Cup Run Cut Short at Bluntisham by Captain Sensible

Nine weary Coton Cricketers staggered into the changing rooms at Bluntisham.  We had been soundly beaten but there was not a hint of despondency in the air.  Nine players from Junior 5B beaten by a team from a higher league that even included three first XI players normally accustomed to strutting their stuff in Senior 2, 6 divisions higher.  Perhaps the strange, lone walker that had circled the Rec the day before while we were beating Thriplow was actually a spy rather than just someone who had brought his dog to despoil the field?  “They are quite good, better strengthen the team...”

Meanwhile, that changing room resembled an A&E more than a cricket pavilion.  There was Rob with his paronychia and other assorted bruises, Safwan and his ankle, Dave and his contusion (a lasting reminder to catch the ball, and Dan “My left elbow doesn’t hurt but everything else does” Garson each trying to outdo the other for sympathy.  Surgeon-in-residence Gabriel passed around the wounded and firm passing out comforting words and advice.  Seriously, when he gives up playing cricket he could have a fine career in medicine, it’s just a shame that he forgot to bring Nurse Alex Price with him.

Rewind!  There was a match played.  We entered a team in the Lower Junior Cup – a competition where we inevitably lose, if we haven’t already conceded – on the basis that 2012 would see a Coton Development Team taking part.  As it was, the 9 consisted of 7 of the team that had successfully beaten Thriplow the previous day, plus Andy (who had asked to play in only one of the games) and Richard who hadn’t been available.

The skipper cunningly told Safwan that the driving time was much longer than it actually was so he arrived on time.  This was important as he was giving lifts to Dan and Matt.   

On a blazing summer’s day - “Oh!  What a Scorcher!” – (C) The Sun - it was critically important for the skipper to win the toss.  So he didn’t and we got to field first on a flat pitch with a fast outfield and nine men.  The Bluntisham skipper magnanimously loaned us an extra fielder (perhaps to assuage his guilt in including the first team players) which was to prove very helpful later.  There was the possibility of two Bradburies arriving later but they were unable to finagle themselves out of family and school commitments.  They were the lucky ones.

El Capitan gave the new ball to Dan and Gabriel.  There was a steady start but it soon became apparent that Bluntisham knew what they were doing.  The ball was swinging quite prodigiously making it a very difficult and uncomfortable day for Rob behind the stumps scrambling for wide balls.  The score started to tick over, edges were found, runs accumulated, the fielders chased and the wickets didn’t come.

Over the 40 overs the bowling was shared amongst seven bowlers, only Andy and Rob not taking a turn.  Ullasa was the steadiest, conceding just thirty in seven overs and making the initial breakthrough.  Richard took two wickets including bowling the opposition opener (on 81) behind his legs with one that both swang and cut.  The look on the batsman’s face was one of total bewilderment.

Scotch now chipped in when he induced a false stroke that went straight to the substitute fielder the opposition had loaned us.  The latter gave us all a lesson on catching the ball, and a lesson to Dave: the opposition are more likely to help you get wickets than your own team. 

Two longish drinks breaks, frequent stops to recover balls lost in the bushes and general slow movement contributed to a long afternoon in the field (I swear there was an oasis over by the point boundary at one point).   Dan took the last wicket to fall and finally the forty overs ended with the score on 298-5.   

Bluntisham laid on a fine tea but for most of us it was more a case of taking on as much liquid as we could before batting.

Gabriel and Richard opened and made steady progress.  Bluntisham – despite having a full complement – struggled in the field as well.  After ten overs they resorted to bowling first team players and that precipitated the loss of two wickets.  First Richard and then Andy were bowled.  Dan joined Gabriel and the run rate started to accelerate.  Dan was hitting some great shots and Gabriel chipped in with a few of his own before being the third to depart at 72.  

Safwan hammered some lusty blows, including a flat bat six and the score ticked over nicely.

Dan was visibly tiring in the heat.  Shots that had gone to the boundary earlier lacked zip and were cut off and quick twos became less quick singles.   After contributing 26 in quick time, Safwan was dismissed and Ullasa went to the middle.  He quickly joined the fun and also added 26 before being run out by a direct hit from cover.

Dan was approaching his fifty, using all the width of a bat that proudly advertised 50mm edges.   Rob also used the edge intelligently before chopping on to his stumps, hanging around with Dan long enough for the latter to get his 50.  This left just enough time for a cameo from Matt (3 balls) and yet another not out (1 off 1 ball) from Scotch to see off the full allocation of overs.   Dan finished on 58 not out, his best score for the club.

 197-7 was 100 runs short of the target but nevertheless a very creditable performance given the opposition and our lack of numbers.

Still, we can concentrate on the league now