On a lovely still afternoon, Babington entertained The Star Inn from Bath for the first time and the contrast between the two respective hostelries could not be more stark; Babington House, with its manicured rolling lawns, designer chic ambience and media-cool clientele is a million miles away from The Star’s ‘spit and sawdust’ culture, real ales and shove ha’penny table that makes it one of Bath’s most popular and authentic boozers.
The reality is that I love both places it was a personal pleasure to invite The Star to Babbers as the pub is situated directly opposite my pad. Since moving to Bath some eighteen months ago, both the staff and the regulars have afforded me the warmest of welcomes and it was only a matter of time before we met on the field of play. The Star’s cricket team is over 25 years old and they play Sunday league cricket so we expected a tough encounter.
However, Babington fielded a hardened team that mixed youth and experience with Mark Cadbury joined by his three sons that in itself was special. At one point, the whole on-side comprised only Cadbury’s and I felt a tinge of paternal pride watching the four of them dominate half of the whole field. Meanwhile, my two daughters and their friends were pre-occupied by Shirley Temples, giant-sized pizza’s and running up a ‘tab’ at the bar which is a precedent that I going to have to get used to over the coming years no doubt.
Shock horror, we lost the toss and were asked to field and opened the bowling with Jack Cadbury down the hill and Grant Chandler. Chandler struck first with a drifting leg-break that was sharply snaffled by a chattering Giles Lunt in the gulley off Tennant’s edge, before bemusing Cammann in the flight and knocking back his middle peg. Mark Cadbury held on to a mis-timed drive from Shanahan to give Mike Sherring his first wicket, before the same bowler comprehensively cleaned-up J. Boreham with a yorker.
The Star was reeling at 30 odd for four so it was the perfect opportunity to let Harry and Rory Cadbury take up the attack. Both excelled extolling the simple virtues of line and length and Rory, just twelve remember, bowled Donaldson off an under edge. Harry then ran out Steady from behind square and Rory had Steele caught at the wicket off a swinging good length ball which Ed Alexander pouched with glee.
Sherring returned and responded to his captain’s goading by bowling Watts and Wiggins for blobs, before Chandler castled A. Boreham round his legs to end a last wicket stand of 31 with Gibson who made an excellent 22. A score of 101 all out was never going to trouble a batting line-up which saw Pinnell, Mark Cadbury and Cocko at 9, 10 Jack preferring to chill in the deckchairs following the weekly fortunes of Crouchie who finds it far easier to score in dingy nightclubs than on the pitch for Spurs!
Ed Alexander characteristically got the innings going with a pick-up six over square leg before perishing attempting another maximum. Lunty joined debutant Guy Ritchie (no, not that one) and the pair compiled an entertaining stand of 85 to take us to the brink. Guy played almost exclusively off the back foot, but with the mother of all Newbery bats in his hand, anything that found the gaps yielded runs aplenty. Giles on the other hand, all fast hands and front foot, smacked a delicious brace of sixes into the avenue and another flat and straight up the hill.
Ritchie was caught in the deep for an excellent 35 that included 5 fours and a flicked six over mid-wicket and capped a pleasing debut. Giles was in full flow, but restrained himself to give Harry Cadbury an over or two at the crease before bringing up his half-century; fittingly, Harry hit the winning run and remained two not out much to the delight of his watching Mum, Lindsay, who can be rightly proud of her brood’s compelling performances.
No spit and no sawdust, but just a delightful gathering on the lawn where both teams mingled and giggled while guzzling foaming jugs of ale. Despite the easy win, this is the real thrill; watching the kids run amok, pestering parents for more pop and pizzas, while the players swap stories and anecdotes as a blazing sun dips behind the trees.
As ever, Babington captures the true essence of the game and it is wonderful to witness so many players from differing backgrounds and generations enjoying our very own take on country house cricket. We do remain unbeaten this year, but that really isn’t the point; seeing the progression of the Cadbury boy’s et al and the smiling faces of our very own barmy-army relaxing in the shadows of the swaying tress truly is.
The Star Inn, Bath - 101 All Out
Babington House - 102 - 2
Babington House Won by 8 Wickets
Man of the Match - Rory Cadbury 2 for 13 off 5 overs.
Champagne Moment - Giles Lunt's catch at gully off Chandler's increasingly devastating 'pies'.
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