This fixture encapsulates what Sunday village cricket is all about and why we all love it. A picturesque ground that dates back to 1815, a most welcoming opposition, fabulous tea and a cracking tavern with a wonderful beer garden and a gentleman’s agreement that no one should take it too seriously. The May bank holiday was kind to us, although the sun, clouds and wind played their dance in the sky keeping it interesting.
We lost the toss and were inserted by Ham who also claimed our new Huddersfield Cherry The rules were old school, declaration cricket in an 80 over game. We were honoured to have chief ICC cricket tv director, Borgav, umpiring fresh from his stint covering the PSL and Caribbean league and as he walked out to the middle his keen eye for detail must have noticed the international makeup of our opposition for the day, which included 5 Indians, 1 Afghan, 1 South African and a Trinidadian wonderfully named Bentley.
H&P opened with Akbar (yes, i know, this correspondent who initially accompanied Borgav in umpiring duties, was constantly turning around when he heard his name being called throughout the day, until he remembered no Pecker had ever called him by his real name…which for the record never was 🐘🧽 er).
The Afghan was bowling full inswingers at a skiddy speed on a surface that was sticky and his initial spell was right on the money. Facing were openers Bison and Muttley (who had made a fine hundred on the ground two years ago to ensure a record breaking winning run) and the going was tough. At the other end Grant, the South African, was bowling a shorter length, less dangerous but equally economical.
Hopes were high on the bench
Muttley was first to go in the 3rd over inside edging Akbar onto his stumps with the score on 15. Groundskeeper replaced him edging the next delivery through the slips but then fell to Akbar as he played all around a full straight one. Bison was solid, keeping the scoreboard ticking while the pressure was being applied with the new cherry, and his new partner at the crease Bumpy fell to the kind of yorker from the Afghan that Waqar would have been proud of. We were in trouble at 46-3 after 9. Our two giants Bison and Levers, both measuring 6 foot 4 decided to dig in and turn things around.
Two-Oaks
With brave shot selection, including several drives and cuts to the rope, we had reached 79 after 14 overs in tricky conditions, especially when Akbar bowled two dangerous beamers that led to him being taken off to collective relief before Levers was unexpectedly caught at deep mid wicket off Grant. Cat then prowled in and went in a flash, missing a straight one to the off spinner who didn’t turn it. Suddenly we were back in the danger zone at 83-5.
What we needed now was a captains innings… and that’s exactly what we got. POBSy came in having watched his side falter and played an assured and wonderful knock, coming forward to the spinners and hitting the bad balls for several lovely boundaries. He assumed full responsibility for getting us a competitive total after Bison fell to Bentley just after reaching his 50.
Bison is feted on his walk back from the middle
We still had a lot of work to do at 117-6 after 22. Old hands Tiddles and POBSy played straight and kept the scoreboard ticking until we passed 150 in the 30th over. POBSy was so close to his 50 when he was run out on 48, but his contribution was priceless. Our tail did not wag and we were bowled out before half the allotted overs were completed, ending on 166. Would this be enough?
Tea was taken in the delightful Hand and Flower pub which also served as our changing rooms. Highlight of the fare were the samosas and coronation chicken sandwiches which were so inviting that they had run out by the time the H&P captain brought up the rear in the queue. A cover band was playing to the bank holiday audience in the beer garden. Snax’s friend Kahren joined the team for a cup of tea, as did Groundskeepers cousin, and everyone was in good spirits and some had fuller bellies than others.
Tiddles selecting his tray of sandwiches
Tiddles was duly impressed by what he beheld
H&P opened with Reddish and Akbar and were met by wonderful new ball seam bowling by Spinach (who bowled a marathon spell of 12 overs) and Tiddles (whose 8 overs accounted for at least half the calories in the chocolate mini rolls he consumed). The cornetto lover was pitching the new ball up and moving it around enough to pierce the Afghan’s defences to draw first blood in the 6th over followed by another wonderful wicket taking delivery next ball. Tiddles was on a hat-trick but was denied by the incoming batsmen who blocked another full straight one.
Spinach bowled the opener with a lovely full delivery and at 24-3 H&P were now the ones in trouble. But they rebuilt with Pansar and Mundi putting on a solid 47 taking the score to 71 with plenty of overs left. Spinach was unlucky to miss out on several chances that fell tantalisingly short of the slip cordon and a breakthrough was proving elusive. The wicket that never was incident involved a clear edge and a wonderful forward diving catch behind the stumps by Bumpy only for the batsman not to walk after being given not out… he later claimed that this was retribution for a wrongful dismissal in the previous game, though the H&P skipper confirmed that on that occasion he had initially walked but then returned to the crease hoping for a reprieve. The turning point in the match was the run out of the dangerous Pansar (29) from a relay run out that emanated from a size 14 boot stop on the boundary by 🦬 off the last ball of POTYs marvellous spell. We took the game by the scruff of the neck for the remainder of the game with first change bowlers Groundskeeper and Snax coming on to bag further braces cheaply. Groundskeeper took his second catch of the day off his own bowling, a huge leap from an ex high jumper. Remarkably we didn’t drop any catches all day!
Smeagol soared like an eagle to pick up his second
Both opening bowlers and second change pairs returned the same figures adding some wonderful symmetry to a true team effort with the leather (2-31 and 2-12 respectively). Average honours go to Twinkle with a 1-1 return. Snax was left with the honour of closing proceedings aided by a fine catch from Muttley, who plucked it from the sky with a wonderful economy of effort as he stayed rooted to the spot.
H&P were all out for 94 in the 29th over… a glorious comeback by the Peckers. This correspondent would like to suggest that Bison should take the MOTM laurel, closely followed by the skipper for keeping the ship afloat. We retired to a glorious evening sunshine in the Hand and Flower garden where we sat with the opposition and chewed the fat, or the largest chicken burger ever constructed… joined by groundskeeper’s aunt and uncle.
He must have been one of those that got short changed at tea time…is he going to snog it?
We all felt good to be alive this day 🙏 and to be a Pecker ❤️