, demanding that as we approach the Summer Solstice we play until it got dark, the other, seemingly of alcoholic origin looking towards The View.
To make our opponents feel at home, we fielded a few fossils although their bonhomie didn't last long once it was agreed that the innings would be 18 overs each rather than the Summer Solstice 20 they were hoping for. The toss was performed using a Roman Denarius to keep in with the museums theme, while the theme tune to Jurassic Park played to keep in line with the number of fossils on display.
BP used six bowlers opening with Pete H and closing with the newly named "Calm Carl", whose fiery aggressive style has been reined-in in favour of economic accurate bowling in the final over.
Throughout the innings BP fielded exceptionally well (well almost) and with an overall display of economic bowling. The most economic was Jono who bowled three overs for a measly 13 runs and treated the field to a double re-enactment of his "triple nipple" injury and the fall of Admiral Lord Nelson, this time though he actually caught the ball rather than opting for a tattoo of it.
Museums struggled to dominate and the frustration revealed itself with a suicidal run-out beautifully choreographed by Howard. And then there was another beautiful moment, one rarely seen these days with BP - almost professional cricket. There was a profound sense of reverence as Calm Carl chucked down a screamer, the batsman wafted, nicked the ball, and the sound of a ball on leather (normally reserved for the seamier parts of Southampton) was witnessed as far as Upton's of Bassett (excellent bacon sandwiches) as Howard took a nice catch behind the stumps. It was a moment to behold and we all agreed and voted it the "Champagne Moment" of the match.
Struggling further and being ground down by the Hutchings Machine, Museums got just over the century line, leaving BP needing 102, just under 6 an over - simples.
Jono and Neil opened the batting, and showed the Ying and Yang of BP, where Ying is a glacial run rate and Yang is a much better one, in fact it is said "Manners maketh man" but in fact in this case Manners maketh quite a few runs, retiring quickly on 29 including a 6!
Ying continued to hold one end up, a valuable resource, but fell for 5. Other Mike didn't trouble the scorers. Well actually he did, because even though he wasn't in for long, there's still a lot of admin to clear up when a wicket falls.
Robin was next and played some flourishing shots and in fact carried his bat - an excellent contribution. Monsieur Moulin joined him but unfortunately played a Barolo shot when clearly a Chateauneuf du Papes was required and as with Other Mike, didn't, well did, trouble the scorers.
Calm Carl was in next and it was another "not troubling the scorers" event. As he came off looking somewhat dejected, Jono gave him a piece of paper with a telephone number on it, and he went off to make a call. Unfortunately he was on speaker phone and we could hear some of the call:
"Thank you for calling Cricket Samaritans, at the moment we are experiencing a high volume of calls but your call is important to us so please choose from one of the following options: Press one for "Run Out by Will", press two for "Golden Duck"..."
Calm Carl resurfaced at The View, a much happier man.
Other Rob, still suffering arse trouble entered the fray and Yanged a bit also hitting a 6 in his 25 not out.
Duncan replaced OR and immediately there was a no ball. Or judging by the agony Duncan was in, this was our conclusion. Dunc faced three balls, started with two and ended with one, very confusing.
Moving on, Will Whale (who had "bowled" earlier) came in looking for redemption and found it in a nice cameo partnership with Robin and between them they got BP over the line to a great victory, Will ending on 9no and Robin 19no.
And there is was, our third victory of the season, played 6, won 3, lost 3 - not bad at all.
After the match there was only one thing to do and that was retire to The View for the post match analysis and interviews, the Champagne Moment, beers and crisps and for me to nick Jono's excellent sketch idea (cheers Jono!).
Great evening chaps, thoroughly enjoyed it!
Saturday 17 June 2023, Cavaliers, Riverside Park
Team - Will, Rob T, Neil, Gav, Jon, Robin, Milo, Finley, O Rob, Carl, Pete H
For the Cavs Lewis
The Fathers Day massacre ….. So the Ashes are on!
