Eventually the sun shone on the Babington cricket ground. Having had two games washed out, it was about time the weather improved. And what a day it was, not a cloud in the sky; wives, girlfriends, friends and children thronged the boundary.
It was such a beautiful day that the car park became full by 1.30 pm and some extremely foolhardy people decided to park down the drive – they were to become target practice.
Johnny Barran’s Café du Paris team, having requested an early start had 5 members of their team ready, so Babington decided to bat anyway. And soon after the start, the rest of Johnny’s team joined in; although the cricket attire could only be seen to be believed. ‘Lee’ turning up in green shorts and a yellowy/grey T-shirt and Kris Marshall, one of the stars of My Family and the BT adverts arriving in a very fetching pair of off-pink women’s trousers bought from a charity shop!
Needless to say, the opening pair of Meadows and Sherring was able to run easy singles or even a two at one stage to either of these non-cricketers. However, it would be unfair to say that either of them was keen on running between the wickets such was the heat, and boundaries were the order of the day – 15 boundaries scored by the openers, miraculously they had managed not to hit any of the cars on the drive.
Sherring was out LBW on 40, having put on 75 for the first wicket in about 10 overs, having muscularly hit 2 sixes and 5 fours. Sinfield joined the battering fest with a six (into the tennis courts) and a few fours before being out LBW for 26. Matt Ellis followed shortly bowled second ball. However normal clobbering resumed when Julian Matthews came to the wicket. Mark Meadows had timed the ball from the first over, but lost his way later on possibly due to breaking his bat, a new one duly arrived and timing was regained. Mark retired on 78. Richard Waters then had a few overs to get in the swing of things; hitting one six that hit the tennis court netting and was still rising such was the power of the shot. Julian, having so nearly hit the cars, retired on 77.
It was now a matter of not crushing the opposition into complete submission, so Mike Sherring, captain for the day decided 257 was enough after 32 overs. The Club Captain, Andrew Pinnell, happy to observe all the proceedings from the boundary.
Marcus Codrington (?) was the pick of the bowlers, bowling 12 in total. However, most of the others suffered at the hands of the strongest hitters that Babington can muster, Kris Marshall’s interesting bowling action going for 31 off 3 overs.
After a superb tea, with doughnuts and scones, Babington were soon on the field.
Ben Tollworthy opening up from the Wigzell end, as accurate as ever considering he won the bowling trophy last year. The surprise was Ed Weale opening from the driveway end, with a determination not to get thwacked. Ben bowled so tightly that only 8 scoring strokes were scored off his 6 overs. Ed Weale perspired away at the bottom end, clean bowling the opener with an away-swinger, then receiving a bit of a thumping but bouncing back with 2 maidens. Marcus was on form with his Mongoose bat, once it’s hit with that cut down bat – the ball goes to the boundary; indeed he scored 6 fours and 2 sixes in his first 11 scoring shots.
Chester Ellis then came in from the Wigzell end and bowled with gusto and some pace, swinging the ball in the air when pitching the ball up the batsman. Will Sherring replaced the tiring Ed Weale and got Marcus out with a ball that was short of a length, skying it to cover, where Cadbury started off gazing at it not sure of its trajectory and then the jelly legs started but made a comfortable catch in the end. This was to be the start of some interesting attempts at catching the ball.
Babington were now so much in the ascendancy that the captain decided to give Matt Ellis a bowl, a rarity if ever there was one. After an interesting first over, Dad and son were now spear-heading the attack. Chester getting the No. 5, Stuart, to have a go at one outside off-stump, needless to say Dad was at first slip. The ball hit him squarely on the chest without a finger on the ball before it landed harmlessly on the grass. Chester was not best pleased. Matt continued from the bottom end, somehow getting the batsman to get a top edge, which was athletically caught by none other that Chester – showing up Dad in the process.
Next was the Ed Weale show, Chester again forcing a false stroke for Ed to not move, until shouted at, then the jelly legs began and the ball was dropped.
By now, it was time to let everyone bowl, Meadows getting hit for 6 but bagging 2 wickets. In came Johnny Barran at No. 9, with the obligatory tin-pot, to much sledging. He had to explain that it was because he top-edged it so much that he needed a helmet. And after a few balls it became obvious that was not his only batting problem, playing and missing on numerous occasions. Ed Weale dropped another and eventually caught a dolly (but not before a certain amount of panic had set in) - Kris Marshall following his bowling with a batting style all of his own.
Richard Waters, who had fielded superbly, with a huge arm, hurling the ball in from the longest boundary with no problem, was fielding directly in the sun and managed to drop two. By now we had dropped 4 chances.
Barran had gone for one shot, been dropped and by now the abuse was building up. Mike Sherring’s comment that he had forgotten how boring it was to watch him, stirring Barran to hit one straight to Meadows at mid-wicket off Cadbury.
The Café du Paris innings was wrapped up by Mike Sherring bowling leggies and Julian Matthews.
How justice is not served; the best bowler (Ben Tollworthy) not getting a wicket whereas everyone else did.
Ed Weale did a fantastic job as Match Manager and Mike Sherring as skipper ensured that everyone had a game. Babington won by over 100 runs.
What a glorious day to start the season, and a fun day was enjoyed by families and cricketers alike.
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