Harry
Baldwin XI vs Weekenders CC
Match
Drawn
Harry
Baldwin 184-3 off 34 overs
Weekenders
113-8 off 36 overs
If thereÕs an award for the latest ever sending out of a match report,
IÕm up for itÉ as Mike just reminded me (canÕt think why heÕd be especially
interested???), I failed to send out (or indeed to write) a report for the
Harry Baldwin 11 fixture at the wonderful Parham Park last September. So here
goesÉ
ItÕs always nice when you turn in through the ground gates to be asked
by a blazered retainer whether youÕve come
for the horse show. In this case, Ōground gatesĶ really means Ōgates to the
country estate from which the cricket pitch canÕt be seen because itÕs still
over the horizonĶ. Put simply – a pretty cushy pad. If Parham Park were a
WeekenderÕs attribute, it would be a cross between JulesÕs port cabinet and
CraigÕs cover drive.
Remarkably, given that the teamsheet had
numbered six only a week before the match (special shout-out to Jessie
and Jayde from Hampstead Ladies), and that getting
there would entail a morning sprint across London, adequate functioning of
Southern Rail and two rides in the townÕs single taxi, all Weekenders were
there so long before start of play as to permit two separate rounds of fielding
drills. At one point the ratio was 11 Weekenders to 3 Harry Baldwins, and there were serious concerns that we would
lose it in the warm-up – at the ground, unusually, rather than the pub.
One point for attention in close season is that we were seriously outdone
in loucheness of attire and of general
deportment, which have been strengths down the years.
With the oppoÕs studied ennui
extending to arrival time, we made the political decision to field first. The
lads and lasses generally put it there or thereabouts on a surface that has
seen more dressage than most. As often seems to be the way, the bowling side of
the scorebook would have looked pretty healthy by the time Baldwins
declared an over ahead of halfway – if we could have removed the
contribution of the batter who made more than half of their total. Decent bowling especially from Mikey (flowing
in from the stately home end) and Mohsin, who
livened up all the batters at the death. None-too-shabby debut
spells Weekenders-wise from Jayde Ellis and
Tom Drew.
The tea wasÉ special. Four cakes all home-made by
the home skipperÕs missus. Much more could be said, but neednÕt be.
We probably needed a 95 from one of our top order to be in with a shout,
but it wasnÕt to be. Andrew BriscoeÕs crept along the ground, but elsewhere
shots were played in keeping with the extravagance of the surroundings. Having
gone in early supposedly in order to take the Orwell family home at a decent
hour, Mikey showed what he really thought
of them by staying in until stumps. At the other end came an extraordinary
innings from Mohsin in terms of the ratio
of chances given to runs scored – pretty much 1:1. Very entertaining!
Followed by an aggressive and undefeated knock from Jayde full
of shots straight from the Sydney softball leagues. In keeping with their
general tenor, Baldwins didnÕt pursue the
win too assiduously, preferring to give everyone a bowl and trade literary
banter. Maybe drawing is art.
A wonderful coda materialised in the form of the local pub, from whose
terrace the land disappears downwards into SussexÕs version of the African Rift
Valley. One just had to imagine the cows were giraffes and the crisps overdone
pieces of impala to be there. And then, as Southern Rail serially cancelled
their one train an hour, a very generous lift home for about half of us from
Joe, surely contravening all rules on car overcrowding and driver visibility.
If itÕs at Parham Park again this season – get your name down
early.
Baldwins 184-3
off 34 overs (G Jones 95)
Jess Black 4-0-16-0, Orwell 5-2-12-0, Dibley 8-0-40-1,
Jayde Ellis 6-0-40-1, Shimoga 3-0-26-0, Mohsin 6-1-16-1, Tom Drew 3-0-18-0
Weekenders 113-8 off 36 overs
Briscoe 5, Leal 19, Shimoga 8,
MacDonald 6, Orwell 36no, Jess Black 1, Dibley 1, Mohsin 19,
Ellis 15no. DNB Drew
& Black R
Catches: Ellis, MacDonald, Mohsin (c & b)