Filmer ton in 2s defeat

After two chilly April matches it was hoped that the weather would be warmer in May. It was not to be and whenever the sun went behind the clouds it was as cold as a mother-in-law’s kiss.
With the Sunday XI two players short, a late transfer request from them meant we just had 10 men.
The pitch at the Green looked lovely. True to form, skipper Croom lost the toss and we were invited to bat. Croom and Latter opened as usual.
The opposition looked well drilled with a decent attack.

Croom pulled the very first ball for four but a few overs later tried to turn one to leg and got a leading edge for 13. The ball looped up behind the wicket and was well taken by the keeper running round.
Latter had been harshly adjudged to have edged one behind for 2.

Horrocks (2), O’Brien (0) and Haggert (10) gave up catches that were well taken. Barker reached to cut a long hop but failed to move his feet and played on for a duck. Filmer was looking steady and joined by Skinner who came in with the score on 64 for 6. Things looked pretty bleak.

The skipper’s instructions were to bat out the overs which was music to the new batsman’s ears.
Filmer looked sharp with his famous late glance to the fore. He moved quickly to his half century with the pair running well.

With 34 overs safely seen out, Filmer decided to go on the attack and hit some punishing attacking drives.
Skinner joined in the fun and one point whipped a ball to midwicket landing the ball in the road for a maximum. After a very loud bang from the side of a mini, local residents moved their cars, which we can safely say is a first for Skinner, who rarely hits the ball off the square. Eventually he departed for 24, being yorked by the opposition skipper who was a useful bowler. The pair had put on a crucial 94.

Feehan went in for the last few overs. The question for the crowd was whether Filmer could reach his ton. He did not realise it, but needed two of the final over. It was no surprise when he surpassed his target with a trademark late glance to the third man boundary.

He finished with an outstanding 102 not out. The total of 169 was low but a lot better than it might have been.
We needed a good start. The opposition skipper confidently drove Feehan straight back down for 4, first ball of the innings. He continued to play attacking strokes. He hit one other in the air past Feehan at catching height. In an eventful first over he repeated that and Feehan got a hand to it. It went straight onto the stumps and the No 2 was cruelly run out, without facing.

With several bowlers unavailable, the plan had been to open with Filmer but he was rested after his batting heroics and the sprightly Horrocks came in off his long run (5 strides) from the White Horse end. He bowled well but the opposition looked a good side and regularly punished anything wayward. He only conceded 20 runs though off his 6 overs.

We were exceedingly unlucky when the opener stepped back in front of his stumps to Feehan and was hit on the pads. “Not out” was the decision though.

Haggert bowled 3 overs of medium pace for 20 runs.

We fielded well, for a side with an average age of 62 or thereabouts. Haggert hit the stumps once and has a fine arm, as does O’Brien.

O’Brien looked the pick of the bowlers. He bowls through the crease unlike so many spinners and gives it a fair rip. Continuing to bowl like this means he is talking himself out of keeping wicket. He finished with figures on 7-1-33-0

Barker was unable to make the breakthrough although Simon did put down a caught and bowled chance diving valiantly but unsuccessfully to one that was popped up. He went for 40 runs off his 5 overs.

Latter eventually bowled the No 3 McManus who scored a good 40. Dave ended with 2-0-12-1.

Feehan returned later in the innings and clean bowled the hard hitting No 4 with one that jagged back in and finished with figures or 4-0-41-1

He was also unlucky when captain Croom carefully moved O’Brien in ten yards at mid on. The very next ball their skipper mistimed a drive and looped it up to exactly where O’Brien had been standing.

Their opener Emery went to his ton with a glorious straight drive that hit the very top of the sight screen. He finished 105 not out and we lost by 7 wickets.

Your esteemed scribe would like to finish by pointing out that when he arrived early at the ground Si Barker was already there working on the ground. When he left, an hour after the game had finished, Barker was still out in the middle getting the strip ready for Sunday’s game. The guy is a legend.

Next week sees the start of the League season with a home fixture on the Green