A Covid Draft up to the Seconds

 Was expecting to play for the third team today, after C19 caused a few gaps in the Saturday line-ups, but a late "ping" to one of our players on Saturday morning saw me moved up into the second team to play Hoveringham 2s on what was a blisteringly hot day.

Today sporting a cap, as opposed to my usual headband this year, was a very good move. My brain would have been fried to a crisp otherwise. Spray on factor 50 was slathered all over my face and neck. I had enough water in my cricket bag to fill the hump of a camel. And it still wasn't enough.

I had kind of resigned myself to a no bowling or batting day, as opposed to just no batting, as the second team have proved to be incredibly strong this year, riding high second in their division. So I tried to do the best I could in the field, and luckily I was actually quite sharp and made no cock ups whatsoever which is staggeringly rare for me. That was fielding in the "Jonty Rhodes" position at cover point as well!

Hoveringham too had struggled with C19 related issues, and could only play 10 men in the end, and it was, shall we say, an experienced squad. This combined with the heat and some extremely accurate bowling from our lads up front led to some very slow progress, with regular wickets keeping Hoveringham in check. 

This was all watched, probably with little interest, by three buzzards circling on thermals and making regular keening calls. Looks like the resident birds from the stand of trees at one end of the ground have successfully raised another little raptor!

After 25 overs with Hoveringham 4 down for about 90, I was slightly surprised to be called into the bowling attack after the Sunday skipper was hoiked off for bowling too many beamers. And it went pretty well, all things considered. I didn't bowl anything short, only bowled the one wide when I stumbled in delivery, and best of all - lol - forced the keeper not to stand up to the stumps as I was getting ball to zip through reasonably sharply by my pitiful standards. 

And yet, I took no wickets despite beating the bat a few times, and every so often I got spanked for four by Hoveringham's resident cow corner hacker because I look to bowl the ball full to get it to swing. 

"Never be upset by being hit for 4 on the drive" is often the club bowler's mantra, but I was still annoyed. "Grrrrrr". That's how annoyed I was. 

Our opening bowler then returned, and in combination with our "mystery spinner" at the other end, made short work of the remaining sloggers to bowl Hoveringham out for 132. 

Unbelievably our opening bats knocked off the runs in less than 20 overs to win by 10 wickets, while I tried to increase my step count by walking round both grounds on my shonky ankle. Racked up over 20,000 steps in the end. 

As the third team went down to a heavy defeat that I would have done nothing to change, I probably had a decent deal out of the day, although my ankle is telling me otherwise.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 17.06.21

Cricket from the Sidelines

So this morning, I found a few bees and a bee fly mimic in the park, much attracted to the dandelions, and then in the morning, I went to Balderton to watch my Sunday XI play, you know, being supportive, a good clubman and all that.

Much gentle joshing followed by the travelling support we had, which increased as the afternoon went on. Anyone would have thought that news had got out that we were playing an action packed thriller, as opposed to what appeared from the sidelines to be a rather turgid affair on a very slow pitch with an outfield like a grand national fence.

Our bowling looked steady and accurate however, and we restricted the opposition to 106-4 off 30 overs - it was a shortened game due to a few showers happening. I say we, I should say they, as my contribution was restricted to cheering our bowlers.

I felt very left out I must say.

So, when Newark batted, the pitch looked even harder to time the ball on and the scoring rate was glacial, and with our opening bats attempting every now and then to run themselves out, I did wonder how we would go. But then a higher gear was found and some boundaries were hit, although not before the captain was finally run out by his partner.

We were on about 60-1 when I had to leave.

Every so often I experimented with fielding and bowling, to puzzled looks. I'm still struggling to pick the ball up.

Worse was to follow though, as I picked up a back spam later on, although hopefully that will ease in a day or two. Just from taking my shoes off. Jeez.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 17.06.19