Two great teams with such history going head to head in historic and iconic pitches … no wonder the nation is gripped ...this has been what the world is waiting for …and incidentally England are playing Australia at cricket on TV.
Bp vs The Cavs... love them, great team, great mates too. Few tasty ringers in there to support some of the veterans We turn up strong, and have 12. Lewis goes over and casually says he has to be gone for five. Little did we know that Lewis on a time-clock with a bat in his hand is a dangerous combination. It was like giving a baby a Kalashnikov.
Mr and Mrs Sumpter Senior have come to watch their boy have a game, all the way from Ooop North ...Finley and Milo are home from their “studies' ' so we feel we are in good nick.
The skipper wins the toss and we bat. Gav and Rob T go out. Its hot and humid, the pitch looks fast and true and finally free of the travelling community (drop it Rob Sawyer, don't start yourself off). Carlos fields for the Cavs with his usual enthusiasm, in fact asks if can have a bowl for them “just to get his eye in“ … I mean really that man is built of wire and enthusiasm!!!!
The Cavs bowl well and tight. Gav and Rob play well and hold the line and rotate the strike like a couple of clubsters. Gavs family settle in to watch ther son score a big one and I tell Gav that “I'm sure he has a fifty in him today” … and yes he did, he had a fifty minus forty three (carry the one). He played on ….damn it.
Rob T resplendent in his new BP cricket badge and hat and shirt….just bats well and calmly, he knocks the ball around and runs singles and builds. Neil arrives and gets some surprising short stuff off a gentleman slow bowler, he sways out of the way like a panther. The pitch has some demons in it, a bit of legacy from the caravans maybe (again Rob Sawyer, just let it go).
Neil goes after looking good and Finley comes in and gets going with Rob. Both players look good and comfortable. After drinks we are around 70 and thinking of a big score.
The day heats up. Jono and I are umpiring in the heat and it affects the counting of balls. The phrase between the two umpires was “how many left?”. The answers ranged from one to five (OK carry the one etc.). Rob T just starts to play so skillfully and times the ball more and more, cruises past fifty and just bats on. Finley gets out in the BP style of thin edge that no one really appeals and walks…that made me happy. That's how we play, that's why we have the magic in this team.
Robin up next to accompany Rob and bats at speed and with his cap on backwards (skipper have a word with the son and heir …(Ed: Perhaps he should have a second BPCC badge on the back of the hat). He bats really well and plays without fear and we jog along at pace. Rob T is now crashing some wonderful cricket shots and getting near a century!! Only the second in club history , or third, we can never remember ( Ed: actually it will be the 4th if he makes it to three figures (no spoilers here). Anyway, Robin runs and runs which Rob T who had been batting all session in the heat was clearly grateful for …in a way. Robin goes after some nice shots and Milo returns to the field after uni looking to get on with it. Rob T is in the nineties and it was all getting a bit stressful. We are all aware, willing him to get the big one and he looks so damn good. I decided to absent myself from telling him the score because, 1. I didn't know it, and 2. if I did it was probably gonna be wrong (carry the 1..hundred). Then he smashes one high, wide and handsome. Unfortunately to one of their best fielders who catches it in the deep. Anyone else would have not caught it and he is out for 95. Damn it !! He leaves with a massive round of applause because he did so damn well . He just missed out but has given us such a great platform.
Jono came out and I had to tell him it wasn't his fault and he wasn't to be too upset. I also suggested to the skipper that shouting “ring ding ding'' at the point Rob left the field probably wasn't a great idea, which he agreed.
Milo then ran Jono up and down the wicket like a spaniel. Jono was very grateful to run a number of threes and we finished on 195.
Cake today was a very tasty Victoria sponge made by the little Sumpters and ginger cake supplied by Carl. I was concerned he had made it during the batting but he said no. I also disregarded the claim that he had laced his cake with ketamine to enhance team performance, although I did feel a bit more energised after a slice (Ed: who doesn't feel better after a slice of cake?).
