Baboons on tour could well be the tagline. After hours of travel from deepest Lincolnshire one can eventually arrive in deepest darkest Nottinghamshire at Upton. Dark it was with rumblings of thunder and lashings of cream (well the tea was very good). Eventually there was even une vache qui pisse in honour of the captain's Leclerc t-shirt.

Back to cricket. Capt Tim won the toss and elected to bat. Having received threats of violence he also imposed a 35 over limit on the innings. Sadly we had not also arranged a 1.30 start.

Still, batting first is good and Strats and Dickie looked keen to take advantage. Strats serenely stroking singles and Dickie keen to get on with it...a four and then the trademark straight shot for nearly six. Actually caught. Out. Bother. No worries he was replaced by Sam G who was equally keen to make progress. To be fair all the shots went to the same place but two fours and a a six are always welcome. Sadly the last shot had a negative amount of contact and he was bowled. Strats was still there stroking one and twos with the occasional 4 and 6. All very satisfactory. Once he tried to get out lbw but umpire and opponents eventually agreed he had hit it. Very slow umpire who claimed he was thinking. Not likely. Capt Tim was mainly sensible and Oli Blake bristled with energy. Sam B's stay was short and Howard's even shorter. However Gibert senior and Stratford junior tickled the score along nicely and by the end 154 seemed a reasonable score.

The excellent tea was then consumed (there may not have been lashings of cream) - there was a suspicion it was designed to weigh down the Baboon's bowlers..

Baboon's bowlers were not weighed down. They were vigorous and mean. Runs were not scored in any significant manner until Mighty Moose arrived at the crease though he now seemed to be known as Purch. Sam G and Bullement T (Capt, Sir to most people) were very miserly. Oli B's radar was disturbed by the approaching electronic disturbance but he was rewarded for his effort by a wicket - the dangerous Austin being removed for nought. At 21 overs they had score a mere 74 runs and had yet to face the threat of spin from the likes of Booth, Tedbury or Blake senior. They might have thought they would be saved by the aforementioned vache qui pisse but no, Messrs Duckworth Lewis and Stern were summoned and Baboons declared victorious. Then Gilbert and Bullement senior were consulted and Baboons declared victorious on run rate. Then a gentle enquiry made of Pitchero who agreed (on simple score) that Baboons had won. Mention should be made of the largely blemish-free fielding and the excellent wicket-keeping of Guest One - otherwise known as Ben Taylor who, sadly did not get to show us his, no doubt, excellent batting and bowling skills.

The Cross Keys was enjoyed with full marks being awarded to Black Sheep. Other beers were available but irrelevant.

So now it's played 4, won 2, lost 2 and on to Empingham.

Ropsley Baboons Cricket Club

Upton Cricket Club

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