Our annual visit to the home of 3’s cricket took us to Great Braxted this year, with newly promoted St Andrews visiting the on the hottest day of the year.
Nob won the toss and decided to bat. And then 15 minutes later regretted his decision as he was dismissed first ball of the innings by, in all honesty, a very good delivery. John departed in said bowlers next over, also for a duck. Oh well at least it was sunny. Fuga and Foxy looked to rebuild the innings in their own ways, Fuga was watchful and resolutely saw off the troublesome bowler whilst Foxy took the other opener apart with a series of lofted drives to various parts of the ground. There was a hairy moment just before drinks, both batsmen dropped from identical shots, in consecutive balls, leaving the bowler non too happy. Fuga eventually departed for probably the best 9 I have ever seen, bowled by the same bowler who cleaned up Nob and John and there were short stays for Mutley and Dan Allen, who both looked in decent nick before both were dismissed caught behind. Foxy continued to play exactly how we have come to expect him to, completely taking the situation and even the pitch out of the equation and just batting in his own entertaining way, much to the delight of the home side who love to watch him play. When he departed for an excellent 87, we looked to be in some bother at 128-6 with an out of nick, tubby, ginger chap by the name of Pearson at the crease. After his customary refusal to walk for a caught behind, he knuckled down and spent some time blocking an struggling to hit the ball off the square. Slowly he grew in confidence, dispatching the bad ball and waddling singles, expertly marshalling the lower order with a determined 48 not out, and with some help in the way of good hitting from Matt (23), Baron (23) and George Davis (20*), we finished on a well over par 247-9 from our 45.
Teas were 9.5/10 cos I made them. And I brought beer for after the game. I challenge anyone to beat this.
It was still almost 30 degrees by the time we took to the field but our bowlers took to the conditions in different ways. Matt looked like he had just showered, George like he was about to keel over whilst DQ was fresh as a daisy. Matt struck with the second ball of the innings, caught at slip by Fox and then again in his next over, yorkinging the opposition captain and didn’t take DQ too long to get in on the act, claiming a strange looking LBW. Baron replaced Matt and bowled very well to the right handlers, less well to the left handlers, finding some much needed rythym and claiming two wickets in the process. 2017 POTY Mutley got a rare bowl and reminded us why he was so valuable that season, his spell of 7-2-14-1 in that heat without a break was excellent, it’s just a shame he isn’t available next weekend. With the visitors 6 down and needing too many to forge a realistic chase, the game was in danger of dropping in to a lull so Nob introduced John to the attack. The lower orders eyes lit up and the shots began to come, but so did the wickets, 2 stumpings for Dan Allen and two catches in the deep gave John figures of 4 for 9 in a little over 3 overs and we had wrapped things up with more than 12 overs remaining. The beers were cold by this time, the sun was still shining and there was a little bit of cake left. This is cricket.
Some good performances today, Matt, Baron, Mutley and John with the ball and Stu’s knock with the bat but Foxy's innings was the difference between the sides. Batting at a difficult time he looked as though he was on a different deck to the other 21 players in the game. Star Man - Foxy
Great Waltham at Home next Saturday. 2nd vs 3rd. Last year we were 2nd and 3rd bottom.
