Unbeaten Season Staggers On
Given that 5 days before the game, our chairman was standing in navel deep water and worms on the square, it is quite remarkable that Sunday's game happened at all. However, the weather for the annual fixture against the Canbashers is as reliable as Eddy's off drive and so it proved again this year.
Before I continue, I did receive a number of complaints after the last match report about the number of references to Eddy Skills. I am a good listener so I will endeavour to try my best not to mention Skillsy again. It will not be easy and for anyone who fought to get a coronation chicken sandwich at tea this week, they will understand at least one of the necessities of reporting on Skills from last week.
Anyhow, onwards and upwards in a non-Skilbeckian direction.
The Bashers take the game against us very seriously and fielded what, in the pub, looked like a very sharp team. We arrived in customary shape on the dot of ten to two with our skipper holding on very tightly to a box of super strength fast acting nurofen. Not a cloud in the sky and not a single bollard flattened in Ticehurst as we made our way to the hallowed turf. Quite soggy hallowed turf admittedly but nothing was going to stop this fixture happening.
Neilo won the toss (I assume) and put them in which was certainly the correct thing to do on a damp, slow pitch. Of the two openers for the Canbashers, one horribly misread the pitch for a belter in Antigua and played a quite extraordinary range of highly inappropriate shots, almost removing Dixie Deans fingers in the process. Gus Grant was the other and went on to make a fine 50. Over the years we have watched Gus grow up into the bloke with the best looking girlfriend on the pitch by miles. And a fine cricketer he has turned into as well. (Was it just me who noticed his girlfriend? I bet it wasn't. He's a lucky lad). Shades of 30 years ago and sports cars and no children. He batted well and supported by 2 or 3 other bashers, was largely responsible for getting them to a total of 127 off the 35 overs. Our bowlers did well and the fielding was sharp all afternoon.
Skilbeck : 7/0/21//1
Clifton : 7/2/19/1
Grigson 7/3/8/3
Todd : 7/0/38/0
Lund : 6/2/25/2
Dean : 1/0/6/0
Neilo was at his very best, and the rest speak for themselves. You will notice that Skills took 1 for 21 and was responsible for one of the finest caught and bowled wickets in many a long year. But I won't mention that as I really am trying very hard not to mention Skills. Dixie was handed the very last over due to a small mathematical miscalculation and proved worthy of a demanding task. Bang on the money Dix for every one of his 6 balls.
Our simple task was to chase down 127 and we did!! Ross and Skills opened and put on a few until a lobbed catch to mid off by skills saw Jamie Mackwood arrive and put on 70 odd for the second wicket. The bashers asked me if it was ok to bowl at him normally and I said of course. He is a fine young batsman and did well. Ross hung around after Jamie’s demise and we were approx. 20 short when we lost a couple of wickets to suddenly feel that it was possible to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. A feeling made more real when the score board suddenly started moving on its own, adding overs and subtracting runs..... Not sure what was going on there lads but it didn't go down well with either side out in the middle!! However, by hook or by crook we crawled over the line thanks to Toby's clean hitting and Geoff's not so clean hitting. Well done all. Tramadol all round washed down with 4 pints of Guinness and a fag or two.
Played 4 won 3 drawn 1 and with no games now scheduled until September, we can confidently declare that we will be unbeaten right up until the end of august. Now there's a feeling to re-live whilst lying on the beach in Greece praying for a devaluation before you have to pay the bill at the end.
Skils :9
Ross : 42
Mackwood 31
Knight : 12 n/o
Grigson (new bat) 1
Clifton : 8 (inc. a 6) n/0
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