BTCC V Bourton Vale

A home match against Bourton Vale, and we finally were able to pick a strong side and were looking for back to back wins.

It was a funny day all round, as the 1^st X1 were playing the opposing fixture away and Bourton 1^st had two players banned which meant were we both playing slightly weaker sides.

You could imagine my frustration upon receiving a call at 10.15 from their 2^nd X1 captain informing me that they only had 9 players and were going to gift us the win.

Better cancel the teas then, 10.19 they were back on the phone we’ve got ten players and are on our way.

We elected to bat after winning the toss and with Abs at 8 and Chrissie G at 9 we were looking for a good total.

Davies and Greg Shepherd opened the bowling for Bourton Vale.

This may get confusing as there were now 4 Shepherds playing in the game so keep up.

Dave and Matt gave us a flying start with an opening partnership of 94 after the first 23 overs, Matt was then trapped LBW by Davies having scored a stylish 40.

Davies bowled unchanged for 17 overs and regularly hit a nice green patch short of a length that kept all batsmen honest and made the ball skip around.

Dave was joined by Steve Gordon in the middle, and they added a further 54 runs, until the Bourton captain Langley came on to bowl his leg spin, he trapped Dave LBW, and  Stu Cooper was caught behind the next ball for a golden, Langley was on a hatrick we were 148-3.

Jude survived and settled in with Steve pushing the score onto 170-5.

Steve was then the third LBW victim again off Langley.

Darren walked to the crease, unable at the moment to buy a run and his quest continues as he was sent back for nought, LBW to guess who(yep) Langley we were now 196-6.

Moments that influence a game Jude 39 off 23 balls faced, added much needed impetus to the match, Brookys added 11 and Abs and Chris were not out at the end we were 214-7

We opened with Darren and Chris, Darren looking to find that green patch and he bowled some unplayable deliveries, but it was Chris who struck in his 2^nd over bowling Mark Arthurs for 1, he was at it again the following over bowling the other opener Boone for 9, he then had Nicholson caught by Jude for 2.

Darren could not get into a rhythm and was going at 6 an over so after 6 overs he was replaced by Kane.

Moments that influence a game, Kane’s first ball a low full toss spooned by Cartlidge to Cooper when he was on 23 and looking dangerous, I was mildly embarrassed but it’s a wicket in the book.

Chris struck again in his 6^th over bowling the captain Langley with a straight full one, and they were 5 down with the score on 51.

I replaced Chris with Ben Shepherd (the fourth one)

Arthurs jnr played a determined innings blocking a lot of deliveries and he was joined by Davies who smashed Kane for 4 followed by a 4 off Shepherd, he inexplicably left the following ball from Shepherd that skidded on and castled him.

Moments that don’t fortunately influence a game, Tom Brooks managed to drop Arthurs off Kanes bowling, the ball popped a bit, spooned up to Tom at short extra straight into his hands and some how proceeded to hit his chest and drop to the floor Arthurs batted through to the end.

Greg Shepherd then miss timed a shot and ballooned one to Mid on, Tom came charging round from Mid off but fortunately Chris was perfectly placed to take the catch, had there been a collision I may not have been as pleased 79-8.

Bourton Vale had been forced to pick 3 under 15’s and they did not disgrace themselves.

Matt Hemming was bowled by Kane for 9, undone by a full straight ball.

Dan Moore 14 years of age batted splendidly for his 19 but was bowled by the returning Greenway of his pads.

Sam Arthurs was 14 not out.

So an easier game than expected when I woke up on Saturday morning, and another 25 points.

We still need to tighten up in a few areas, concentration is key, walking in, getting the body behind the ball to stop sloppy fielding and taking the bloody catches, we let 4 slip today and stronger sides will punish us.

Bletchley Innings

Bourton Bowling

Bourton Innings

Bletchley Bowling