North Bradley - 26th July 2009 - Match Report

For all the tales of beautiful summer afternoons frolicking with bats and balls within the stunning confines of Babington House, there has to be another side to the story and our fixture against North Bradley was sadly it. A low scoring games was played largely in persistent rain that rendered the ambiance as sodden and uninviting as a wet weekend in Cleethorpes. Frankly, it chucked it down from about 3.30pm and only the commitment and dedication of all 22 players ensured that the match was finalised at all.

Of course, when Andrew Pinnell lost the toss we could not have predicted the rain to come and Babbers' took to the field with an unfamiliar side comprising many welcome guests including a couple of debutant's.One of those, Peter Catarinella (2 for 11) who often plays against us for the Wylye Valley, opened the bowling from the Wigzell end and proved a handful right from the start.

Up the hill, the legendary Johnny Barran (2 for 11) of Cafe du Paris fame shared the new ball and North Bradley were soon in trouble. Opener Powell became increasingly frustrated and in desperation heaved wildly across an inswinger from Barran that knocked over his middle stump whilst his partner was comprehensively castled by Catarinella in the following over - the latter dismissal memorable as the off bail flew some thirty yards behind keeper Nick Sinfield.

Captain Ben Howe held his imitation Pietersen Adidas bat high on the handle and played everything through point as a consequence. Pinnell placed Matt Ellis and Julian Matthews side by side in the gully and poor Ben duly edged the next ball off Catarinella straight into Matthews hands! An obvious piece of captaincy really, but nice all the same.

Enter MacKenzie who's technique was the direct opposite of his captain as he displayed a penchant for dragging to leg where Pinnell soon pouched a regulation catch off Barran perhaps unnecessarily diving for the make-believe cameras in the process.North Bradley were in the mire and the opening bowlers were replaced by the ever-improving Chester Ellis and Chris Hand (1 for 23) - his Uncle turning out on a rare visit to the UK from Dubai.

Chester has bags of potential and tremendous enthusiasm that brings joy to us all. As ever, he bowled beautifully and was unlucky not to pick up a hat-full. Finding the inside edge repeatedly, Chester's (1 for 17) first four overs went for just 12 runs and he finally got his reward in his second spell when Catarinella held onto Eade's savage pull at mid-wicket. At the other end, Chris Hand settled into a nice groove and found Colebrook's edge snaffled by Sinfield performing with unlikely agility behind the timbers.

Matthews (1 for 22) floated up his leggies in the rain and bowled Howe with a beauty that spun somehow off the sodden pitch, whilst Mike Sherring (2 for 11) picked up a couple of cheap wickets despite being thumped for a few fours. The score limped apologetically past the hundred before Matt Ellis, yes Matt Ellis, bowled Crangle with the second ball of the final over.

Our visitors were all out for 103 and we took tea in the library watching the rain intensify. We were determined to play on as we were all soaked anyway and of course we would knock off the runs in no time. Yeah right! Sherring (18) despite looking good was first to go bowled by Williams and poor Chester dragged on his second ball.

Richard Buxton's bright yellow cap could probably seen from the moon, but his patience failed him as he drove Crangle to mid off for a dozen. Simon Spillsbury had excelled in the field and hit 14 quick runs before holing out and Julian Matthews whacked his first ball for six and promptly nicked his second to the keeper. North Bradley, drenched, were fielding superbly and clearly enjoying the madness of the situation.

When Matt Ellis was bowled for 1 even Sinfield thought about putting his pads on, but we needn't have worried as Johnny Barran was batting beautifully at the other end. There is an elegance to Johnny's technique that harks back to a golden age and his repertoire of sublime drives, timeless late cuts and almost lazy flicks off his pads ooze style. He is a joy to watch even when demonstrating textbook defence and he can read the game like a book (probably written by Neville Cardus). To make such a classy half century in such conditions rightly earned him the Man of the Match award and a free lift back to Bath Spa from Pinnell.We lost Chris Hand (6) before Johnny fittingly hit the winning runs with a characteristic on-drive and a crazy match came to a victorious end.

Thanks must go to North Bradley for fielding so stoically in filthy conditions and for the Cowshed staff for putting up with 20-odd cricketers desperate for a warm shower.

Perhaps not a match that will live long in the memory, but lovely to have given debuts to some new faces and to meet the guys from North Bradley. Next season they are forming their own team under the name of Boomsbury and we wish them well in their endeavours. Hopefully, next year the sun will shine on them in more ways than one!

Match Summary
North Bradley - 103 All Out
Babington - 104 for 8
Man of the Match - Johnny Barran (56no and 2 for 11 off 7 overs)
Champagne Moment - Matt Ellis bowling Crangle - a genuine rarity!

BHCC Won By 2 Wickets