Detail: 19-06-2022 - Barnes Common

Result: L by 3 runs
Barnes Common 19/6/22

With huge apologies for the delay, the journey home from Glasto yesterday seemed like a good opportunity to finally get to the Barnes CC match report. Brain capacity was lacking, but you can probably tell it was a long journey:

Rain now pouring, 6 to win, one ball to do it. Could the Blues do it?

With the weather forecast predicting late afternoon rain, the Barnes Common CC match manager made the smart decision to bring forward the start time of the game to 12:30. Miraculously all 11 blues heeded the call and were ready to go at 12:20. Unfortunately the match manager had forgotten to mention this change of plan to his own team, so with only about 6 players by 12:45, the toss was aborted and Barnes were put in to bat. Extraordinarily the 10 Blues outfielders could all bowl, but with Glenn and Pikey managing shoulder and side strain injuries respectively, 8 were fit and raring to go.

Mulle and Brando opened proceedings and were their usual disciplined selves, Rich with a prying line and Brando with a lick of pace. One of their openers was particularly jittery and Mulle troubled his outside edge multiple times. Three times he found the edge, three times the chance went begging through the cordon. As the midday temperature rose, so did Mulle's blood pressure.

After tight opening spells, next up for his season debut was the Welsh Express Will Gaunt at one end and Sam Robbo at the other. Accuracy may have dropped, but chances remained, and after a tempter down leg side, their better opener couldn't help himself and Sam bagged the first wicket of the day, caught at square leg by the Mulle. In quite uncharacteristic form "that's how you catch Blues, I've saved you a lot of running around there" were the first words out of Rich's mouth as he rued earlier dropped chances. "Please don't let it come to me" thought the assembled fielders. A quick outfield meant runs started to tick over nicely and the field became ever more defensive. Drinks were taken at 17 overs and Barnes had compiled 110 runs. The orange ball, although easier to find in the woods when sent to the boundary only really seemed to lose its paint and so remained hard throughout, much to the annoyance of Jack behind the stumps, who had a difficult day with the gloves.

Next up to bowl was a very eager Jenks, relaxed and loose without the pressure of match managing. Immediately on the money chances began to reappear. One bat in particular seemed to only be able to guide the ball down to 3rd man, but with surprising effect. From the other end debutant Tom Verity also maintained the pressure with some great line and length. By this point though both batsmen were entrenched, with the opener nearing his 3 figures. Runs continued to flow until finally Jenks managed to break the deadlock and picked up two quick wickets, both caught. Sadly, neither of them their opener. As the run total passed 200, the blues started to worry about what the final score might look like, however nerves were settled by the introductions of Fyfey and Ali into the attack.

Ali bowled with great aggression and pinned the batsmen back with an extra lick of pace. From the other end, Fyfey's bag of tricks had the batsmen guessing. Although he almost ran himself out doing so, their opener crossed the line to his ton and began swinging from the hips. Ali was too accurate for him however and a mistimed hook was caught smartly by Brando, a great knock. The next man in lasted no time at all and he was removed after Ali crashed it into his pads. Brando came back on to close things up and after his first spell going unrewarded, was hungry for blood. His pace was too much for the lower order and he quickly castled 2 in 2. With only a father and son left in the hutch, Ben the Dad did what any self respecting Dad would do and sent his 10 year old son Max out to face the hatrick ball. A few quiet murmurs of slowing the pace down for the young lad seemed to escape Brandon's attention but the young lad had a good high elbow and managed to defend it with the end of the handle. Next ball he managed to turn it round his legs to get off the mark with a couple, cheers all round. Barnes finished on 246-8, a large total but with the quick outfield an almost 500 run day didn't look out of the question.

Having not bowled, Pikey took the first nut alongside Jack. Having given a bowler his hatrick in the final over against Felton Fleet (which you'd know if Cef ever published that report), Pikey was keen to make amends. Lots of runs needed, but plenty of overs. Naturally therefore he wafted at a wide one second ball and a thick edge flew into the midriff of gully, but fortunately popped out and the chance went begging; one they may have lived to rue.

Jack, having not matched his usual high standard with the gloves, was keen to make amends with the bat. Sadly though, his day only got worse and after a ball picked up of the surface, all Jack could do was fend it with his glove to a grateful slip fielder. Despondent, Jack had to depart, a day to forget.

Next in was Fyfey and although the Barnes bowlers were accurate, there were still enough bad balls to be hit and the run rate began to creep up and boundaries started to flow.

At drinks the score had reached 98-1. With the score and partnership approaching 100, both batsmen were keen to crack on after drinks and make it to 50. With 149 needed from the second half of the innings, the rate would have to climb. Sadly though Fyfey couldn't help himself, heaving at a straight one once play resumed and he was bowled for a fine 47.

Pikey began upping the ante with Ali providing strong support. After a quick fire 13, Ali too was tempted by a spinner and in missing the shot, was stumped. Next in was Glenn, with a rare chance to bat up the order having not bowled. Aiming to get Pike on strike he nurdled some singles with effect, but could hold on for long and was another victim of the death rattle.

Sam Robbo followed and showed some staunch defence as they brought one of their opening bats on to bowl who was comfortably their quickest bowler. With Graham the Aussie at the other end, who reflected in the bar how he once netted with Dean Jones, the scoring slowed and the run rate crept higher and higher above 10. After dogged defence one slipped through and Sam's bails also went flying without troubling the scorecard.

Ever a man for upping the run rate, next man in was Brando who survived a first ball scare as had we had a DRS in play he would have been back on his way to the hutch. Luckily normal service resumed and a couple of biffs later and Brando was sending the ball across the ropes once more. Sadly though eagerness and the need for speed got too much and he too saw the furniture rearranged for 9.

Pikey meanwhile was doing his best to keep the outfielders hide and seek skills up to scratch as they searched for the orange ball in the undergrowth numerous times. With the score at 186 with 5 overs to play 61 off the final 5 overs looked a tough ask. Will Gaunt was next into the breach but sadly also contributed to the stumps big day out and left the field scoreless to be replaced by debutant Tom Verity. Much like his bowling, his batting style showed he had some classical coaching in his youth and got off the mark with a gorgeous back foot punch through the covers.

With 3 overs left the blues required 45 runs and the rain began to pour. A few glances around the assembled Blues suggested perhaps the wet would save our blushes but out in the middle both sides were determined to crack on. 37 needed of the final 12 balls and Pikey took advantage of some wayward bowling with a couple of sixes and Tom too crossed the ropes to score 17 combined off the over.

20 needed off the last. 3 boundaries in the first 4 balls left only 6 needed off the final 2 balls. One of those boundaries had technically been an all run for so by this point Pike was huffing and puffing and needed a second to compose. Next ball, dot.

Rain now pouring, 6 to win, one ball to do it. Could the Blues do it? Sadly, only a scrambled 2 off the last meant agony for the Blues, the barest of margins and victory went to the hosts. Pike ended breathless and gutted but with an unbeaten 136 that no doubt send the collywobbles up a certain nurdler.

A great day out nonetheless and a few jars at the coach and horses down the road to cap it off.
Special mention to 10 year old Max who fielded fine leg to fine leg all innings without ever stopping smiling.

Regards

[updated 30 11 2023]