Bedouins v Beacon at Wombourne, August 3

Bedouins won by 8 wickets

Most normal people would simply enjoy hitting a six. At Beacon’s beautifully manicured ground, where a straight hit can often finish in the canal that runs alongside the ground, there is the prospect of the added frisson (look it up!) of watching the splash as the ball hits the surface – and that’s what Ian Woodhouse reckoned was the biggest thrill of his innings. Well, he doesn’t get out much these days, you see.

In fact, splashing out in that way was only one of Woody’s excitements for the evening. His second six cleared the canal, and the towpath (narrowly missing an elderly couple out for an evening stroll), and the hedge, and disappeared into the farmer’s field beyond. “New balls, please.”

For once, the evening got off to a prompt start. Congratulations to the Bedouins players, who managed to get themselves on parade, “booted and suited”, for a start at 6 p.m. sharp. That, combined with hustle and bustle between overs, meant that the game was completed in reasonable light. And all the better for it.

Spratters was back to his accurate best, as the Beds were asked to bowl first. His four overs went for just nine runs, and he had one wicket to add to a good evening’s work. Josh Lemm opened at the other end and was similarly miserly, giving away just 17 runs in his four overs. It was Lee Bywater who fared best for wickets, having two Beacon batsmen clean-bowled.

On a fast-scoring outfield, the Bedouins did well to restrict the home side to 118 for 3.

A start of just two runs in the first two overs was scarcely promising in the Beds’ reply, but Ian Woodhouse got going with a couple of boundaries, as John Branch also hit the occasional boundary at the other end – none of that “all-run three” nonsense this time! Woodhouse retired on 33, and, in fact, all five Beds batsmen who got in reached double figures, Adrian Susman rolling back the years with a cleanly struck straight six in his 18 not out.

Neill Smith made 19 and Jono Hill 14 not out, as the Bedouins reached their winning target, 119 for 2, with nearly two overs to spare. An unbiased view – this was the Beds’ best all-round performance for this and many other seasons.

Beacon 118 for 3 (Bywater 2 for 27; Spratley 1 for 9)

Bedouins 119 for 2 (Woodhouse 33; Branch 22; Smith 19; Susman 18 not out; Jono Hill 14 not out)

Bedouins v Oldbury Old Boys at Enville, July 31

Bedouins lost by 16 runs

“My son, Richard, will play. He doesn’t play cricket, but he’ll gladly make up the numbers.” Thus David Pearson when we were struggling to get an 11 together for the Sunday game against Oldbury Old Boys.. That led to the highlight of another of those games the Beds should probably have won but finally lost narrowly.

The highlight – two of them, in fact – was the catches Richard Pearson held in the deep field. The first was good enough, but the second was as good as anything seen at the Enville ground for many years. Running from deep mid-on to deep mid-off, he scooped the ball up just before it hit the ground, rolled over a few times, and came up triumphantly with the ball in his hand. The crowd, as they say, went wild.

Oldbury OB – a team assembled by ex-Bed John Richards — had some more than capable early batsmen, two of whom made the retirement score of 50, as the score reached 100 without loss in the 14^th over. The Bedouins bowlers managed to keep things in check in the later stages, though, and the final total was 186 for 5 in 35 overs.

Spratters picked up two wickets, and was just inches short of a caught-and-bowled, as he dived forward in an effort to get the early wicket of one of the openers. It was a vain attempt, but at least it had the secondary effect of rolling the wicket at the same time. Another Beds attempt at a spectacular catch was at square leg, where Andy Hill, making a welcome return after months off with a dodgy back (“Hill’s back’s back”), dived full length and just failed to make a one-handed catch. His ever sympathetic son, fielding nearby, immediately accused him of “dropping a dolly” Ah, the perceptiveness of youth!

There were wickets for Stanier and Susman, plus one for Stanier mate (yes, another of them – see comments in previous report) Martin Watts (six overs, 1 for 8).

After a typically tempting tea and cakes interlude, the Bedouins began the search for 187 runs to win the game. They made a great start, as John Branch and Jon Stanier put on 96 for the first wicket. The latter was first to reach 50; JB was a little longer to get to the retirement point. Along the way, he broke some kind of record by actually completing an all-run three – first time in living memory. It made the spectators gasp, and to be fair, Branchy was also gasping a bit afterwards.

There were also double-figure scores for Jono Hill, John Howells and Adrian Susman, but the OOB bowlers regained control just in time, as the Bedouins finished 16 runs short at 170 for 6.

