Detail: 08-05-2022 - Sheen Park
Result: W by 5 wkts
[Sheen 134/8 off 35 overs, Blues 135/5 off 20 overs - Won by 5 wickets]
Dear diary,
Sunday was almost a wonderful day. It was gloriously sunny and just for once H wasn't playing cricket (well, he had played football on Saturday). So we went to Kew Gardens, which are beautiful, and for a walk around Richmond Park, which was lovely, and had a nice lunch at a smart gastro-pub (even if it was embarrassing when H asked for more roast lamb - which he didn't get).
We then carried on walking and we talked about our new house, and what colour we paint the bedroom, and how maybe we could get one of those period fireplaces installed, and suddenly I realised we'd stumbled across a cricket match.
Then H said, "that fielder looks just like one of the Tawneys, yes, it's Archie. Oh look, there's Harry as well. My, what a co-incidence, it's the Blues..."
What a co-incidence indeed. I knew that was the end of our walk. I wouldn't have minded if Nick, the good-looking one, was playing, but it was just the Tawneys, a couple of old guys and the usual suspects.
Fortunately, Henry and Mary joined us, and it was still sunny, so it wasn't too bad. And Blues won, and won quickly, so it was all over early. As I said to H on the way home, 'Blues won and you weren't playing - what a co-incidence'. He was very quiet.
You want to know how Blues won? OK, here's the report...
After a chastening start to the season, with successive losses, Blues rolled into a new venue, literally in the case of the peloton. Sheen Park, on Sheen Common, nestles among the super-expensive homes just north of Richmond Park, which Google Earth reveals to have a higher proportion of back-garden swimming pools than any neighbourhood in which a Blue lives.
That's not strictly true, since Guy Freeman lives nearby (no confirmation he has a swimming pool) and this fixture was fixed up at his suggestion. Unfortunately the date clashed with the christening of the latest Hollywood scion so he was unable to play, but did make a welcome guest appearance on the sidelines. Maybe next year.
Even without Guy, Blues had a battery of all-rounders, so much so the holder of the bowling award did not deliver a single over. The fact his predecessor, and current front-runner, was Match Manager was just another of the day's co-incidences.
Instead, having won the toss and elected to bowl (and, co-incidentally, be at last able to take full advantage of the return of teas) Glenn opened with James, entrusted with the new ball after two promising outings as a change bowler.
James responded well, finding good swing and bounce, testing both batsmen. With Glenn equally miserly at the other end Sheen Park began very slowly. The fact neither batsmen (nor many of their successors) was interested in running singles helped. However, one opener swishing at every ball off the stumps was frustrating as nicks didn't go to hand - though one did fly very swiftly through Harry T's overhead at full stretch at slip.
James took a breather and went away to daydream at mid-off. Mumbo (who really should bat at No.5 each week) stepped up, maintaining the Blues' tight control. At the other Glenn decided to bowl himself out which proved a good decision as in his final over slasher slashed hard to point where Archie Tawney took a good, sharp catch. Two balls later another batter was out, yorked.
Now the fun began. It turned out this young batter was coming off back-to-back tons the last two Sundays (100*, 131) but had now completed a pair for the weekend. He spent an age at the wicket looking in anguish towards the Heavens, then left slowly, very slowly. So slowly it was helpfully suggested he get a shift on with an encouraging, 'choo choo, toot toot'. 'Wait 'til I bowl', came the angry retort. Ooooh!
Back to the action. Sam Robinson, after impressive net sessions at Lord's, came on to bowl his unorthodox right arm round (which doesn't actually involve going 'round' the wicket as such). Soon one batter was overheard saying to another, 'you're right, he's awful to face'.
So mystified was batter No.4 he was bowled behind his legs. Sheen had gone from 39-0 to 55-3, and were halfway through their overs (No.4 being the customary 'drinks break wicket').
The other opener was next to go, having made a decent 56 from his team's 82, well caught by Harry Tawney the ball after Harry had been moved from slip to mid-wicket in a (fluky) stroke of genius from the MM. Incidentally, anyone else suspect Harry's hip will keep him in the slips until September?
A sharp Keats/Youcef combo then ran out a dopey batter before Hamish got in on the act, as he ought to since we were playing at Fife (wrong spelling) Road. He took a diving catch to give the returning James a deserved wicket, and claimed two with his ersatz Liam Livingston off-spin/leg-spin mix, one caught by Glenn, the other a fine, juggling snare by Archie Tawney.
Though No.10 came in to face two balls and smashed successive fours Sheen Park were held to 134-8 off their 35, a good all-round bowling display backed up by some excellent fielding on a tricky surface. Notably Blues conceded only eight extras, with Cef allowing just one bye. (no pressure there Jack Ward!)
Keats, promoted from No.11 last week to No.1, opened with newcomer Tommy Jackson. Steaming in from the far end was Mr 'Wait til I bowl', who was clearly very, very keen on retribution at being mocked. So keen he fell over in his first delivery stride and then bowled a series of wides. Though these imperilled the slips he contested them with umpire Cef, who subsequently delighted in signalling the six boundaries he conceded.
After two overs of rapid filth Mr 'Wait til I bowl' calmed down enough to bowl some decent stuff, but Keats and Tommy 'saw off the lacquer' as promised, both cracking satisfying boundaries before a good slower ball deceived Tommy who departed for a promising 21.
Keats, despite his hangover ('a drowsy numbness pains my sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk' - John Keats), was enjoying himself and slapped Mr 'Wait til I bowl' through the covers for four. However, he got carried away and missed a straight one from the much-slower veteran bowling from the pavilion end.
Being bowled proved something of a trend, all five Blues out that way. Next to go was Alex Pike, who had been restricted to a testing one-over cameo with the ball. In his first Blues knock of the campaign he had settled in and looked good before a hoick. That resulted in the much-awaited Tawney partnership, the prospect of which would have emptied the bar if there had been one.
It did not disappoint, both Tawneys enjoyed some variable bowling (Mr 'Wait til I bowl' having been withdrawn with 1-27 off five). Harry in particular hit a couple of fine straight fours. However, HT bats to a pattern: hit - block - hit - block - hit. As the MM predicted after a sweet four had been followed by an exaggerated defence. 'He'll swing at the next one'. He did. And he missed. But not before equal top-scoring with 21.
With Blues 108-5 it was left to 'red-ink Youcef' to calm any nerves, blocking up an end as Hamish came in to biff Blues to victory, his 18 not out including with the day's only six. Cef's 13* means he now has 143 runs without being dismissed.
However... several Sheen players would argue he was out. A very strong and enthusiastic appeal for caught behind was rejected by Mumbo, resulting in a lot of 'teapot' poses. Outrageous really as we all know if Cef had been in their shoes he would have calmly accepted the umpire's decision, and the batter's word he did not hit it, and gone back to his position without once suggesting the batter might not be entirely honest, and certainly not needed to apologise a few overs later once he'd calmed down.
The winning runs, inevitably, came via four byes (extras, 28, was the highest score), in the 20th over. The early finish, the lack of a clubhouse bar, and a swiftly departed oppo discombobulated the Blues, so it was a small group that celebrated victory with a quick beer in the appropriately named Victoria.
Blues reconvene next week at nearby Richmond CC, where there is a bar, which was well-used last time we were there. Jenks is back in charge, seeking his first win :)
(with apologies to Ellie)
[updated 29 05 2022]