On this corresponding Sunday 18 years ago, Napton CC played their first game on the Priors Marston Road ground. The corresponding Sunday in 2004 was actually the 25th of the month.
This was pre-pavilion days. We had an old portacabin in the car-park. The gazebo and gas burners were kept in there and transported down to the side of the pitch in Matt’s truck. Even then a traditional cricket tea with a hot cuppa was important.

With the extreme weather conditions of late, Graham did well to produce a good square this week.
Mike was not available for this game, so Vice-Captain Olly took on the mantle.
He won the toss and elected to bat first.
The two Captains decided that batsmen were to retire on reaching their half-century but could return if all wickets fell.
It wasn’t confirmed if the TV companies or the advertisers and sponsors had requested this format. Heaven forbid, it’ll be white balls next !!

On another point, it was good to see Chef at the match looking fit and well after his major surgery. We look forward to seeing him on the team-sheet in the future.

Ed and Joe opened for Napton.
After Ed’s early departure Mike N joined Joe.
Joe was at his very best with a variety of delightful shots. He reached the boundary seven times before he humbled himself with a mere single !!
He reached his half-century in the 12th. Unfortunately, the arrangements for this game required that he returned to the pavilion. In this form he would have ‘carried his bat’ with at least 150 in the book.

George, replacing Joe, showed his intent immediately, starting with a boundary by deftly picking a ball going down leg and helping it on its way.

During Joe’s innings and then partnering George, Mike N, was calmly and solidly building on his score. His entry in the book, in contrast to Joe’s, starts with a wicker-fence of singles before striking out for the boundary.
The partnership between Mike and George kept the score moving at a pace with text-book shots from both batsmen, coupled with determined running between the wickets, with George’s young legs often pushing Mike for that extra digit on the scoreboard.
They had added 68 runs when Mike, in full-flow and settling in well, reached the set limit and made way for the next batsman.

Olly and Stuart built on the score and were both there when the allocated 40 overs were completed.
232-4 wickets plus 2 batsmen retired.
Mike Nyren 53 Retired 7 boundaries
Joe Alsop 50 Retired 11 boundaries inc. a six.
Stuart Alsop 30 Not Out 4 boundaries
George Pelter 28 runs 2 boundaries
Olly O’Brien 25 Not Out 2 boundaries
Tom Hancock 11 runs 2 boundaries

A scrumptious cricket tea awaited us in the pavilion.
An array of sandwiches and savouries with a ‘Mary Berry Cookbook’ selection of wonderful large and individual cakes.
With James and George on tea-rota duties this week, and both of them playing, this was quite an achievement. Especially as neither of them were seen behind the counter.
However, mum Rachael seemed to be working very hard in the kitchen!!

With nearly 6-an-over required the visitors needed to get off to a good start.
Leading the attack for Napton, Sam and James kept them in check, only conceding 31 runs in the first 10 overs.
First-change bowler Ed was soon making inroads, bowling first an opener and then the replacement batsmen.
51-2 after 16 overs

The remaining opener was building a decent score until a catch by James gave brother George his first wicket of the match.
In his second session Ed again beat the bat to remove the bails.
86-4 after 25 overs.
Badby were now falling behind in the run-chase with the remaining 15 overs left requiring nearly 10 runs-per-over.

Another catch by James gave Ed his fourth wicket during a wicket-maiden.
In the very next over George took his second wicket via a catch by Ed.
105-6 after 30 overs.
A catch by Graham gave Max a well-earned wicket.

Returning for his second spell in the 38th James let fly with two consecutive absolute snorters that were accurate and completely beat the batsmen, putting him on a hat-trick ball.
In a great sportsman-like gesture he resisted the chance for that special scorebook entry and bowled off a shorter run-up for the No 11 batsman, recording a double-wicket maiden instead.
Badby completed their allocated 40 overs on 141-9
Wickets:-
Ed Shillitoe 8 overs 3 maidens 4-24
James Pelter 6 overs 3 maidens 2-17
George Pelter 8 overs 2-39
Max Nyren 8 overs 1 maiden 1-21

A 91-run win for Olly and his merry men, played in a very congenial and pleasant atmosphere by both teams.