Oldbury Old Boys 186 for 5 (Spratley 2 for 34; Watts 1 for 8; Stanier 1 for 33; Susman 1 for 36)

Bedouins 170 for 6 (Stanier 51; Branch 50; Jono Hill 18; Susman 15; Howells 10)

Photos from the day are courtesy of Mike George and are available here.

Bedouins v Pedmore House at Enville, July 27

Bedouins win by 54 runs

If Saga had got to know of the number of retirements going on at Enville on July 27, they’d have been down there in force, with their full array of leaflets about financial affairs, no-fly cruises, and coach tours for the elderly and infirm.

But they would have been disappointed. OK, so some of the Bedouins batsmen are beginning to look a tad elderly and infirm. But it’s not the Saga kind of “retirement” that was much in evidence. It was Bedouin batsmen making hay while the sun shone and hitting their way to the 30 runs retirement point – three of them, in fact.

A late start to the annual fixture against Pedmore House (AKA Austin’s Army) meant that this match was always going to finish in the gathering gloom – note to certain Bedouins, aiming for a start as soon as possible after 6 p.m. does NOT mean 6.35! Batting first, therefore, offered the best chance of a decent score in decent light.

The Beds’ batsmen certainly made the best of things. Although skipper John Branch was out for 10, Jon Stanier, Paul Lippitt and Adrian Susman all made 30 and retreated to the comfort of the Enville pavilion, leaving Jono Hill just enough time to swing the bat for 11 not out in a Beds total of 135 for 2 – certainly the best innings score of this season.

Richard Spratley and Lee Bywater spearheaded the Beds bowling with an accurate opening spell, the latter starting his four overs with two maidens, the second of which contained a wicket (sometime Bedouin Austin Gregory). Josh Lemm took over and had the dangerous opener Chivers stumped by John Howells – the years just rolled away, John!

Adrian Susman (“dat’s ma boy!”) completed a good evening by taking two wickets for nine runs, including a fine boundary catch by Jono Hill. There was also a wicket for Ian Blount, making a welcome first appearance for the Beds – another friend of Jon Stanier’s (does he really have so many friends, or is it just that none of them lasts very long?).

Finally the Pedmore House total fell some way short, at 81 for 6 – a 54-run win for the Bedouins. Then it was just a matter of polishing off the most acceptable fish and chips arranged by good old Austin, to round off an excellent evening for the Beds.

Bedouins 135 for 2 (Jon Stanier 30; Paul Lippitt 31; Adrian Susman 30)

Pedmore House 81 for 6 (Adrian Susman 2 for 9; Lee Bywater 1 for 10; Josh Lemm 1 for 20; Ian Blount 1 for 4)

Bedouins v Enville at Enville, Wednesday July 13

Bedouins lost by 3 runs

The annual meeting between the Bedouins and those who occupy the ground that they hire for “home” games ended in a narrow – and boy, was it narrow – win for the Enville side.  There were just three runs in it.  Another game that the Beds should probably have won.

No matter.  The sun shone, most of the evening, and that was the most remarkable aspect, seeing the appalling weather that has prevailed in this so-called summer.  Part of the game was played out against a backdrop of a magnificent rainbow, which drew oohs and ahs from the scorebox.  Alas there was no end-of-the-rainbow win for the Beds, who couldn’t quite get the scoring going quick enough towards the end.

The game had been preceded with a bit of “will he, won’t he” about dear old Lippo.  Having somehow been missed off the availabilities list for the Bedouins (an omission about which he made little or no fuss – not much!), he was then selected for the Enville side.  At the last minute, with the home team 12 strong, the Bedouins were able to negotiate, at little cost, a late transfer back to their own ranks.  There was a certain amount of banter.

Batting first, Enville made rapid strides at the start, with Mahoney hitting 30 before retiring, including three boundaries and (surely a record for Beds games) eight 2s – the scorer was going wild with excitement!.  There was a wicket each for Lee Bywater, Jon Stanier and Adrian Susman, with the latter managing to bamboozle most of the batsmen with his leg breaks.

Chasing 110 to win, the Beds got off to a good start, with Ian Woodhouse hitting a couple of sixes on the way to 26.  Other batsmen contributed well, with the skipper making 14, John Howells 13, Jon Stanier 17 not out and Adrian Susman 23 not out.  But no-one was able to find the boundary rope until the very end, by which time it was just too late, the Bedouins falling just three runs short at 106 for 4.

