Accidents will happen whenever Abridge pay us a visit. Last year one of their number was hit smack on the nut by his own fielder returning the ball to the bowlers end. Cue ice, recovery position and his Dad whisking him away to Harlow General A&E where a 3 1/2 hour wait followed. A broken cheek bone was the diagnosis.
Edward bowled a slower delivery on Saturday. The batsman hoiked it towards the mid wicket boundary where JW and Bomber were lurking. At this stage is 70:30 JW's ball. Bomber is moving quickly from square-ish leg. 60:40. MINE! yells Bomber. JW continue to follow the ball. 50:50. The rest writes itself. True to Newton's 2nd law about force = mass x velocity JW is polaxed. Bomber is also on the ground. So is the ball, nestled between them. Great Canfield meets the Keystone Cops. Okay its not that funny but it did kind of sum up a comedy of errors sort of day. For those with a weak constitution look away now.
It was tough getting a team due to injury (Mike is on painkillers due to knackering his neck and shoulder last Sunday, Andy Goodwin has a badly cut hand) illness (Andy Davis got a virus or food poisoning ruling him out of this game and the 20:20 played on Friday against Dunmow - which we lost), holidays (Ali on some kind of gastro-sailing holiday to Amsterdam, Steve had taken the kids to Thorpe Park) and work (Bretty, Brucie, et al). So we were done to 9 and that included Ed, his mate Nick Coupe and young Tom Pierson making his debut. Angus got Andy and Tim to guest at short notice so we had 11 but it was not our strongest line-up, esp in the batting/bowling/fielding depts. Abridge had their A Team out. Joy.
I won the toss and put them in on the basis that everyone making the effort to turn out for Canfield would at least get a bat. They made 302 for 4 in 39 overs and smacked us all over the park. Tim bowled very well without any luck and well done to young Nick Coupe for his 2-33 off 4 overs. I got the other two wickets, including their larger-than-life skipper John first ball with probably my best delivery of the season. We needed something to save us. There was no way our batting line up would survive 20 overs let alone 40.
Thank the lord for the rain. Just before tea it started (Canfield had missed all the rain in the morning) so we came off an over early. Then the heavens opened. For over an hour - the wicket was actually flooded at one stage and Paul took some snaps for prosperity. It thundered, it lightening-ed, it hailed. Match abandoned. Bad luck Abridge. We still have out unbeaten record at home.
Canfield Man of the Match: Angus - for great 'keeping all day. Our bowlers (me included) ought to be very grateful considering the amount of legside rubbish he has to deal with at the moment.
Champagne Moment: My delivery to snare John their Captain first ball.
Keystone Cops Moment: JW and Bomber's bumps-a-daisy
Pre-Match Quote: Angus "It'll be sunny like this ALL AFTERNOON....."
Thanks to Ruth for standing in at the 12th hour to do tea when no-one else could. I think it is PoB's turn next Saturday (home vs Dunmow, 2pm for a 2.30 start) can someone tell Patrick please? Thanks also for Tim and Andy for helping us out and such short notice and sorry you never got a bat boys. Well done Tom P who bowled his 2 overs at the end very well (and returned better figures than Bomber!).
A note to all bowlers. There are 3 stumps. The space to the left (if bowling to a right hander) is outside off. That's were we should all try and aim. The bit on the right is 'down leg side'. Avoid bowling there when we have a short legside boundary to defend. And lets all try to pitch it up? Needless to say this advice applies to me as much as anyone. But come along now, enough is enough.
'till Saturday.
Preecherman
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