Difficult day for Flyford not helped by some world class fielding by Droitwich
Playing Droitwich Cricket Club is always a much-anticipated fixture for Flyford. Many of the Droitwich lads ‘guest’ for Flyford in Mid-Week fixtures, so the spirit between the two side is always competitive and friendly.
Game day dawned with some showers but the forecast was for better weather in the afternoon. So it proved, by the time of the early 12.30 start there was plenty of blue sky a few fluffy white clouds and a noticeable breeze.
Flyford welcomed Jay, a debutant player to make up the 11. Although at the agreed start time we were still missing the ‘Wards’. Fortunately, we had managed to secure the services of all three cricketing Wards, Dickson, Andrew and Matt. Unfortunately, this particular trio depend on Kerry to do the organisation, and she woke up thinking it was Monday and that the game started at 1.30! However, Kerry you can be forgiven the minor transgression as you have a lot on your mind with the move this week, hope it all goes smoothly for you.
Droitwich kindly offered up a couple of substitute fielders until we were at full strength so the game got underway.
It must be said that despite the Droitwich skipper reversing his batting order Droitwich did look more than capable with the bat. Even so, Will Cemis had an early success tempting Archie Fenn to tickle the faintest of edges to your correspondent behind the stumps. 6 for 1.
That was to be the last success for a while as Droitwich steadily accumulated runs with some very good shots to all parts of the ground. By the time Joey Chapman clean bowled Ollie Harris for 28, Droitwich had moved on to 60. It was to be sometime before Fyford tasted any further success. An unbeaten ton from Droitwich’s Kiwi L. Kellet meant that at 136 for 3 it was looking like a long afternoon and a difficult chase ahead.
Flyford however did stick to their task and three good catches were taken in the deep, one by Dickson Ward and two by Si Tibke who also picked up a wicket with a clean bowled.
An unfortunate and painful blow to the end of your correspondent’s ring finger did see Aaron Monk selflessly and bravely stepping up to take over the duties behind the stumps. Fair play to Aaron it is not a job most sane people will do but Aaron did give it his best. Laudable especially as he was nursing a hangover from the previous days festival activities. However, it soon became clear that the pain in my finger was less than the pain of watching Aaron keep, so I returned to see out the innings.
Droitwich were rather out of sight, home and hosed by the time Scritty Clarke tempted Wright down the track to give your correspondent an easy stumping and in a personal battle between Steve Bevan and the Droitwich skipper, Bev came out on top getting one to keep low and hit middle stump.
Wickets were shared reasonably evenly one apiece between Will Cemis, Joey Chapman, Jay Jawad, Scritty Clarke, Si Tibke, Ash Rahman and Steve Beavan. The only bowler to not get a wicket was Andy Ward who’s bowling certainly deserved one. Indeed, only a drop of a fairly regulation edge by your correspondent meant Andy went wicketless. Andy take heart you will bowl worse than that on another afternoon and pick up wickets
So, ten of the Flyford players knew that a win was probably beyond us not having George Teal or Mark Walker in our batting line up. It was only ten as Jay was still convinced that we could win this. I did mention it was Jay’s debut, such optimistic edges will be removed over time by dint of bitter experience!
The bulk of this report has been taken up by the fielding effort, as there is not a huge amount to write about the batting! The only real highlight was Jay, who got a pretty decent 26 in the circumstances playing some pretty rapid bowling with aggression but without a helmet. A knock that ultimately earned Jay the Man of the Match award. Other than that, the only other Flyford bat to get over double figures was Steve Beavan with 10.
Notable ducks for Si Tibke (despite his saying he was channelling his inner George Teal perhaps he was as George tends to the all or nothing school of batting) Andy Ward, Dickson Ward and Scritty Clarke did little to help the Flyford cause.
It must be said though that there were superb catches taken by Droitwich behind the stumps, at first slip and the most nonchalant catch I have ever seen at point by Bop Foster from a decent shot by Andy Ward.
So having only amassed 54 runs we came off chastened and having to accept a comprehensive defeat.
Still, as I have said in previous reports the result in village cricket is fairly immaterial and there is little wrong with playing cricket whatever the outcome in a beautiful setting on a bight and breezy May afternoon.
Awards:
Man of the Match; Jay, best batting and a wicket
Champagne Moment: Steve Beavan for out thinking the opposition captain
Tit: Kerry for thinking it was Monday and the game started at 1.30!
Thank for Coming: Aaron, who fielded when asked despite the hangover and even took the gloves!