Chester BH Blazers Over 40s vs Upton Over 40s

Finally some cricket with a dry evening forecast. All the players wore black armbands in memory of our umpire Alan Middleton, who sadly passed away 2 weeks ago. He rarely missed a Blazers match, home or away, and would always stay for a pint and a bite to eat afterwards. He accpeted the odd fine with good humour and kept us entertained with his sporting stories. He will be very much missed by all the squad.

The Blazers batted first on a well-used wicket and got off to a breezy start in the first two overs, only to be halted by an excellent spell of bowling from Rich Battersby. 17-0 off 2 became 37-6 off 8 as he ripped through the top order with 4-18, all bowled. Kevin Jackson also chipped in with a couple so with Karl, Milky, Raj, Dil, Cooky and Boothy all back in the shed, a repair job was needed. Enter the fray Jim Gillson and Ian Martin. They played sensibly for 10 overs, putting away any bad balls and rotating the strike well. Jim retired on 30 and Ian fell in the last over for 29 as we finished on 105 off our 20 overs. Below par but on a tricky wicket, but we were in with a shout.

Atko and Waz opened up, the latter making the early breakthrough. Boothy came on and bagged a wicket as well, keeping things very tight in the process. Roberts and Warburton were ticking things along and we sensed we needed a wicket as 4 or 5 runs an over were coming easily. Ian Martin had a tough c&b chance that didn't stick but kept things tidy going for just 16 off his 4 overs. Boothy was miserly with 1-11 off his 4 and didn't concede a boundary. Hats off with only 8 fielders (some logistical challenges meant we only had 10 men). Dil replaced Boothy for a couple and Jim came on to twirl a few from the top end. Still only 4 or 5 required an over with plenty of wickets left, so we needed something special. Jim removed Upton's skipper Warburton for 26 just after Roberts had retired for a well-crafted 30. The dangerous Sharrock came and went, another scalp for Jim as he was caught in the deep. Atko back on at the top end and smashed for 6 by Battersby in the 19th meant just 6 runs were needed for victory. Jim to bowl the last... wicket! Battersby well caught at mid-off by Ian Martin. Then a single... a dot... a single. 4 needed off 2. Tense! Another wicket as Owen was run out, 4 needed off the last ball, all available men on the boundary. A big swing but the ball went out towards deep mid wicket and Upton finished 2 short on 104.

A cracking game of cricket which could have gone either way. Al would have enjoyed that one.

Hotpot and cheese for dinner, Jim Gillson not content with his match-winning all-round performance on the field also led a very entertaining fines session with Fishy unavailable due to posh herbert cricketing commitments. Thanks to Damo for the port sponsorship.

MOTM - Jim Gillson
DOTD - Atko (10 men, can't bat, can't bowl, can't catch)