Match Report
Sunday 23 May -v- Westcombe Parkers at Chislehurst
Ridiculous availability, the like of which the club has never experienced, meant the resting of a couple of the older statesmen in the side, to allow for the returns of ‘Oooh Arrr Gale’ and Home Dressing Room. The skip made it five in a row, but was surprised to be asked to field. The absence of Silver Fox meant an anxious search through the ranks for a suitable partner to LSC. Finding none vaguely suitable, Barry was given his first bowl in Crusaders colours. As with the majority of Spud’s inspired selections, this was to pay off quickly, as Baz took care of both openers in a five over burst, the second from a fine return catch. Jim went wicket less again and must be counting the hours for our return fixture at Brasted. After the initial breakthrough, Spud was able to rotate his bowlers frequently and was rewarded by tidy spells from Lardy, Chucks and Coco, which brought each a wicket. Never over-confident in his team’s ability to chase a total, the skip felt able to serve up some rich pickings, to enable the Parkers to post a decent target. Once again the wildly under respected ‘leggies’ of ‘Queenie’ Timms were blasted out of the attack, before we endured a copious helping of dross from Ted and Craven Webb, that enabled the oppo to reach 139 at the close. Between the 53 runs that came from the final 33 balls, both DT and Webby somehow managed a wicket apiece.
A splendid Mummy Whale tea was taken between innings, as Spud pondered his line-up. Even a fifty partnership last week, couldn’t guarantee Chucks his opening berth as he dropped to four to make way for Run Machine Webb. Bill was quick to resume, where he had left off, looking most uncomfortable against any manner of bowling. His demise, for a season high 4, with the score on 29, brought ‘132’ to the wicket. Parkers must have been glad there were not enough runs to play with for Graham to destroy them as he had previously. The stand of the day, in a little over ten overs should have put the result beyond recall, but after Darkie became the victim of a controversial run out,(‘It looked well out to me’ -Alan Hansen) we managed to lose our way, as only we can. After quick fire contributions from Chucks and Sumo, the middle fell out, leaving the skip desperately calling Timmo from the shower room to pad up. As luck would have it GT's services were not required, with Gordy hitting the winning runs, courtesy of a gloved four. Traditional drinks in the Bull were dispensed with as we favoured the delights of 6X in the Queens Head and settled into an evening of bullshit and triviality.
