Bilton Faders CC v Crick Lions CC – June 2021

Batting Highlights: Some lusty blows all round and three batsmen retiring not out
Bowling Highlights: An economical display from the bowlers who all took at least 1 wicket each
Fielding Highlights: Anything Rocky did

Crick’s first Friday night T20 ‘bash’ of the season was set in the leafy enclave of Bilton Grange School. After much deliberation and negotiation, it was decided that Crick would bat first. The opening overs saw the runs flow from Rocky (20* ret) and Frazer (15), with shots all around the wicket. On a deceptively slow outfield, both batsmen were unlucky not to reach the boundary more often than they did. Dave Allen (0) will proudly take on responsibility for the golden bat from Mark Jones who has looked after it so well since the first game of the season. Tim Nash (1) stayed a little longer before being caught going for a big shot which brought Mark (22* ret) to the crease who proceeded to unleash a flurry of boundaries including a towering six back over the bowler’s head, which he made sure I included in the match report.
Bomber (9), one of the most unlikely batsmen to be run out going for a quick single (or the most likely, whichever way you look at it), gave partner James Gibbins (who stood his ground) a death stare as he packed his bags and departed from his extensive stay at the crease, followed by a “He does know this is a Twenty20?!” (Oh, the irony). Gibbins (28* ret), was on pugnacious form, showing the tiring bowling attack no mercy and hitting boundaries from the off. The evergreen Pete Grant (7*) came to the wicket and contributed some useful tail-end runs, including a lot of ‘quick’ singles to keep the score ticking over, whilst Will Browne (8) also chipped in before being stumped a mile down the wicket and Chris Hutchinson (0) was bowled off the last ball going for a maximum. Crick posted an impressive 128 for 6 off their 20 overs.

In an unlikely turn of events, skipper Jones opened the bowling with two of the team’s slower bowlers, mixing things up, and giving everyone a go. Fuelled by his lunchtime pint(s) at the Red Lion, Bomber (3.2-0-30-2) opened the bowling and removed one of the Faders’ openers thanks to Pete who proved that he’s still got ‘it’ (what that is we’re not sure), with his cat-like reflexes behind the stumps to whip the bails off. Dave Allen (4-0-13-2) came on at the other end to remove their other opening batsman thanks to a fine catch from Mark and took a second wicket catching it from his own bowling to break his dropping spree. A fired-up Will Browne (4-0-14-2) came on to finish off the rest of the top order, clean-bowling two top order batsmen, before confusion between the wickets saw Dave run out their No.6 thanks to quick thinking from Jammy at mid-wicket.
Tim Nash (4-1-7-2) had a fine bowling debut but made the cricket pitch look like a bowling alley (work follows him everywhere) when he slipped on his run-up (we were about to rip up his contract at this point) only to recover and demolish the stumps twice over to record excellent figures. Chris Hutchinson (4-0-23-1) came on and made a neat contribution with his fast-ish off-spin that kind of didn’t spin (his words) to trap one of their high scorers LBW. There were plenty of highlights in the field, with Bomber using his soccer skills to scoop the ball over his head towards the boundary, Nathan Grant providing much ‘emotional support’ to bowlers Will and Chris in the slip cordon, Rocky showing great anticipation fielding on the boundary, sometimes diving a full half an hour before the ball got to him, as well as an excellent reverse-ghost flick when attempting to throw into the keeper, which ended up behind him and confused everyone. In the final over of the game, with more than 30 required to win, Rocky took a superb catch in the deep, with the low sun in his eyes, ‘controlling’ the ball with his chest to dismiss the last man. The Faders were all out for 93 and Crick were back to winning ways. The game was played in great spirit and plenty of food and drink was consumed after. The two sides will clash again next Friday night in Crick’s highly anticipated inaugural competitive fixture at the CCG.