So to bowl. We rolled out feeling good. Rob Ts colour had returned to normal after his body temp cooled from his marathon innings. The human seal pup that is Carl is firing the ball down with spice and venom and then to some cheery comments … Lewis opens. Lovely stuff thinks I (who put him at 11 in his first game with us). I just wanted him to score a couple of runs and feel good. Obviously I know the game.
Gav S opens with some ace bowling straight and true and then Lewis starts smashing the ball to all quarters. I would like to revisit the "couple of runs to feel good comment" again . Lewis can bat and is mustard. Carl bowls fast and true. I'm sure I caught him clapping everyone during his bowling action, but I can't be sure.
Gav gets Duncan early and is delighted and seems to have his measure, a bit like Broad and Warner [he asked me to say that]. Pete Hutch bowls well and straight. Lewis is now battering the ball to all quarters with strength and timing …they score well and rapidly …and he forms an aggressive partnership with James from Christ Church or Eastleigh or OMCC or pretty well anyone else we have played this year.
They hurtle along and we toil hard. The BP hard man that is Jono bowls well and straight and Milo is quick and fierce but Lewis is nailing it. The skipper moves the field well and we are holding the line, just. It's hot work. Rob Sawyer puts his pen down from writing a strongly worded letter about homoeopaths and bowls a good over but sadly has a niggle that takes him out of the attack but in true BP style he won't go off.
Rob T (95) has a bowl and needs something that will make him feel a bit better. He bowls well and Lewis chips one to BPs hardest man (Jono) who drops one which is unlike him. Rob T then drops one off Jono so the juggling continues ..a few others drop the damn thing …but Lewis is battling so well. A great innings brought to a close by the skipper who took his off stump. He had batted like a warrior!!
Everyone on the BP team fielded well and Carl led the enthusiasm in the heat ...and finally we won, they just didn't score enough. A brilliant game and well played. I dunno, there is a sense of joy in this team that just builds. It starts with looking forward to the game in the week and then the game is played well and in the right spirit. Then we go to the pub and it's just nice. If you glance around you see groups chatting and laughing and then we go home and share nice moments and laugh via Whatsapp .
Great day. Well done Rob for just doing so well. Well done Lewis for batting and playing for the Cavs. Well done Carl for making me laugh all day and well done everyone in this team, we are so, so lucky.
“From this day to the end of the world ,but we in it shall be remembered. We few we happy few, we band of brothers.”
Tuesday 20 June, Shirley CC, Sports Centre
Team - Robin, Will, Gavin, Howard,Finley Pete H Jono, Milo, Carl, Lewis, Neil
Result - BP came a magnificent second
Match report coming soon sports fans, if anyone wants to write it.
Saturday 24th June 2023, Christ Church, Winchester, Sports Centre Pitch 3 up near the golf coursse
Team – Rob, Neil, Finley, Gav, Robin, Will, Milo, Jono, Phil M, Duncan, Howard
It was a hot and heavy day as the bold warriors of Bitterne Park set out to face off against Christchurch upon Pitch 3 at the Sports Centre. Having received something of a beating from them earlier in the season, and seeing several familiar faces, (Including Mr Edwards, the perennial BPCC opponent this season), there was a general feeling of needing to pull out the A-game, or at least, some decent cake. Fortunately, on this day, both arrived. Also arriving was a small pack of Golden Retrievers, handled by Duncan.
With the traditional hand at the wheel absent, Will took up the captaincy, and proved his skills by winning the toss! (Ed: Huzzah! I taught him everything he knows) He then chose to bowl, believing the sweltering heat and exposed pitch would motivate us to get our fielding innings over quickly so we could return to the shady covers of the shelter. Christchurch sent out their batsmen, BP took up a "We'll defend the boundaries here boys" approach, and the first ball was away.
