2026 Season Review

Season Summary

Played one, won one. With a 100% record we are statistically the (joint) top cricket team in the World in 2026. This is unlikely to continue but we will enjoy it whilst we can.      

Saturday 9 May 2026 - Christ Church Winchester - Riverside Park

So the season starts at Riverside, in the humidity, and there have been encouraging signs that the wicket has been cared for in the off-season, and that the hoodies and footballers have kept off the square.

We also had a series of new officials in the team from Finance, H, CP Officer H, Level Two Umpire H, and Gav in Procurement and Logistics. We also had a new scoreboard, which was exciting once we made it, and Dave P got it user-friendly.

Neil scored like a man who knows his way around a complex spreadsheet, and I rather liked the way that, if he wasn’t sure, he just rubbed something out and it seemed to balance the books.

We were playing Christchurch, who always show up strong, and again they did. We won the toss and chose to bat, apparently we always do that anyway, so there were no surprises there then.

Rob T of “Treetops House” opened with “Marathon-a-Day” James, and they did well, building quickly and strongly. H was umpire in full ECB memorabilia, including keyring and mini torch. He was supported by Jono, who looked good in a light pastel.

After the losses of Rob and James, we welcomed Gav and Simon to the crease, and they got on with it, carrying on the good work of the openers. The pitch behaved, with only a few “Riverside specials”.

Christchurch were a 13, owing to a few youngsters wanting to play, and I let them all field because we obviously want youngsters to feel part of team sports, and how lovely to give them a look at adult cricket, etc. etc.. Little did we know they could all bat and bowl and had arms on them. It was like playing against 13 adults, albeit some of those adults still believed in the Easter Bunny.

After the loss of Simon, the mighty Daz joined “the flashing blade” Sumpter, and there were a lot of running threes, which we know can be taxing. On 17, Daz came in for a sit down and some of Carl’s nuts, which he often brings to a local park, I’m told.

We finished on a competitive 146. After no catering from the catering depot, I fear those days have gone. We got into it.

Dan Chadwick was keeping a low profile as the Cavs were playing on the other pitch and he didn’t want to rile them up. Nno one likes academics kicking off.

Christchurch are a strong batting team and we opened with Dan C and Simon, who did well, then Will and Gav. Gav nailed two in two, including the dangerous Luke, and was just denied a hat-trick. Carl couldn’t bowl with a “dodgy rotator cuff”. I suggested a decent tailor should sort that, but he just walked away shaking his head.

The Christchurch colts batted well and managed to give me, Simon, and even possibly Rob T some chat. They ran between the wickets like mini road runners, with a voice volume that could break windows.

Excellent bowling returns from James V, Rob T, Simon, and Dan. Jono bowled his dangerous loopy full-length stuff and only apologised a few times, to their batsmen.

Daz, who had returned to the pitch a light shade of salmon, took a great slip catch.

Fielding was ace, and a superb catch in the deep from Carl really made it our day. We bowled them out for 88. H kept wicket really well, got harassed by a fly and knocked over by Steve. Someone shouted “it’s kicking off”, but Howard, ever the total banker, laughed it off and dusted himself down.

So, Gav took a five-for, scored 47 runs, Daz was alive, we all had a nice time, and went to the pub. And we won, so that’s all good then. BP unbeaten in May!

Wednesday 13 May 2026 - Brookfield School - venue TBC

Wednesday 27 May 2026 - OMCC - Away fixture, venue TBC

Saturday 30 May 2026 - Cavaliers - Riverside Park

Wednesday 10 June 2026 - Shirley CC - Away fixture, venue TBC

Saturday 13 June 2026 - Eastleigh Baptist - Riverside Park

Wednesday 17 June 2026 - St Cross House - Away fixture, venue TBC

Saturday 27 June 2026 - Eastleigh Baptist - Riverside Park

Wednesday 15 July 2026 - Deportivo - Away fixture, venue TBC

Saturday 18 July 2026 - Cavaliers - Riverside Park

Saturday 25 July 2026 - Christ Church Winchester - Riverside Park

Wednesday 29 July 2026 - OMCC - Away fixture, venue TBC

Wednesday 19 August 2026 - Deportivo - Away fixture, venue TBC

Saturday 5 September 2026- Brookfield School - Cheriton

Saturday 12 September 2026 - TBC - Cheriton

Other matches BP players are invited to play;

Saturday 8 August 2026 - Christ Church v RoTW - Cheriton

Saturday 15 August - Cavaliers & friends v ECB & friends - Riverside

Saturday 22 August - Cavaliers & friends v ECB & friends - Riverside