For the 2nd year The Road went on a Bank Holiday adventure to Abinger Hammer, a game so pleasant that MAandos proclaimed “As soon as fixtures were announced I looked for this one and made sure I was free” Cheeky! For some of the intrepid Roaders we met at the designated time (unsurprisingly others did not) at Clapham Junction to journey to Redhill, changed platforms (twice, cheers MAndy) then on to Gomshall, a place with a lovely mill followed by a short walk to the ground in the town across at Abinger Hammer. We didn’t see Alpacas this time, which is good, because Fergus may have tried to attack them after declaring they were dirty TB riddled beasts!
The ground itself is beautiful. Picturesque English village, babbling brook one side of the boundary (complete with weird fishing thing to get balls out) they even had a catching cradle which a number of us tired ourselves out on. As the last of the late arrivers appeared, CB won the toss chose to bat (which elected a cheer from the Road as it was pretty hot) It was to be a timed match. 2.5 hours then tea, then 1 hour then 20 overs to finish up with.
Late entrant Isham, who stepped up after Sham came down with “flu” on Friday, opened up with Pinkney and the two were to bat very well indeed, reaching a 50-run partnership for no real bother until Mark got bored at the crease and got himself run out going for a run that was in his own words “not there”. Nikhil saw himself bumped up the order as CB tried something new, nobody likes bowling at lefthanders! It seemed to be working pretty well as he carved away two lovely boundaries and ran with Pinkney but he was to fall for a quick fire 10 after a slower ball saw him pop up a caught and bowled.
One of the heroes of last year, Matt Andrews marched to the crease to join Pinkney who was having a lovely time – the boy likes batting currently – and almost immediately put the attack to the oppo by scampering a single, which was then thrown to the boundary for four extra runs by an over excitable fielder. Off the mark with a 5 – rare. They both tucked into the bowlers at this point with the scoreboard racing along, the 100 was reached, Pinkney got to 50 & MAndy hit one that had poor old Lax who was having a snooze under a tree scrambling for cover. Sadly though he wasn’t to reach a 50 this year. In a moment of madness he pushed at a spinner and fell for a C&B on 23 with the scoreboard now reading 125-3.
Enter the bear. He took a few balls to see himself in then smashed a straight 6 which was honestly gigantic. The fielders had to go a long way into the adjacent field to find it. Big bear, big hit. Unfortunately Abinger had brought on a new and pretty decent bowler named Marcus who was to be the end of Keats, caught for 8.
At this point the sun had been out for awhile and the smell that all Roaders fear was wafting over the ground, yes that’s right dear reader, the smell of orange crumble. The next 6 wickets were to fall for 45 runs. Pinkney bowled for a very well batted 68 but I’m sure disappointed not to reach 100 (Probably not financially as he’s been buying jugs for fun recently!), Fergus bashed a quick fire 10 with 2 fours then caught. Oscar bashed a quicker fire 14, one four and one 6 then bowled. Lax bowled for 1. Oz bowled for 3. Rossi caught off a leggy for 0 after chatting to CB *3 about playing sensibly.
186 the total.
Tea was very nice! Homemade scones, stodgy brownies, lovely egg sarnies “The Chives!!!” yelled Keats when it was discussed later.
CB & Oz were to lead the Road out and they bowled pretty well to start but didn’t manage to make the breakthrough. Although there may have been a few LBW appeals that could have been reviewed…
MAndy and Rossi took the 1st change. MAndy was under added pressure as his family were watching and every ball that didn’t take a wicket saw him edging closer to being the least loved son. Yet he did bowl very well and dived about like an eagle after his prey, fielding everything that was hit back at him. Unluckily this excellent fielding was also to be his down fall as one ball struck rather aggressively split his hand open and require some bandaging. What a soldier. Rossi meanwhile at the other end, like the wily really ancient and cranky Brazilian tapir he embodies, got the breakthrough! An excellent spinning ball caught/stumped behind by Pinkey to remove the first of the openers with the score on 82.
2nd change was to be Nikhil up the hill and the pace of Oscar down the hill. Due to MAndy’s injury Nikhil was tossed the ball without any warning from the skip, which was nice, just what every bowler wants. But he coped with it well and bowled a decent line and length that kept them pegged back until disaster struck! Or at least the cricket ball struck, his knee to be precise, and saw him limp off leaving the last ball of his 2nd over to be bowled by Fergus, a man who has spent a lot of the season asking the captain to bowl him. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Awayeth goes the ball to the boundary for four. Stick to batting Fergus!
Oscar was bowling some fierce stuff from the other end and it showed as he got the 2nd Road wicket, caught well by Oz. Whilst that was to be his only wicket he certainly deserved more. If a couple of chances had gone to hand or umpires had been a touch more forthcoming with LBW’s he would have picked up more.
Nikhil was to bowl one more as his knee seemed to be working again and then after the bears came together to chat, CB returned to the crease hoping for some sort of captains innings with the ball – definitely not the bat. It actually worked. Oscar had only just brought a new batsman to the crease and having learnt this season that bowling at the stumps produces wickets, CB did just that and bowled their number 4 out for 2.
Their number 5 was Marcus who had already picked 5 Road scalps. He seemed a decent bat but was struck on the back pad by CB in front of middle. Not out. Oh well, clearly got his number… Next ball a straight six, try something new… four. Luckily, the subsequent one bowled him. The umpire at this point cheerfully stated, “I only give 1 LBW a year, doesn’t it feel better to bowl him?” Not really, it cost an extra 10 runs!
Two wickets in two balls were to follow, the first a wild swing from the new bat caught very well by Mark at slip and the next an actual LBW that was middle of middle and everyone knew was out. Except the batsman who was adamant he smashed it. He did not.
Sadly that was to be it, Abinger had an excellent opener who finished 97 not out and guided their team home well. Oscar absolutely smashed it by bowling 8 overs on the bounce in still very hot conditions. As last year the post-game drinks were very enjoyable, the pub was pleasant and there were misdemeanours on the train. Looking forward to next year already!
Full scorecard here: http://kingsroadcsc.play-cricket.com/website/results/4058810
Awards:
Champagne – Keats’ MASSIVE 6
Embarrassing – Fergus for 4 overthrows
Tantrum – Rossi
MoTM – Pinkney 68 & very well kept