The bowling was opened by a study of contrasts. From one end, Milo pinged balls down at the batsmen like they were coconuts, while at the other end, Jono sent long looping deliveries that seemed to slow down the moment the batsman began to move to hit them. A magnificent opening six overs saw a tight lid kept on the run rate and a neat wicket to send Steve back to the boundary.
Gav and Rob T then came on to bowl, with a second showing of bowling like day and night (not that it changed the time the batsmen were having at the crease), continuing in fine fettle. So much so, that by the first drink break (10 overs due to extreme heat), the opponents had scored 33. Another over from the Northman and Rob saw Phil Moulin and Will come on.
Now, we know Phil can bowl. We saw that as he and Will continued to click down wickets, including some impressive scalps such as T.Lovegrove and the recurrent J.Edwards. However, Phil doesn't seem to know this, as he didn't stop apologising to us, every time he got a wicket and we came in to congratulate him. Highlights of the field include a wrist-breaking catch from Duncan, and a lovely run out by Rob T and Howard. Between Phil and Will building a set of bowling figures apiece that quite frankly shouldn't appear in a BPCC stat sheet, it seemed that we were on track to keep Christchurch below 100. Then a fly in the ointment appeared, with a South African accent.
Mr Hamman, "The Hammer" seemed to
enjoy Will and Phil's bowling. He happily hit balls that travelled past many fielders whose main reaction was "Wait, is that ball near me? No, it's past me.
Oh." This brought Will and Phil's stats in line with some of their finest performances, rather than needing investigation by the ECB. However, like all good things, bad things must come to an end,
and with a beautiful plum ball, Phil sent the South African back to his team, to much rejoicing from BP, who could see hours at the pub becoming hours spent in the field with every passing
ball.
The last two wickets fell soon after, and Christchurch ended their batting innings of 21 overs plus change at 105. Returning to prepare, decipher some interesting scoring techniques, and indulge in lemon-lime drizzle cake
provided by the House of Sumpter (Thanks girls!), the batting order was pulled from cyber-space, and put to paper, and with a need of "TIP" (Time in Pub) for Rob T, BPCC headed into their batting.
Gav and the above mentioned Rob opened, and soon got off to a flying start, with help from BPCC regular Mr. Extras, who
seemed to have been absent for much of the fielding innings (Only 8 extras boys!). So good was this opening, that by
the close 6th over, the score sat at a comfortable 69 runs, with several boundaries for Rob, and a magnificent 6 for Gav (unfortunately missed by his daughters, as the three golden retrievers were
far more interesting). That's when the ointment was opened, and "The Hammer" flew in again, this time with the ball.
The South African went on, alongside Duncan (Not our one), and promptly took Rob T's bails off. Rob seemed happy with his 42 as he came in, as he got to indulge in cake (having just missed the arrival of the House of Sumpter). Neil made a firm stand alongside Gav, till Gav was bowled by the South African as well for 13. Finley headed out, but unfortunately hit a high ball not quite hard enough, and returned. Milo then headed outwards, with a cry of "I'll be back soon". Dread gripped the hearts of the watchers, fearing that they would have to go in to bat, and indeed, Neil was caught out soon after. Jono had been recalled from ball-finding missions, and it was looking as though Duncan would have to re-tie up his pack of hounds in order to pad up. However, our fears were unfulfilled, as Milo and Jono ran a single, then watched as a ball went past the wicket keeper for four byes.
A firm victory was obtained, with nearly half of the innings in hand. After congratulating Will for having engineered so much more time at the Pub, the team retired to the View, with an intent of enjoying the rest of afternoon sun from atop a different hill than Pitch 3.
Wednesday 5 July, Deportivo, Sports Centre
Cancelled due to rain.
Saturday 8 July, Cavaliers, Riverside Park
Cancelled . Opinions differ as to why this match was called off. The Cavs were short of players certainly but the weather forecast was also looking dodgy. There is only one thing cricketers hate more than a cancelled fixture and that is getting rained off during a match. Here is why:
Start match.
Doing OK.
It starts to rain.
Play on whilst getting wet.
Doing even better.