Enville 109 for 3 (Susman 1 for 13;  Stanier 1 for 15;  Bywater 1 for 19)

Bedouins 106 for 4 (Woodhouse 26; Susman 23 not out; Stanier 17 not out; Branch 14; Howells 13)

Bedouins v Kinlet at Kinlet – Sunday July 10

Bedouins lost by 5 wickets

“Sheep may safely graze.” That’s as may be, but when they start to show signs of ganging up on the skipper’s parked car – again! – the line has to be drawn. The attractive Kinlet ground at Moffat’s School is surrounded by wide open grazing land and vast numbers of sheep. They wander unmolested, munching a bit of green stuff here and there and pooing pretty freely.

The parking area at the cricket ground is open to their ministrations, enabling many to wander among the Rollers and the BMWs. They appear to be particularly attracted to the skipper’s shiny plaything, as they were a year ago. Having been spotted from the pavilion, this time they wandered off, rather “sheepishly”. (No, it didn’t get much of a laugh at the time either!).

We hear that one of the ewes now has mastered the art of jumping the 3-foot fence in order to get to the lush outfield of the cricket ground, resulting in one member of the home side being deputed, just before the game, to wander the ground with bucket and fork, gathering up offending items. Nice work if “ewe” can get it.

This meandering had better stop, in favour of reporting the fact that the Bedouins actually managed to get out on the cricket ground and complete a game, albeit heavily interrupted and truncated by the rain. After a disastrous start to the season, caused by cancellations due to weather and some teams not being able to find enough players, it was a treat to be out there again.

A 40-over-a-side match was finally reduced to 30 overs, as players came and went during the rain-soaked afternoon. Shots which would normally have found their way to the boundary went for ones and the occasional two, as the lush outfield and wet conditions stopped the ball in its tracks.

Invited to bat first, the Beds lost opener Paul Lippitt to the first ball he faced, unluckily played on. Skipper John Branch went for 8 and John Howells for 11, before Jon Stanier and Adrian Susman put a decent stand together before falling for 21 and 25 respectively. It was left to Jono Hill (35 not out) and Tony Hancock (16 not out) to add 36 runs in the last three overs of the allocated 30, to bring the score up to 128 for 7. Jono hit the only six of the innings, and the hon. treasurer recorded the shot of the innings with a meaty straight driven four that fell inches short of the boundary.

For Kinlet, Julian Engleheart and Andrew Mooney both had three wickets, the latter with the excellent figures of 3 for 9 in 7 overs.

The Beds suffered the misfortune of losing opening bowler Spratters, who had to disappear home with one of his frequent migraine attacks. That weakened the bowling department considerably (oh yes, it did, Spratters). However David Pearson made one of his infrequent but most welcome appearances, completing six tidy overs.

Mike Moody made his customary good score for the home side, hitting 34 of the first wicket’s total of 48. His opening partner, David Alsop, went on to register the game’s only 50, and Andrew Mooney added an accomplished 21 not out, as the Kinlet XI won the game with five wickets but less than three overs to spare.

Another classic encounter between Bedouins and Kinlet, and we are already looking forward to the next!

Bedouins 128 for 7 (Hill 35 not out, Susman 25, Stanier 21, Hancock 16 not out)

Kinlet 131 for 5 (Stanier 2 for 22, Branch 1 for 15, Lippitt 1 for 20, Susman 1 for 32)

Bedouins v Beacon at Enville – Wednesday June 8

Bedouins win by 7 wickets

One of the more remarkable aspects of the Bedouins meeting with Beacon CC at Enville on June 8 was the fact that it took place at all. At around 5 p.m. all over the West Midlands, the heavens opened. Roads were flooded no more than half-a-mile from the Enville ground; some team members from both sides were delayed by flooded roads on their way to the ground. But in the grounds of Enville Hall all was sweetness and light. At last the weather gods smiled on the Beds.

The Beacon batsmen found themselves up against it from the very start of their innings. And this time, it was the Bedouins spinners who took centre stage. Step forward Messrs Susman, Stanier (senior and junior) and Lippitt. Their bowling was so tidy, and backed up by excellent fielding and – OK JB – some shrewd field placings, that the Beacon total limped along to just 16 after 6 overs.

