From a personal perspective the afternoon could’ve got off to a better start. Dreams and reality seldom intertwine and the Sunday captaincy is no exception. Imagining selection crises, new players and even some pre-game fielding practice, I was swiftly brought back down to earth by a drop out on the morning of the game, an athletic looking “medium weak” opposition and, worst of all, bringing 3 shirts and no trousers.
Still armed with the undoubted respect of my peers I strode out to the toss, and with 3 debuting 13 year olds in our ranks, enquired politely as to the DNA of the opposition’s side. Four first teasers, you say? And you’re insisting on 40 overs? Still buoyed by a batting line up that boasted Sunday riches of E Ransom a slightly green looking Mackay I called tails knowing that it never fails and looked forward to shaking my opposing captain’s hand with a big grin and glint in my eye and telling him we’d bat first. But wait, it’s heads?! The old rhyme clearly a filthy lie, and we were sentenced to the field.
My aforementioned wardrobe malfunction led to a change of plan. To slightly mask my newly acquired shiny blue tracksuit bottoms acquired courtesy of E Ransom, Mackay was ruthlessly sacked as WK and I donned the pads.
Tossing the new ball to D Jones after assurances of the reliability of his Saturday spell, the Park Hill head of junior recruitment opened up with a miserly line. Lawn opened from the other end and was greeted with some powerful driving and swiping. Alas this proved to be the highlight of his day.
Mackay entered the fray with the ball early in attempt to nip the rampant opener in the bud. Instead he captured the wicket of the left hander at the other end, who looped up a simple catch off the back of his bat.
A tough partnership followed, with nobody being spared from the flaying. Although a special mention for Ian for bowling a tight line in tough circumstances. Even more impressively he didn’t totally lose his shit as his team mates dropped five (I think) very catchable chances off his bowling.
E Ransom was brought in to break the partnership which he did in the over before drinks as the left hander danced down the wicket one too many times. However, with 20 overs of scoring at around 9 an over, the damage was arguably done.
The short break gave little reassurance as the news broke that another first team player was in at 4. Just one of the things that suggested the opposition had much to learn about the ethos of friendly cricket.
Bawn had other ideas, however, turning one past the sweep shot of the “guy who does a bit with Surrey” and onto off stump. Seldom was a wicket harder earned.
This is a good junction at which to turn our focus to some of the sillier antics that simultaneously demoralised and spirited us. I had a rough day. I forgot my trousers and got naught. But not wishing to leave their beloved captain looking foolish alone, two Hillians put in similarly forgettable performances.
We have all had days in the field where the ball follows you. You wish it wouldn’t. Spare a thought for Lawn who, not satisfied with heroically tipping two catches over the boundary for six, then pulled a hamstring and may have dropped others. One might not think that Tiananmen Square and Dave Lawn have much in common, but the writers of their history will both claim that on a day in June, decades apart, nothing happened.
It should be shown however, that Lawn commendably remained on the field showing a true lesson to the youngsters. No matter how bad it gets, stick at it. We all know he’d have caught the sixth one.
Showing true leadership to rouse his underlings, the Pres then flew round the boundary at fine leg and put in a slide reminiscent of Sol Campbell vs Croatia to miraculously cut off a boundary. Celebrating this feat of athleticism, he underarmed the ball straight into the air, then a bit sideways. An all run five.
Bawn’s wicket and the long overdue retirement of the opener for a paltry 150 allowed a game to be given to the kids. Frank, son of Hill legend, Stewart Spelling, bowled some largely tidy left armers to pick up a couple of wickets, sending his hat trick ball rankly down leg side in some admirable jug avoidance. His dad would be proud.
Luke picked up a couple of wickets of his own courtesy of some clean catching by Bawn and Mackay. Daf then returned to mop up the tail with some characteristically tidy lines and the innings was done. 291ao. A tough innings, but we persisted impressively and bowling out a strong order with 3 youngsters should be commended.
After an excellent tea, we returned full, padded and ready to go. An opening partnership of Ransom and Ransom were the ingredients to chase down the monster total on a decent pitch.
Unfortunately that wasn’t in the script as E Ransom greeted the first over from Wa-heed with a Wa-hoo and trudged back to the pavilion.
Mackay strolled in at 3, cashing in on some leg side tosh to reach a rapid 24 in what looked a promising partnership with D Ransom, who played a sumptuous on drive for 4 for shot of the day.
Unfortunately as both fell, the revolving door fully started with only Lush showing any resistance with some trademark flaying of the bowling.
With just 10 men left after Lawn was unable to bat (perhaps for the best) we were skittled in quick time, leaving the opposition asking if they could give their other bowlers a bowl and us wondering why they didn’t bring them on earlier. We live and learn.
Despite the disappointing batting, we remained the last (and only) team in the bar for a drink. Vice captain Daf selected Lush as fielder of the day for a solid performance stopping boundaries. Not the result we’d hoped for, but lessons to learn. We go again!
Go Hill!
Fielder of the Day: Lush
Park Hill Cricket Club 