Rain gets heavier.
Argue with the umpire that "It's not that bad" and that "It's definitely clearing up. Look, there's a bit of blue sky over there". If you are behind at this point arguing that its "Totally unplayable" and "The run-up is dangerous".
Getting really soaked.
Going off.
Trying to shelter under a small hut with no sides but actually still getting really drenched as there is only room for six people and there are twenty-two of you.
Waiting for it to clear up.
Telling your team mates you really hope it clears up but actually just wanting to go to the pub.
Giving up.
Going to the pub.
Wednesday 19 July, OMCC, Sports Centre
Team - Neil,Gav, Rob T, Milo, Jono, James V, Robin, Carl, Pete H, Howard, Will
Awaiting match report.
Batting
Neil 25 ret
Gav 10
Rob T 23
Milo 23
Jono 8
James 18 no
Bowling
Gav 3-0-8-0
Carl 3-0-7-0
Will 3-0-24-2
Milo 3-0-20-0
Jono 3-0-28-0
Pete H 2-0-15-0
Rob T 1-0-14-0
Spoiler alert - We lost. OMCC 130, BPCC 124
Saturday 5 August, Eastleigh BC, Riverside Park
Rain and rain, followed by a bit more rain resulted in the match being cancelled. Several regulars took the opportunity to have a net and hone their skills. In a change to our usual approach we opted for pub first, followed by the net. We have now got strong evidence that this is the wrong way to do things for anyone over the age of 30. Still, a lovely way to spend the afternoon.
Wednesday 23 August, Deportivo, Sports Centre
Team - Rob S, Phil Moulin, Pete H, Robin, Other Mike, Neil, Gav, Will, Jon, Howard, Milo,
Last evening game of the season and were on pitch four up at the Sports Centre. Batting first things did not go to plan. Rob's early six gave us confidence but wickets regulalry fell until Robin came in. His 26 n.o. helped us get to 94 off 16 overs. This did not look like a massive score given the short boundary on one side of the wicket.(Ed: there was a corresponding longer boundary on theother side, enabling a very rare 3 to be run)
Gav got things off to the perfect start. Deportivo went for it form ball one and chipped one in the air which Gav pounced on like it was a slice of lemon drizzle. Gav got a second wicket and then Will also decided to get in on the whole first ball wicket thing by picking up an LBW with his first delivery. A theory was briefly espoused that we should only bowl in one-ball spells. We battled but did not have the best of days in the field. Deportivo accelerated and wrapped things up with overs to spare as the sun was disappearing behind thickening cloud making for poor visibility.
Things improved dramatically once we got to The View. Surprising how quickly our mood is boosted by a few bags of crisps and peanuts. As the sun set we chatted about just about anything other than the match just played. Is it possible this is our natural home rather than the cricket pitch? In truth we probably need both to make a perfect evening.
Next up, the Ashes at Cheriton.
Saturday 2 September, Caviliers, Cheriton
Team - An 'All Stars' 14. Will, Jon, Pete H, Robin, Milo, Finlay, O Mike, Howard, Phil Moulin, Neil, Gavin, Rob T, Samson, James V.
Today was a special day. Yes, it was the deciding fixture in our annual 'ashes' series against The Caviliers, but it was much much more than that.
The Whale family are an intrinsic part of BPCC. If you look at our first scorecard you will see the name Whale several times and they remain vital to the team to this day. We regularly turn out with four of the Whale family in the side. Sadly Jilly Whale, mother / grandmother to these players, passed away a couple of years ago.
Jilly was not just a part of BPCC, she also worked with many of the Cavaliers team over the years. So much so that The Cavaliers wanted to hold a match in her memory. We were of course delighted by this lovely gesture. The format was quickly agreed. We would play a match and invite players past and present to participate. A proper cricket tea would replace our traditional scotch egg and tin of warm Skol lager. There would be a raffle to raise funds for the British Red Cross.