The later batsmen got things moving a bit, but a final score of 75 for 9 was unlikely to trouble the home batsmen. Jack Stanier – another off the production line of Stanier cricketers – took 4 for 16 in his four overs, and there were two wickets each for Stanier senior and Lippo. The only Bedouin medium-pacer used was Josh Lemm, who had a deserved wicket in his final over, as Tony Hancock took the catch and followed it next ball by dropping a hard-hit shot that went on to prove rather painful for his knee – how’s that for retribution?

Skipper John Branch had managed to extricate himself from the wilds of Scotland to turn up for this game, thereafter opting for permanent retirement, to lead his team to a seven-wicket victory. He and Ian Woodhouse made a blistering start to the innings, both hitting six boundaries and both reaching the 30-run retirement point in quick time – two “retirements” in a week, therefore, for JB. After a bit of a middle-order hiccup, it was left to our beloved treasurer to hit the winning boundary off the first ball of the 14^th over.

A comprehensive win, therefore, for the Beds – all taken in good part by the Beacon men, who have a similar philosophy to the Bedouins about their cricket. It’s as much about enjoying the occasion as winning the game.

Beacon 75 for 9 (Jack Stanier 4 for 16; Jon Stanier 2 for 16; Lippitt 2 for 13)

Bedouins 79 for 3 (Branch 32; Woodhouse 33)

Bedouins v Chancers at Envile – Wednesday, June 1^st

Bedouins lost by 48 runs

The ball kept disappearing to the boundary, and occasionally over it, with alarming regularity as the Bedouins took on the Chancers on a typically freezing cold early June (!) day. The Beds received a pointed lesson in the less-than-subtle ways of 20-over cricket as the Chancers produced a production line of one after another capable batsmen, who bludgeoned and scampered their way to a total of 160 for 4 in 15 eight-ball overs. And all that after managing only one run in the first over, bowled by Josh Lemm.

With no fewer than three batsmen reaching the 30-run retirement point, and three others recording double-figure scores, all the Bedouins bowlers suffered a bit of a mauling. Spratters managed a couple of wickets., before having to leave the field with recurring illness problems. On the plus side, only one catch was put down (wasn’t it, Jon?), and there was a smooth-as-silk stumping by the almost legendary John Howells.

Having finished the previous match with wickets from the last two balls of the game, Neill Smith came on to bowl at the end, needing just one wicket with his first ball to complete a memorable hat-trick. The danger was the immediate impact on the pocket of possibly beers all round. However, it’s no good getting older if you don’t get wiser, and Neill made sure that his first ball was just wide enough not to be called “wide” but not reachable by the batsman.

The Bedouins made a determined effort to get the scoreboard moving quickly in reply. Paul Lippitt was in belligerent mood, hitting 30 and retiring in great style. Ian Woodhouse hit three consecutive boundaries and followed them with a six before being dismissed for 28. Skipper Lee Bywater reached double figures, and Neill Smith was 15 not out at the end, but overall the task was a bit too much, and the Beds finished 49 runs short of their target on 112 for 5.

After the disappointment of a cancelled fixture against Oldswinford, when the heavens opened at just the wrong time, the Beds were at least glad to get back into action. Though it has to be said that it was bl … y cold for the Chancers game. Just as well that Bedouins enjoy simply being in each other’s company; otherwise there might have been a few mutterings about better the threatened rain for this match too, so that everyone could have sat at home in the warm to watch the latest BBC2 bonkbuster.

Chancers 160 for 4 (Spratley 2 for 31; Woodhouse 1 for 19; Bywater 1 for 18)

Bedouins 112 for 5 (Lippitt 30; Woodhouse 28; Smith 15 not out)

Bedouins v Pedmore Over 40s at Pedmore – Wednesday, 12 August 2015

Bedouins won by 7 wickets

Youth and experience combined to good effect at Pedmore to bring the Bedouins a resounding seven-wicket win in the last game of the 2015 season.  It was the two teenage opening bowlers and the two “experienced” (combined age of over 120) opening batsmen that set up the win, as the Beds rattled up 130 for 3, to win with a couple of overs to spare.

Owing to some non-availabilities – some for more painful reasons than others! – there were a couple of unfamiliar faces in the Bedouins line-up.  Ethan Jones, another of Austin’s mates (he has a secret production line somewhere), proved a very able opening bowler, belying his somewhat tender years.  And Harry Stanier, son of Jon, contributed some hefty blows to the Beds’ innings.

Unfortunately, our hosts seemed to have less idea of the importance of prompt arrival for an evening game beginning in mid-August.  So, while all Bedouins were changed and on parade by 5.45, the opposition arrived in dribs and drabs somewhat later, resulting in the toss having to be falsified in order to get the game underway while there was still some light around.

