Peckers vs Banstead.
Barnstead, the place where Surrey captain and England International Rory Burns honed his cricketing skills as young buck, was also to stage the opening showdown of the season with the Peckers. Sunday’s match up would be the first time these two prestigious clubs would lock horns. The lads, keen to get some cricket under their belt even arrived early and took to the nets to help blow out the cobwebs that had been amassing over the covid prolonged off-season. One of the first to arrive was Shit Heap, who had poignantly caught a lift in the Lav-mobile. There was a collective groan as the team learnt we would be playing a 40 overs game, we were keener on 35 with very few of the Peckers confident about their post lockdown fitness.
With the toss predictably lost, we were sent out into the field, with Spinach being given the honour of christening the 2020 season for the Peckers. Spinach, identifying that the wicket was certainly more of a batting track, decided not to use it at all in his first over, instead launching a tirade of full tosses at their young opener. Unfortunately this proved rather ineffective, with the first over of the Peckers’ season going for a costly 16 runs. Perhaps Creamed Spinach would be a more apt nickname? Greasy (newly employed as Manager of a Hampshire Pub) steamed in from the other end with his long blond locks flailing in the wind but again did not fare well, with their young gun storming to a half-century within 10 overs, playing more like he was in a T20 than a 40 overs game.They were 135-1 for one off 15 overs and things were looking pretty desperate. Any edges seems to go through the Colin-Der of Colleen keeping and Shit Heap standing at slip…but possibly closer to Bogota.
Hygiene breaks where all players had their hands doused in sanitizer were frequent, time consuming and a little unusual, although for no one more than Shit Heap, who hadn’t washed his hands since the turn of the millennia. After some buffet bowling had allowed the hosts to race out into a commanding lead, Pobsy was quick to wield to the axe with is bowlers, hauling off the Cat after just one over to change to a spin attack as the Peckers were bleeding runs. Henners entered the fray and quickly broke the deadlock thanks to a comfortable catch from Greasy. As the young opener charged towards his century, on came Runky to give the youth of today a lesson, forcing the batsmen to loft the ball into the hands of Greasy yet again. The two continued to torment Banstead’s middle order, as the runs dried up and the wickets began to fall. Both were unfortunate not to walk away with more wickets, with El Colleen’s quick stumping off Henners’ bowling being chalked off after the Batsmen refused to walk, claiming that El Colleen had deceived him. Runky who was the pick of bowlers, could have had a five for had Pobsy and Spinach held on to a few catches, and did not hold back in letting Pobsy know what he thought about his captain drifting forward off the boundary rope. (It was a new batsman)
Once Runky’s masterclass had reached its conclusion Cousin Le Davide, who had already been busy in the field with a superb catch and a run out, picked up the reigns. After some probing deliveries, Cousin asked the batsman if he was ok and then proceeded to skittle him with a slower ball, a display of psychological mastery as much as a cricketing one. The hosts ended on healthy 273-7, but considering how free scoring their innings had started, the Peckers were not too disheartened as they headed off for a bring-your-own-match-tea. Cousin and El Colleen very kindly bringing enough to share with the Peckers who had forgotten theirs, or in Shit Heap’s case bought a ready meal prawn bhuna without a means of cooking it. As the beers began to flow by the club house, Cousin and Shit Heap went out into the middle to commence the chase. The pair started brightly and were starting to build a solid partnership before Cousin was triggered by stand in umpire El Colleen?, heading back with 17 runs to his name. Lav replaced him at the crease and quickly set about defending his record of hitting 50+ in every Peckers game he’s participated in. Shit Heap was dismissed for 29 shortly after and Henners joined Lavs at the crease with his parents watching on in anticipation.
With the Peckers on 49-2 you sensed a quiet confidence amongst the Banstead field. In the overs that followed, Lavs and Henners proceeded to tear this confidence to shreds, brutally dispatching bowlers old and young across the pleasant Surrey town. LP and Jim Baker watched in great appreciation from the terrace these fine batsmen. Both raced past the half century milestone with some brilliant stroke play, and although Lavs had to walk on 66 he had maintained his perfect Peckers record. With new wife Dr Kirsty and pooch Arnold in support, El Colleen headed to the square, and then shortly after walked back to the pavilion. It may be that the 2018 Pecker of the Year may still have the curse as due to covid we were unable to crown a 2019 champion.Younger brother Wilco then came into the fray and showed his sibling how it should be done, playing some clean shots on his way to 24 whilst Henners stormed to his ton, raising the bat in front of his proud parents. By the time the second Collier brother’s wicket had fallen, the result was a formality. Pobsy came in but Henners was in no mood to share the strike, instead fittingly chasing down the last few runs with boundaries. Despite what looked to be a big chase, with Henners and Lavs in the engine room, the Peckers cruised to victory in the 33rd over. A great first day back capped off with a good win. On to the next. Henners carried his bat to 120 not out off 74 balls. He has scored tons in both his previous seasons, and didn’t wait long for this one! He kindly bought a brace of jugs of Ale which we enjoyed in the balmy sunshine.
Woodpeckers 275-5 beat Banstead 273-7 by 5 wickets –link to Scorecard below https://woodpeckers.play-cricket.com/website/results/4216276
Pick of the Bowlers: Runky 3-39 (Econ: 4.88) Pick of the Batsmen: Henners 120* (SR: 162.16)