Jon set up a 'Just giving' page whilst the Cavaliers sent out assorted carrier pigeons in an attempt to "get the band back together for one last gig". With two days to go Will set off on a 48 hour sandwichathon to ensure we had enough to sustain us. Finally the day arrived.
So, this is the boring bit. BP won the toss and batted first. Rob T timed the ball beautifully, making light of the heavy cut grass in the outfield to race to 31 before retiring. Neil replaced him and carried on in the same manner before he retired on 34. Finlay then decided to up the pace by trying to hit every ball to the boundary. He didn't quite manage it but came close.
Throughout all of this Gav remained stolic at the other end. Not helped by the odd way that the Cheritons pitch means you are always hitting the ball up the slope, he struggled to score but kept his wicket intact and ran tirelessly for his batting partners. Finlay got to 31 by hitting a big 6 and promptly retired. Enter his brother Milo. Determined to get ON WITH IT from the off Milo played two big shots. Unfortunately neither made contact with the ball and he was bowled by Richard by the second of these. Not the first BP player or indeed member of the Whale family to fall to Richard over the years.
Gavin then got to his 30 and retired for a well earned rest, allowing Mr Moulin to enter the fray. Phil played some lovely shots whilst at the same time berating himself after just about every delivery, irrespective of if he has just cracked it for four or not. This is trademark Moulin and what we love about him. Well, that and the free wine. More of which later.
There were cameos by Robin and James enabling BP to set a challenging target of 197 for the Cavs to win.
At this point we should say a bit about the Cavs team for today. As previously mentioned they had circulated a call for past players and they did not dissapoint. Many old faces turned out including Arthur, Brian, Adrian, Ian and Johns McGavin and Oldfield. Both Kendrick and Tom Lawson also brought their sons who proved useful with both bat and ball. Now, with a few players a bit rusty having not played for between 10-20 years it was always going to be tough against a strong BP side but they battled bravely in the field and where unlucky not to take more wickets.
In reply Arvind and Tom opened the batting for Cavs. This was not great for BP with many of our players having flash-backs to days gone past when this pair would post 50 before we had really got going. BP were grateful to see both back in the hutch, with Arvind in particular unlucky to be run out going for a second that looked on but did not cater for O Mike's superb throw.
On a hot day BP rotated the bowling regularly, using twelve different bowlers in total (did I mention it was 14 a side). Hard to pick a stand-out performance but the following all posted excellent figures [overs-maidens-runs-wickets]; O Mike (3-2-1-1), Will (3-2-1-0), Samson (3-0-5-0), Gav (3-1-3-0), Milo (2-0-4-1) and Phil Moulin (1-0-2-1). Phil was obviously furious with himself after such a performance.
The Cavs batted with true tenacity and saw out the full 30 overs to reach 82, with Duncan top scoring on 21. Game to BP.
Today however was not about the result. Today was about friendship. The real highlights were the chats with those we had not seen for many a year. Also worthy of note was the mountain of sandwiches, quiche, pizza and cake on offer, largely thanks to Will (cheers big fella). He knew he was catering for 14 a side but may have forgotten to carry the one. There certainly seemed to be food enough for 114 players per side, plus assorted small children (and one dog).
The raffle when down a storm. Mr Moulin provided some excellent plonk with others contributing bottles of varying age and quality. There was also a pair of bright yellow cricket pads signed by the Judge himself Robin Smith. We will have to wait to see if the lucky recipient is brave enough to wear them during a match. The Cavs had also donated a lovely cake in honour of Jilly. In total over £1,000 was raised for the Red Cross. Who thought you could do so much good whilst having such a good time.
The day ended in the Flower Pots beer garden with time to recall old friends both present and absent. A great way to end a fantastic day.
Saturday 16 September, Christ Church, Cheriton
Team- Will, Jono, Robin, Neil, Gav, Howard, Samson, Mark A, Sam, James V, Rob T.
