Bearsted 1s vs Shibourne CC (a)

This game will last long in my memory. From the stunning drive through Igtham, Plaxtol and past The Chaser, and then back again past The Chaser, to turn into a tree lined driveway flanked by fields of beautiful blue flowered crops, “Bluebells” thought M.Henslow, “it is Linseed” confessed the opening bowler when I enquired to the umpire. Stunning scenery for a quite remarkable game of cricket.

Due to a swathe of track and trace confining half of the team from last week to the safety of their home, it was a fresh Bearsted line up. Introductions made, skip won the toss and duly decided to have a bat. Skip clearly had a bad feeling about the day, maybe it was the mock dogfights in the skies above, and he seemed to be in a hurry to get the game done, first by scoring a very quick 15 runs, then later on by literally diving headlong into the path of a very energetic cricket ball. Needless to say, the reason I am writing this is because skip left the fray a few overs into the Shipbourne innings, off to Pembury, via the M1, with a lovely lady, and a very noooooorsty crack to the cheekbone and rather puffy eye. Get well soon.

Back to the game. After skip’s early departure for 15, M.Sandhu joined D.Charlton and promptly moaned at the old man for not running a single, before then despatching a glorious leg flick over the hedge and into the ditch. The first of a few game stopping moments to find the ball. Soon after, came what most players thought was a Spitfire misfiring, but turned out to be a loud ripper of a fart from the quickie from the bluebell end as he delivered nearly more than just a cricket ball to D.Charlton. On 49 M.Sandhu had clearly had enough, and got himself out, and M.Henslow joined D.Charlton temporarily, leaving soon after having received a delivery that apparently did absolutely everything, a complete jaffer, according to the spirit of cricket at the Bluebell field end. The score 111 for 3 from 22.5 overs.

L.Bedwell took no time getting into his stride, carving his first ball for 4, before soon moaning at D.Charlton for not running fast enough – the bloody cheek of it! Both batters found the scoring an absolute pleasure and within 8 overs together had put on 97 before D.Charlton finally got upset at being moaned at, and deliberately gave a leading edge back to the very surprised bowler, leaving with 76 to his name.
Then came the final partnership of the innings, S.Barker soon wishing he’d taken an oxygen cylinder out to the middle rather than a bat. Still he managed to run approximately six miles in a partnership of 77 in 9 overs with the rather impressive L.Bedwell bringing up his first BCC hundred, while S.Barker tried to maintain his composure whilst impersonating Ribena man.

Bears closed on a majestic 285 for 4 from 40 overs.

Shipbourne have to be credited as a really decent bunch. First for not getting grumpy when S.Barker’s oxygen cylinder sounded like it connected with the ball before being pouched by the keeper, for the keeper to then open the batting and very quickly edge a M.Henslow beauty into the welcoming paws of J.Haggart as the slip cordon, to then have a supporter help a Bearsted player in need. The Shipbourne captain came and went, lbw to the irrespressible A.Dampier, but not before he had taken down his opposite number. Skip should really have caught a tricky drive to him at mid off, but no, down it went; chin up, next ball, come on lads. Their skipper let off, he then sent an Exocet drive towards our skip who went full metal jacket, but sadly no tin helmet, as the ball struck him a very noooooooorsty blow to the face to leave a tenderised cheekbone and very puffed eye. Thanks to Alison, for taking skip off to Pembury, seemingly via the M1.

J.Preston-Reeves had been itching to get in the game, and bowled 4 tidy(ish) overs, hampered a little by a thigh strain, but it was L.Bedwell and L.Charlton who were clearly familiar with The Untouchables, “you put one of ours in the hospital, we’ll put 2 of yours in the morgue”, as they bowled some angry deliveries that moved the Shipbourne batters around, and kept J.Midgley on his toes behind the stumps. One of L.Charlton’s deliveries connected with a batters groin, doubling him up, struggling for breathe, as his box was shattered into pieces. Next ball clean bowled. This was all amid a run chase that had fizzled out early on, with Shipbourne keen to chase batting points, rather than the win, closing on 192 for 9.

L.Bedwell ended with 3 for 37 from 9, and L.Charlton 3 for 18 from 4 (he should play his first game of the season more often).

So there it is, a magnificent win for the Bears, where every player from both sides got involved if only to face 1 ball, or bowl 1 over. The ground was picturesque, and there were also some nice views in The Chaser. Thank you Shipbourne for your hospitality, get well skip, and bring on Saturday – I bloody love cricket!