A Bucket Of Barcardi Breezers!
Rumour has it that James Carrs has not played cricket since last September (suggested by himself) and that he has spent his entire first year at Cardiff University (why there?) propping up the Union Bar working his way through buckets of Bacardi Breezers (suggested by the team!). As we know there is always a small grain of truth in every rumour (the brezzers have it then!) and James turned up to his first Thirds match of the season against US Portsmouth Thirds and the skip having lost the toss (a good one to lose) sent James in to open the batting.
42 rain influenced overs later having carried his bat and reached 83, and with the help of Mr reliable Roberts (50) a total of 209 was on the board. There then occurred one of those strange periods of play which can only happen in cricket. Having got off to a good start and clearly a winning position, 90 without loss off 20 overs, the sun came out and the skip took the ball more in desperation than in hope, 10 overs later the home side where reduced to 119 -9.
It goes without saying that the teams now token Welshman was involved, who after his first 4 balls being wides ended up with 3 for 25. The winning wicket was taken by young Kyle Shinn and the team left the pitch expecting several buckets of Bacardi Breezers to be forthcoming in a local hostelry – suffice to say that part of the day was no more than a rumour, oh well there’s always next week!
Le-Clercq's 'cinq' sinks Old Hambledonians
Sometimes cricket can be the most wondrous of games - this week the skippers thoughts turned too jacking it all in when he was left with a team of 3 on Friday, then the toss is conducted with him still on his way to the ground and then wonder of wonders this much cobbled together team which included eight 4th team players go and win a game which you wouldn't have got odds on!
Asked to bowl on a slow, damp track and led by Rupert Baskcomb (3 for 36), it would be fair to say the kids came to the party - Kyle Shinn and Jacob Smith bowled really well but pride of place must go to young Lewis Le-Clerq with figures of 9 overs, 5 wickets for 32 runs. When his dad teaches him to appeal properly he's going to be awesome - bat before wicket hasn't as far as I am aware entered the game yet as an appeal, but then the oppositions opening bat clearly thought that neither has LBW!
Chasing 123 was never going to be easy and so it proved at 24 for 4, but Baskcomb and the skip put on 100 together to pull off one of 3rds most memorable Hambledon wins - from us older ones to you younger ones - brilliant!
Old Hambledonians 123 all out
Hambledon 3rds 125 for 4
Sticky Wicket Win!
Not a good toss to loose which the skip duly did and the 3rds found themselves asked to bat on a wicket which resembled 'the playing fields of Eaton, or any school at the end of the cricket season'! The total of 155 was largely down to David Roberts and yet another score in the 70's and a very young looking wagging tail! The revolving door policy of the middle order is something however that will clearly need to be addressed.
At least 155 was a game making total but despite regularly taking wickets victory never looked in doubt for Burridge. Even when needing 12 runs off the last 3 overs with 5 wickets in hand it was there for the winning and Hambledon's fat lady was just slipping into her favourite costume but somehow Hambledon just sneaked home by 1 run. Some outstanding tight bowling from Robert Tusler (2 for 24 off 9 overs) and some very quick, aggressive overs from Chris Gibson (4 for 31 off 12 overs) where the key and of course that wicket!
Ps - Wicket Keeper still required to replace ailing skip!
No Country for Old Men
There probably comes a time in life when you realise you're getting old. The first day of a new cricket season is as good a place to
start as any I guess and looking around the much depleted 3rds at Denmead was probably one of those moments. Despite Rupert Baskcomb's wicket with the first ball of the match and of course the season you could hear joints and bones creaking from all over the pitch.
Denmead slowly - 59 off the first 21 overs - and then somewhat more quickly accumulated 173 runs as the older ones amongst us were quick to point out that catches win matches as their skipper went on to score 106! Tom Seebold bowled well with his leggies and took a couple of wickets but the skipper will need to persuade his team that he is still young enough to bowl after being hit for 33 in his 4 overs. Thanks largely to David Roberts - 73 - the Thirds reached 146 and having been 17-4 that represents a recovery of sorts, but another losing start to the season had arrived.
As the skipper looked sky ward at the end of the match, someone was heard to ask "wonder what he's thinking about?" 'His past' came the response from his middle son!