Let's hear it for the Other Big Guy

Dave takes Alastair to task for missing a stumping.












When we took over the book from Fen Ditton to score the 2nd innings of this encounter we found out that they had used descriptive terms to identify our bowlers.

They had:

• Beard
• Wristbands
• Young
• Swears a lot
• Other big guy

So: who’s who (p.s. one of these isn’t true)?

We got to field first again. As we gathered around the stumps we noted that they were a good two inches wider at the top than the bottom, something like the Duncan Fearnley logo. It would make them harder to hit but at least it would be impossible to get the ball between them. “Beard” and “Wristbands” opened the bowling. One Fen Ditton opener took a liking to “Wristbands’” offerings which were swinging back into his pads and summarily dispatched to the leg side boundary. This resulted in “Wristbands” quickly being given the hook by his own team after conceding 33 runs in 3 overs. If this was a horse race “Wristbands” would now either (a) be put down or (b) be put out to stud. He has told me that all being equal he would prefer the latter. This being cricket he was sent to patrol the long leg / third man boundary and retrieve the ball from the thorn bushes at regular intervals.

To take his place we turned to Adam (“Young”) who bowled an excellent spell of wrist spin extracting much turn from the wicket and mixing up the length and speed nicely. Is he another Shane Warne in the making? Maybe, but just hopefully you will stay away from the hair treatment advertising, Adam!

Fen Ditton reached 71-0 after 10 overs with a few alarms interspersed with crunching shots to the small boundary. There was then a helter skelter of quick wickets as first Adam removed the less aggressive opener and then George removed the other aided by a Dave Simmons catch. Only two more runs had been added when George produced a beautiful ball. Their #4 made a text book leave and was comprehensively bowled: 71-0 to 73-3 in a couple of overs. George removed two more and Neil chipped in with a wicket (it provided a diversion from swearing at the batsman, the umpire, the fielders and himself) and we had 5 down.

It was then that the “Other Big Guy” stepped in. In the last few games, Dave Scotcher’s bowling has been accurate, frugal, parsimonious, miserly, niggardly and stingy. Today he added penetrative. Over 8.3 overs he rearranged the Readers on 4 occasions and added a 5th wicket courtesy of an excellent running & diving catch from Adam. Fen Ditton were all out for 170 which was a lot less than they had threatened after the initial onslaught. This was Dave’s first 5-for for Coton and very well deserved it was.

Then we batted.

Gabriel and Dave Simmons opened but the former didn’t last the first over. A straight one kept low and scuttled along the pitch and unluckily trapped him in front. Unlucky in having an honest umpire that is: best not to remind Neil of some of the decisions that he didn’t get at this point.

Fen Ditton had figured out that there was a lot of movement to be had on this wicket and the hardest way for us to score would be off slow bowling. So we were presented with spin from the outset at one end and that would be the story of the rest of the match.

Dave and Alastair were accumulating quite nicely until Dave was undone by an excellent catch after he had made fine contact with an on drive. Richard joined Alastair to move things along until a fine piece of comedy running found them both at the same end (Alastair having run 2 to Richard’s 1). Perhaps Alastair was distracted by the contents of his pocket, not having had time to partake following Gabriel's quick dismissal.

Alastair decided to (figuratively) fall on his sword at this point and stepped out of the crease to accept the run out. At this point we then proceeded to dig ourselves a big hole. Richard played an elegant forward defensive but forgot to hit the ball, his back foot was outside the crease and he was dismissed by a fine stumping. Adam slapped one back to the bowler but George was by now dispatching the ball to all corners (can you have corners in an oval?). 33 off 29 balls and the recovery was on until he cracked a loose ball to point: a yard either side would have been another 4. 99-5 soon became 103-9 as Andy, Neil and Pete all departed in quick succession.

Other Big Guy was now joined by Wristbands (aka Original Big Guy) and for a few overs an unlikely win looked possible as the two old war horses gained in confidence. Another batting point was gained and Fen Ditton looked decidedly nervous as 35 were put on for the 10th wicket (the highest of the innings – so we are reversing the order next week). It would only take one mistake though and that came when Rob top edged a chest high full toss (why wasn’t it a no ball?) to fine leg to end the innings.

We ended up 32 runs short. Dave Scotcher takes the plaudits for his 5-for and 19 not out. Dave Simmons is getting a little nervous on his pre-season bet now. George had another good game with 3 wickets and 33 runs. Adam bowled well and Alastair had a good effort with the bat.

Next week it’s the return match at Fulbourn. With George missing in action, its time for Rob to see if he can emulate last season’s record of 4 wins out 5 whilst deputizing as captain. Don’t hold your breath.