There is something special about Bradford on Avon. So much history crammed into this lovely Wiltshire town. All was centred and grew from the “Broadford” across the river Avon that runs through the very heart of the town. The Romans who “came, saw & conquered” were followed by the Saxons and Vikings, not forgetting the Normans, jubilant from their victory in 1066, and it was they that built the town bridge that still stands today. Then on this day, today, July 2nd in 1643, the Royalist troops during the English Civil War, seized control of the bridge on their way to the Battle of Lansdowne. Almost to the day, 374 years later, Bath Hospitals skipper Toby Patrick brought his troops across the very same bridge to do battle with the towns cricket club.
A lovely setting can be found at the end of Pound Lane, named after the poor souls who grudgingly wandered down to pay their taxes in the 14th century Saxon tithe barn, unlike today where you can do it “online”. The Hospital players congregated on the pitch to inspect the playing surface and commented on the surrounding foliage and plethora of trees that stood in the Barton Farm estate making such a delightful backdrop for a game of cricket.
Winning the toss, Bradford captain Matt Harrington gambled and asked the Hospitals to bat first on a wicket still drying from some overnight rain. Andy Boyce was joined at the crease by fellow opener Div Puri and the pair set about their business.
With 4 overs gone and 4 runs on the scoreboard it was Boyce who led the attack hitting 2x4s 1x6s in successive balls. Not to be out gunned Div Puri joined the fray as and the scoreboard was ticking along nicely until Andy Boyce (38) was late on a “Full Toss” and skied one to mid-on who took a good catch running in from the boundary. Jon Fair joined Puri with the score on 70 in the 12th over and the pair kept up the momentum scoring 91 runs in 12 overs. With the score on 157 in the 24th over, Fair played a rash shot trying to cut a ball that was of a full length and was comprehensively bowled middle-stump for 33 runs.
Skipper Patrick came in at number four and bludgeoned 4,6,4, from his first five deliveries but was still supporting Div Puri who by now was opening up and attacking the bowling at every given opportunity. Puri was later adjudged out LBW having scored 81 runs from just 70 balls. Aussie Jake Calgie came in at 5 to nudge and nurdle runs on a wicket that was not contusive to the Calgie cover drive, as it was if the life had been drained from the pitch. Skipper Patrick was the next to go having scored 42 from 33 deliveries bringing Shaun Adderley to join Calgie with the score at 222 for 4 from 32 overs.
Adderley has a reputation for his quick running and attacking play and this was not tarnished when he and Calgie ran at every opportunity and put immense pressure on the Bradford fielders. Although only scoring one boundary, young Jake Calgie managed to score 37 runs from 43 deliveries in a partnership with Adderley of 90 runs in 10 overs.
The Hospital innings came to a close with Shaun Adderley 74 not out from 39 balls faced, and a total of 336 for 5 wickets in their allotted 45 overs.
An impressive spell of bowling from both Dan Hatcher (9-2-22-1) and Rhys Redman (9-1-15-2) basically put the strangle hold on any attempt for victory for the Bradford batsman, added with a sublime spell from Jon “Toggy” Fair of (9-2-14-3) and Jake Dyer (9-2-22-0) unlucky not to get amongst the wickets, the Bradford batsman “shut up shop”. Not even a tactical “shot in the dark” of a spell from Henry “Henners” Haydon (4-1-26-1) could see the Bradford side all out and so they finished on 153 for 8 wickets down, leaving the Hospitals a winning victory of 183 runs.