Therefore batting first, Pedmore made 127 for 6 in their 15 eight-ball overs, Ethan John taking 2 for 16 and Josh Lemm, opening the bowling at the other end, 1 for 21.  There was also a wicket apiece for Stanier senior and junior.

For the second time this season, John Howells and Jon Stanier formed a highly experienced opening pair.  Both were in fine form and both retired on 30.  The former, back on a favourite old stamping ground of his, showed the return of much of his old timing in hitting five boundaries, while Jon Stanier reached the boundary ropes six times.

Not to be outdone, Richard Ferguson and Richard Spratley also brought the crowd to its feet with a couple of classic cover drives.  With Harry Stanier hitting 29 not out, the Bedouins’ total of 130 for 3 was more than enough to see off a team of experienced cricketers.  Not bad for what some appear to consider “a small club”!

Pedmore Over 40s 127 for 6 (John 3 for 16; Lemm 1 for 21; J. Stanier 1 for 5; H. Stanier 1 for 29)

Bedouins 130 for 3 (Howells 30; J. Stanier 30; H. Stanier 29 not out; Gregory 13)

*  *  *  *

The Bedouins end their 2015 season in good shape.  A number of welcome new regulars have all shown good form.  Our finances seem pretty healthy.  Several new fixtures are in the offing for 2016.  And our “buffet belles” have continued to enable us to provide first-class hospitality.

It hasn’t been the most successful season from a win/lose perspective – a pretty even split between victories and defeats – but Bedouins have continued to play cricket the way they want to – “seriously for fun”.

Now we’d like a few more than the “regulars” turning up for the AGM, and a bumper turn-out for the Duck Supper.  AGM at the Fox at Stourton on Tuesday, November 3; Duck Supper at the Cat at Enville on Friday, November 27.  But you didn’t need reminding about those dates, did you?

Bedouins v SSP Halifax at Enville – Sunday, 9 August 2015

Bedouins lost by 14 runs

Our friends from up north, SSP, came down from Halifax for the 21st annual meeting with the Bedouins, at Enville, and returned up north with the Rasche Trophy safely gathered in for another year.  It was a highly competitive match, but played in the right friendly spirit and resulted in a total of over 400 runs, with slightly more than half of them going to SSP.

The Enville outfield was lightning quick, and anything that got past the fielder went for four.  Thus it was that SSP opener, Nathaniel Hyde, rattled up 52 retired, with 11 boundaries and one six meaning that he needed to run only two singles.  On the whole the Beds would have preferred Dr Jekyll to have turned up instead of Mr Hyde, because later he contributed eight accurate overs and was as athletic as one or two others among the SSP fielders.

The other SSP opener John Dobson, a regular thorn in the Beds’ side over the years, also hit 50, but in somewhat more sedate fashion.  His brother Tony also made 47 not out and later took three wickets.

The first SSP wicket fell in the 28th over with the score on 152. so the Bedouins bowlers did well in the later stages to restrict the total to 216 for 7 in 40 overs.  That was largely thanks to Jon Stanier, who had the excellent figures of 4 for 23 in six overs.  There were also two wickets for Spratters, and one for Adrian Susman.

In the Bedouins innings, the first six batsmen all made double figures, led by openers Paul Lippitt (53 not out, including nine boundaries), and Jon Stanier (53 retired, including 10 boundaries).  Adrian Susman made 16, Jono Hill 24, John Howells 18 and skipper-for-the-day Lee Bywater, who had brought his own fan club with him, 22.

At one stage, it looked as if the home side might make the 217 needed for an unlikely win, but the SSP front-line bowlers were just too strong and managed to rein in the scoring rate just when it really mattered.  The result was a 14-run defeat for the Beds, who had to content themselves with having put in an excellent all-round performance against a team that included some very capable cricketers.

The other highlight of the day was the Bedouettes’ catering.  They served up pre-match sandwiches etc, between-innings tea and cakes, and post-match goodies that together made up a memorable package.  Well done, thanks.  A gold star for each of you!

SSP Halifax 216 for 7 (Stanier 4 for 23; Spratley 2 for 33; Susman 1 for 43)

Bedouins 202 for 8 (Lippitt 53 not out; Stanier 53 retired; Hill 24; Bywater 22; Howells 18; Susman 16)

Match photos available here.