Saturday 21st
June
Thoresby
Colliery II 47 all out [0 points]
Bilsthorpe 48 -1 [20 points]
Thoresby
travelled to local neighbours Bilsthorpe with a
weakened team; Captain Walker deciding that the sunkist
beaches of NW Norfolk were a far safer haven than the
On arrival
we were greeted by the sight of a white van careering around the outfield with
a small gangmower trailing behind. “All t’mod cons ‘ere duck!” bellowed the cheery driver. We
wondered if Nige had considered this as an
alternative to his Massey Ferguson?
Since this
is known as a low-scoring ground, stand-in skipper Halfpenny won the toss and
made the brave decision to bat, hoping to get some kind of a total on the board
and then defend with the experienced bowling attack.
In
addition, hasty arrangements were made to police the game since no umpires
turned up at all. Thankfully the lady ‘groundsperson’
Marie (she of the white van) volunteered her services and the game got under
way shortly after
Evans and
Halfpenny strode bravely to the middle, but problems were apparent from the
very first over as the ball varied in its bounce. Taking strike for the second
over, Evans was immediately surprised by the tennis-ball bounce, then made the
mistake of trying to play a cricket shot by getting in line to his second ball.
This lifted even more severely and took his outside edge to nestle gently in
first slip’s hand. Two overs later Halfpenny, batting
a yard out of his crease to minimise the effect of the wicket, stretched too
far forward to cover the movement and got the finest tickle to the stumper. Truth be told he might have got away with it, but
he was obliged to make the decision for umpire Godders
and take a walk. An over later Case shuffled too far across and was bowled
behind his legs leaving Thoresby on 7 for
By now it
was apparent that the only way to play on this ‘track’ was to defend as best
one could, then hit through anything pitched up. John Rossington
took the attack to the bowlers but was then cruelly bowled off his pads for 12.
Similarly, Jeppo (17) hit some hefty blows, including
one excellent 6, before unluckily playing on from a foot wide of off stump
attempting another bludgeon over extra cover. 40 for 5.
The game
was then held up briefly as, without warning, umpire Marie furiously charged
over towards the gently lapping Lippeatt. Terrified,
he cowered behind the towering frame of his minder, Casey. But there was
nothing to fear, Marie had simply spotted Billy’s faglighter
(from a distance of 35 yards!). After a couple of deep drags on her Woodbine
Marie was a new woman, and she returned to her white-coat duties with promises
to Billy of favourable LBW decisions and, who knows, perhaps more!
On
resumption Ian Godfrey was bowled off stump in change bowler Wyatt’s first
over. Meanwhile, Ben Marson had been looking the most
proficient of any batsman on view, playing superbly at the ball and moving his
feet well. But when he was seventh out trying to force over cover, the rest of
the innings would only last another five balls. Lee Willis unluckily turned the
next ball off a leading edge back to the same bowler. Billy Lippeatt
was caught behind next ball off the edge and his hip. Youngster Glenn Keeble, making his season’s debut, lasted three balls
leaving Hutchy high and dry without facing a
delivery.
40 for 4
had turned into 47 all out in 19.4 overs. Tea was
taken at
With no
option, Thoresby set an attacking field. Although the ball was still flying, Bilsthorpe danced and swung around and rode their luck.
Jepson took a wicket in his fourth over.
In the shower by
Match Update -July 2003
Apparently some of the Bilsthorpe
team were upset about the above match report.
We have to say that it is written tongue-in-cheek and, if
any offence was taken, none was meant.
Here is Chris Dunn’s posting to the Ashover
Messageboard…..
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Welcome to this board. Whilst we have no
desire to restrict postings, we will not tolerate offensive or abusive
messages. Such messages will be deleted and the offenders banned.
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Author
As
the vice-captain of 
Logged
