Burnham 3s v Baggies 2nd XI
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- Last Updated on Friday, 09 September 2011 12:19
- Written by Geoff Young
The last league game of the season is always a bitter sweet affair. The thought of 245 days without the cut & thrust of competition on the cricket field is almost too much to bear, although it will probably take my bruised and battered body that long to recover from my 28th straight season with the mighty BCC.
Aiming, as we were, for our third successive 5th spot in division 5a (that is effectively 85th out of 170 if you include all 17 divisions of the TVCL) we were up against already promoted Burnham. There was nothing riding on this game in terms of promotion & relegation, just a bit of pride and the chance for us to over achieve and pip Slough to 3rd spot. Certain milestones for the season were more important than the result with Si needing 4 wickets to reach 30, I needed 52 for 700 runs, Deano needed 11 to pass the 100 mark, DJ was one toss away from a 100% record and Dunnage needed just 4 cakes to reach his 50 for the season (in only a handful of games I hasten to add...).
The first milestone to crumble was that of our illustrious skipper, as he called incorrectly and the home side chose to bat first.
Even though this particular game was as dead as Arsenals season, disgraced 1st team seamer (OK, maybe that's a touch harsh...!) & Harry Potter lookalike Willie G. induced opener Basharat to reach for a wide one & nick it behind to Mikey. A perfect dismissal.
Except for the fact that the batsman didn't walk (mainly because the umpire didn't give him out). The umpire on the 1st XI pitch (approx 150 yards away) gave it out, but apparently that doesn't count.
Had this been anything other than a dead rubber, all hell could have broken loose. As it was, aside from a few well chosen words from HRH Farrant, we carried on as though nothing had happened. As is the way with these things he was out a few runs later anyway popping one back off a leading edge into the bowlers hands to the rather inevitable strains of 'oh, you hit THAT one then bat...?!?
The next 40 overs was about as eventful as a night in Neil Harris's underpants and Burnham reached 209 all out off 49 overs with wickets shared all round. Si fell 2 short of 30 wickets for the 2s (he got 5 in the 1s though) but topped the bowling averages with 28 wickets at just over 15 apiece. Considering he only played half the games this was a fine achievement and our season could have been very different had he played for us more.
Notable bowling mentions for the season go to Jason Skilton (17 wickets at 19), and to disgraced ex-1st team spinner (OK, that is VERY harsh!!!) Jonny A (13 wickets at 16).
In the tea interval Dunnage scoffed a doughnut, 2 bakewell tarts, a mini roll and a jaffa cake to pass his particular milestone. He was asked to make a speech to commemorate the event, but his mouth was full & we all got covered with food debris.
Taz was my 8th different opening partner this season (following Cawsey, Timms, Dawson, Lynn, Atkinson, Whitelock & Davis) and he fell for 11, smacking a half tracker to cover point. Mikey came in & looked class from ball one. He reached 46 with the shot of the season before then getting out to the ball of the season. I nurdled and prodded my way to my own personal milestone of 700 runs ('there's no 'I' in team... but there's a 'ME' in there somewhere!!) before nicking one to the keeper.
Barclay batted well but was run out in a comedy mix up with Dunnage who ran a single only to discover that Barclay hadn't. The final individual achievement of the day was reached with Dawson completing his 100 runs for the season with his trademark squirt through third man (excuse the rather disgusting imagery...). Now for those of you that don't know, Deano usually reaches 100 for the season in mid May but a combination of old age, injury and ridiculous travelling distances have meant his season is fast resembling that of his beloved Arsenal. At least the gooners have 9 months to put it right...
So as news filters through that Slough have lost to Stoke Green and Windsor have only managed 2 points at relegated Princes Risborough, a quick calculation reveals that we have indeed finished in 3rd spot. The table never lies. Except in this case. (we lost all 4 games to the 2 sides immediately below us). In truth it has been (Stoke Green & Burnham aside) very close this year with little to tell the teams apart. We've probably occupied every position (apart from 1st and last) and 240 points is only 5 less than last years total (when we finished 5th...!!!).
So we lose Stoke Green & Burnham to Div 4b and Kidmore End and Risborough to 6a to be replaced by Farnham Common, Chiswick, Yateley & Theale. The 1s stayed in Div 2b courtesy of a win over Maidenhead & Bray with the BCC youth now starting to really flourish (there are 11 teenagers in the top 2 sides). It may be time for one or two of the 'old guard' to step down to find their new level. A winter of cricket meetings, AGMs and nets will decide the outcome of that one.
Thank you for listening and roll on 2012.
Oh, and we will be producing a 'yearbook' of match reports photos and insightful musings from the boundary, that will be auctioned at the dinner on October 8th. Forget the Wembley corporate tickets or a signed Sachin Tendulkar shirt, get your bids in early because this is be THE prize of the season!!
