Match Report
Sunday 26 June -v- Bethlem Royal Hospital at Monks Orchard Road
Our annual date with death at the nut house, was greeted with the usual absenteeism from the brown trouser brigade, ably led by Pop Parp Botty Timms who had managed to creep into a Bickley Park side and Merv ‘out with the girlie’ Wilsdon. We were further weakened by a late withdrawal from DT, which reduced our numbers to ten. Spud confounded his sceptics and elected to field, a decision he was soon to regret, as Bethlem laid the foundations for a mammoth score. Jim and Steve were receiving scant respect and within an hour, we had conceded eighty runs with the threat of many more to come. Our position was not aided by an afternoon of dropped chances, which proved all too costly. Both the mainstays of Bethlem’s innings survived relatively easy chances, before they had got established and went on to take full advantage of their ’Doggies Chance’. Fox and Nob eventually found some sort of rhythm, to end a stand of about ninety, with Rhino picking up a sharp chance at slip and then Spud taking a stunning return catch. Steve replaced The Fox and took two wickets with equally awful balls, whilst at the other end Spud added another four to minimise the damage, as Bethlem were bowled out for 186.
An effective response depended largely on our ability to get a racing start. Mark had obviously made a conscious decision to avoid injury against some hostile bowling, by playing the sort of shots that would inevitably get him out. It worked. Lewy was made of sterner stuff, facing up to the responsibilities like a man, but he unfortunately found no one able to stick around long enough to give him support. With wickets tumbling and run making stagnated, our efforts turned more towards saving the game. Valiant late order efforts from Craven and Chucks, highlighted that they do have the ability to hang around, but unfortunately time and overs were against us, as we succumbed for 109 with still 6 overs remaining.