It was an overcast but fair day as BPCC arrived for their final game of the season at the always beautiful Cheriton. The outfield was mown, the tea was brewing, and Mark A had turned up for his first
game of the season! He’d also brought his daughter’s boyfriend, Sam. More on Sam later. Christchurch, a “Good team”, “Great Team”, “Tricky Cricket Team”, and “Solid Team” as Will described
them across the 5 team huddles of the game, had turned up with some new faces, familiar ones, and James E, who by the author’s recollection, should be BPCC’s most played against player this season,
having turned out for at least 4 different sides against us.
Christchurch won the toss, and chose to bowl, prompting a welcome move towards tea for most of BPCC as we watched Rob T and Gav head out to face off against the assault of Christchurch. Rob T and Gav
settled in, and with Gav facing nearly double the balls of Rob, soon were looking a little done with watching a nicely walloped ball either roll up the bowl-edge of Cheriton to stop just before the
boundary, or go straight with a single bounce to a fielder. The rest of BPCC were happily chatting on the sidelines, drinking tea, and enjoying watching the score tick up to a tidy 70 by drinks, Gav
on 30, and Rob T on 28 (Extras, a regular both for and against BP had made up the difference). Rob was clearly feeling done, and Will, at the helm, felt that he wanted Gav to get his 50, and needed a
bit of a run rate boost. So, once Rob hit a few boundaries and runs, came in at 50, as the batting order was shuffled and the author went out at number 3.
The author went in and got down to the type of batting that either runs out the other batsman, or gets himself out. Fortunately, seeing the run rate going up, and liking that his plan of injecting
some nitrous into the engine had worked, Will felt he should empty the rest of the tank in. The author returned, retiring on 13, leaving Gav on 41, and hankering for his 50. Sam then walked in.
Sam had been introduced to us as Mark A’s daughter’s boyfriend, and by Jon to the other team as “one of our player's boyfriend”. The response of “How lovely” might have not been forthcoming if the Christchurch player Jon was chatting to had had the gift of foresight. Sam had arrived in a club shirt (A club Arvind used to play against when he was younger), but was coming off a season-preventing injury, and wanted to get back into the swing of things. His first swing of things sent the ball for 6 and nearly through 6 parked cars. He followed this with a few 4s, 2 doubles and a single, before retiring on 23, with Gav staring at his 50, now only 6 runs away. James V went in, and after fending off half an over of bowling, much to the tension of the sidelines, Gav soon got a nice double, and retired, a career first 50 in pocket, after playing nearly the whole game at the crease. (Ed: just like a fortnight ago at Cheriton. Methinks he likes batting there) Samson went in to face the last 4 balls of the innings, racking up 6 before coming in, leaving BPCC on a highly competitive 171, with no fallen wickets.
Cricket tea, not as large as on the 2nd, but equally as welcome was then had, with excellent brownies (This time, Mark A’s other daughter bringing excellent value to the team!). BPCC were hankering to get to the pub, so gathered on the square for the traditional turning over of the arms, before getting stuck into the fielding.
James V and Samson opened the bowling, and both soon had their eyes in, sending solid and respectable bowling down for 5 overs, sending Tim L back to
the pavilion. The first change over brought on Will, and Sam, who it turns out could also bowl a nifty left hand swing. Will continued on excellent form, getting another first ball wicket, and James
E fell to a delightful run-out from Gav, surprising most of the field who were still half way through congratulating him for stopping the ball in the first place, so hard had it been smacked in his
direction.
More wickets fell, and by half time, Christchurch were on a safe looking 50 odd. A quick round of drinks (non-alcoholic) refreshed BPCC for the next few spells, with Jono and Gav swapping onto the
bowling. Wickets continued to fall, and despite some runs from Arvind of a man half his age. Christchurch were bowled out with around 10 overs to go. Congratulations, another huddle, and prizes were
followed by a retiring to the Pots, joined by Phil M, who saw a great excuse to pick up a few pints of his favourite non-aged tipple by pretending he was here to hang out with us! All in all, a fine
end to an excellent season.
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