Daily Archives: July 28, 2021

Don’t upset the landlord

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Bedouins v Enville O40s – 21st July 2021

Bedouins won

Bedouins have always been very lucky to be hosted by Enville Cricket Club. There are not many places in this land that boast such beautiful surroundings. Enville are celebrating their 200 year anniversary this year. The Wednesday night Bedouins vs Enville Over 40’s would be a game set at the mid-point in their week of celebrations. All of the Bedouins were honoured to be a part of the week and wished our landlord all the best wishes for the future.

Bedouins arrived to a lovely summer evening with new chairs and a crowd at the front of the Pavilion. The atmosphere was already hotting up and it was clear that Enville had taken the fixture seriously fielding what seemed a strong side.

Skip lost the Toss……again! Enville elected to bat and the game was underway. Babyface George and Boom Boom opened up the bowling and almost immediately we knew a tough night was ahead. Tonks and Smith both retiring on 30 and really gave our opening partnership a tough time. All despite some accurate and unusually pacey bowling on a hard wicket. Neither picked up a wicket which was unlucky on this occasion. Sometimes you just meet good opposition players.

At this point a thank you to our umpires who stood around in the heat making sure we all stayed in check. R Farmer a particular delight saying how well I was bowling despite getting dispatched to the boundary every three balls. What a nice chap!

Bate had been sitting on his sofa watching Central News when he finally realised he should be playing cricket. Eventually turning up some 6 overs in he was worth the wait. 4 steady overs for just 18 complimented Mr Stanier at the other end who went for 22 and all of a sudden, we were back in the game.

Additional to the tight bowling was our Jonno. The youth policy of the Bedouins Team was like a ferret up a drainpipe this evening. He had more slides than a 35mm camera club (one for the oldies) and ultimately kept the score from going out of our reach. I counted at least 25 runs saved. I don’t know where he gets his energy from.

Robertson and Gregory wrapped up our overs with Mahmood retiring on 30 for Enville and Hamilton, Tranter and Goodman bolstering the target. 139 was set and the Beds had lots to do.

Bedouins were off to a flier in their Innings. Branch was back on form. No less than seven boundaries, beautiful drives and the odd heave ho and retired on 32. Lippitt was also in the groove. Another six boundaries and the dab was working just fine. 33 and Retired.

The Enville attack had been steady without the required wickets. Moran, May, Tranter, Davis all bowling through without joy.

Hill joined in at the middle and solidified his Man of the Match performance with a sensible batting innings. Defend the straight and punish the wide…..and punish he did. 31 and Retired.

N Smith quickly departed after being caught by Tranter, and then Stanier and Boom Boom joined the party. 15 Overs had gone and 39 was the score required.

Bedouins have struggled to get across the line a few times this season, you could say it’s been the theme of our season. However, today the Bedouins had a twinkle in their eyes and what seemed a 2×4 in their hand.

Stanier tickled over the singles to get Boom Boom on strike and that was that. 3 overs later and a 30 + partnership led to the final ball of the 17th Over. A crunching 6 down the ground from Skip and Beds had pulled it off.

I don’t think Enville knew what happened, I don’t think Bedouins did either!

The most important thing about this game was the social get together afterwards. We have waited for a game like this for a couple of years now. A beer, a bite to eat around friends.

And what friends we have at Enville…….

Eddie’s Night

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Oldswinford v Bedouins – 14th July 2021

Bedouins lost by 19 runs

Great rivalries on most occasions bring tight nail biting, tactical chess matches that mean that one slight move can make the difference. These games do also occasionally bring a hero from absolutely nowhere. A once in a lifetime champagne moment that lives in folk law and gets etched in the memory…..think Origi vs Everton (Sorry Neil) or A Hill vs SSP…. remember that folks! Anyway……more about that later….

So, Bedouins popped down the road to meet our good friends at Oldswinford on a warm July night. All were in great spirits as usual. Skip and Stanier made sure they had the ‘Right’ cap on and a few of the Oldswinford lads returned to their home kit.

Skip lost the toss, again. Beds were out to bowl and the game underway. Opening the bowling was the usual gruesome twosome Mike ‘Babyface’ George and Skip, Boom Boom Bywater. Usually, the tale goes that Mike’s arm falls off, the umpire gets a lateral shoulder muscle workout and then Skip comes on the steady things up. Not tonight. Mike fired through four steady overs against tough opening partnership Spooner and O’Meara who quickly raced away to a 50 partnership, Spooner 30 retired and O’Meara 20. Meanwhile at the other end Skip had just begun his ‘off night’. Nobody is really sure what happened, not since the great ‘Sunday Hangover’ had Bywater looked so out of sorts. Cows’ backside and Banjo come to mind and Lippitt got brave in the field, calling for someone to help him to tell the Skipper to remove himself from the attack. Skip knew his time had come and called for Austin to rescue him and with 4 overs, 2 wickets for 17 he certainly did.

Following Mike at the end of his stint was the returning Spratters. He had been circling the outfield of Enville for weeks looking like a lost puppy and all he needed was Master to call him home…..and home he came. I have to say it was genuinely great seeing Spratters back in the fold. Playing with a smile on his face and with a spring in his step. Long may it continue. The Whites are not ready for the loft yet. 4 Overs 2 wickets for 12. Great return!

After the fiery opening partnership, the middle order continued to push the total. Taylor, Milner and Brigdale launching some marvellous shots to post a competitive 119.

Bedouin’s innings didn’t quite ignite. Branch gone for a ‘duck’ and Lippitt and Hill pinned down by straight bowling on a good length. Martin Watts going for just 10 off his 4 overs and Matt Watts going for just 9. 119 looked a long way away but credit where it’s due, Lippitt and Hill pushed on to give the Bedouins a chance. Hill retiring on 34 and Lippitt taken out lbw on 27 by Brigdale.

The game was all set up for Skip ‘Boom Boom’ Bywater to come and steal the show. Potter was bowling and his first ball was exactly where Skip wanted it. Boom……….OUT! It really was one of those moments you had to be there. Skip fired the ball straight back over Potters head, not quite out of the middle of the bat but it was only dropping 10-15 yards short of the boundary. They say in this game to ‘pick your fielders’, but this time Skip got it wrong. Trusty Eddie Hewitt was stood on the boundary and his eyes lit as soon as the ball launched away. I still don’t know how he caught it. Somebody said something about a forward one-handed scoop dive. I just had the ‘claw’ from Toy Story 3 running through my mind. Skip trudged back to the club house thoroughly dejected yet amazed at the same time…

Our new friend Goring also went for 0, a shame as it is clear that he is a proper cricketer. Seems he is mobile and can field so actually puts most of us to shame already. McConnell flashed his blade for 10 but got caught. Highlight of the Oldswinford bowling attack was Mickey Robbo taking 2 wickets for 23 runs.

‘Mr Oldswinford’ himself, Jon Stanier then came to hopefully rescue us but it was not to be. Eddie Hewitt Struck again a colossal blow, this time with his bowling arm taking out the stumps after a deflection or two. Howells and Gregory came to the middle but had too much to do and not enough time.

Bedouins finished on 100 – 19 runs short.

Another fun action-packed game that will live in memory for the Eddie Hewitt show and the matching smile! Mind you who can blame him!