23rd June away vs B&NO

Well this could be another one for a call to TMS……

Picture the idle of an Oxfordshire countryside lower league cricket game, crème teas and “I say, howzat old chap”, song thrush and polite applause for an elegant cover drive…….think again!  Try the roar of the M40, partisan umpiring and people with their heads so far up their own rule books (yes I’m sure you thought I was going to say something else).

Bicester &NO won the toss and elected to bat and OBNCC took the field with 10 men with one A Baines delayed.  The openers took about their task steadily and the OBNCC opening attack of Norton and Taylor took control.  Norton bowled a great spell of seven overs and was unlucky as two chances went straight to first slip, unfortunately as we had only ten on the field first slip was fielding at Gully!  Taylor bowled with his usual control of line and length getting through 15 overs for just 25 runs with two strong (blatant) stumpings being turned down.  As is becoming customary Baldwin joined Taylor in the middle overs and the already pedestrian scoring rate was slowed further.

As Taylor tired Chambers came on to reap revenge over his previous team mates with loop which clearly confused the batsmen including the dangerous Booker into suicidal charging and resultant stumpings.  As B&NO started looking to accelerate Norton was brought back to partner Greenwood who between them took five wickets for six runs in twenty eight deliveries to bowl B&NO out for the paltry sum of 139.

Due to the seeming difficulty of the B&NO umpires to see the obvious stumping decisions West requested a remarking and roller (something he had obviously picked up from watching cricket on the tele), to the incredulity of the B&NO captain.  If you are aware of the lightening fast speed that it takes a crew of twenty men to paint the Forth Rail Bridge then you will have been amazed that apparently it takes fifty five (yes 55) minutes to give the wicket a quick roll and mark the lines.  Now we are not a team of cynics but it might have had something to do with the onset of the rain which must have been the only way B&NO felt they could save the game at this point.

I’m tempted to say the reply was smooth and straightforward…….and indeed it was.  When Hutchence and Bennett finally got to the crease the early progress was made extensively in wides and byes before Bennett fell bowled to a good delivery, but then Baines and Hutchence set about the attack in positive manner putting on 94 in under twenty overs.  The partnership was characterised by aggressive hitting and good running by both and at one point as Baines left strike and Hutchence arrived the bowler was seen putting the field back to protect the boundaries or get a catch in the deep (that’s one to cut out and keep for the scrap book).   

However it was unfortunately punctuated by a sorry incident when Hutchence was given out handled ball as he picked it up to throw it back to the bowler.  I think the less said about this the better except that this wasn’t their finest hour and I shouldn’t think they will be bragging about it in the bar later, in fact ever.

Liebenburg’s debut was unfortunately marred by a first baller before West and then Kerr Senior supported Baines home as he finished with a majestic cover drive to bring up 141 for 4 and his own 68 not out in style and bag the full 30 pts for Blondies with nearly 20 overs to spare.