So, that's it then. Another season, another summer. From this point on until an as yet to be agreed date next April I will miss playing cricket. What will i do with the time? No idea, but it will be have to be something pretty special to match the the fun I have I had over the last 4 months.
Yesterday was another special day for Didcot. The seconds had the best of a drawn game with Aston Rowant and in doing so ensured survival in Division 8 by finishing 6th. The thirds beat Kimble in a must win do or die encounter and retain divison 9 status for next year.
Fantastic effort lads,men,chaps and boys. Further details can be found further down this blog.
The firsts crossed the international Date Line and ended up in Wolverton, Milton Keynes.
Wolverton is no longer governed by Chakma The Wolf King having been driven out by pitchfork whielding peasants in 2007. The name remains as a reminder to future generations of a time when barking at the moon and sheep worrying were commonplace. I felt a chill down my spine most of the afternoon.
The helm had been passed to Cookie this week as Skipper Gates concentrated on honing his bowling technique in case of an unlikely call to the crease. Cookie proved what many have suspected for some time, he is a useless tosser. Wolverton asked us to bat on an interesting looking strip. The ball nipped around, swung and turned square. We thought that 160 might be a decent score. We got 262 for 5, simply stunning. 70 odd for 4 turned in to 140 for 5 with useful contributions from Tee Kay and Bernard.
At the crease were Cookie and Broughtie. Cookie passed 50 having played sensibly and maturely. He looked solid. Naughtie started out like a whirlwind, dancing down the track to cover drive the leg spinner, dabbing beautifully and running hard; yes, running hard. Cookie decided that the time to accelerate had arrived and did so with style and aplomb. Boundaries and three huge sixes together with some comedy running provided boundless entertainment for those of us watching. The mood was celebratory and upbeat despite the freezing weather. Cookie ended with an unbeaten 105, his second century in 4 weeks. Monster Cookie, Monster. Naughtie ending on 42 not out had provided superb support, it was another golden nugget of an innings.
Tea was taken, and proved to be as good as it's reputation. I think we all over ate.
We took to the field with Cookie's inspirational words ringing in our ears. "If we bowl well and field well, we should win." Genius. Northern Gravy trundled in with the wind at is back, the fourth ball of the innings caught the outside edge, the ball slappped into Naughties hands at second slip. CATCH! I imagine the bruises are looking livid today.
The Don bowled without luck from the other end to Wolverton's number three. I think his name was Felix. He certainly had plenty of lives; it would take some inspirational bowling to shift him. Crabbie had quite a head of steam up now and disposed of another couple with catches to Brockett and Gatesy at slip.
The Caretaker took over from the Don and nipped out a couple. we were on top but couldn't seem to shift Number three.
Skipper Cook showed the Wisdom of Solomon with his next decision. He turned to a player who hasn't bowled in a competitive match for at least 25 years. Gates, using his shorter run up proved that Class is Permanent and crucially that luck is even more important. Of course I got the difficult to shift number three and another hapless soul aswell. What enormous fun. The Judge nipped out another one, Brockett's second stumping of the match and The Don finished them off. A thumping 121 run win to end a fantastic season.
The Caretaker, never one to pass up on an opportunity to fudge his sexuality took not only 4 bottles in to the shower but a scrunchy to exfoliate! He would later order a prawn cocktail and admit that Bronski Beat are his favourite band after Erasure. It takes all sorts I suppose, and merely demonstrates the power of role models in young peoples lives. The Caretaker has grown up with Nivea slathering ponce's like Beckham.
I had Botham when i was that age so only ever take a cigar into the shower, or a barmaid.
My job is to start planning for next season. Our ambition is high and our belief is strong. Bring on Division 5. It's only just begun..................
Didcot II v Aston Rowant III played at Didcot
Went into this game against Aston Rowant, 2nd from top in the league and having to get 11 point minimum to be out of the relegation zone. Winning the toss was a must; having won the toss Didcot batted first with 240+ target in mind with a good batting side. We lost two quick wickets in the 6th over total at 11. Panic!; what happened next was few partnerships were built around Viraj Perera. 60 runs with Prasad (37), 59 runs with Connor (28) and an unbeaten partnership between Dave Allen (35 not out), an invaluable partnership of 80 runs in the last 10 overs to bring the Didcot total to 222 for 5 with Viraj just missing the second ton of the season by 3 runs, 97 not out!
Having got the full batting points (5), the second target for the day was to get 6 wickets. Dan Alderson opened the attack with Dave Allen. Instructions were to keep the run rate down to put the opposition under pressure. The start was good but few catches were put down and the openers had put-on 50 runs in 12 overs. Henry came on first change and had the break through we needed with a brilliant catch by Sean Willmott at the deep mid-wicket running all the way from deep square leg! Henry bowled well (3) supported by Dan Alderson (2), Sean Willmott (2) and Dave Allen (1). It was one of these games we had put down as many catches as we took, and the catches we took were very good; Connor Morrison 2, Prasad 1, Dave 1,Sean 1 and Henry 1 ). Aston Rowant was behind the required run rate with loosing wickets at regular intervals and Didcot did well against a top team and was very unfortunate not to take the last wicket and get a win in the final game of the 2009 season. Aston Rowant 198 for 9. With 17 points, Didcot IIs should be well above relegation zone now!
In the last game of the season, the fourths again came up against a side with one major player who proved the difference. This time, Chearsley’s opening batsman hit 93 not out from 120 for 0 to overhaul our score. And this after taking 5 wickets with essentially straight balls. And after scoring a century in the away fixture.
Ho hum. Simon lost the toss and we were inserted, a decision that Chearsley may have regretted once Simon and Biplob got off to another flier – 39 in 6 overs with a massive six hitting the tea shed from Simon. Once wickets started falling, they kept on going. We easily overhauled our last score against Chearsley (54) but 6 batsmen got into double figures and no-one scored 20. Simon was caught, Biplob ran down the wicket and was bowled after flinging his bat, Maha dragged one back onto his stumps. This is after we sent out number 4 batsman (Maha) to pick up our number 3 batsman (Uday) from a garage – they arrived back at 1:45. Uday showed that his trip to India has not changed his style of batting, he was bowled for 10. Nick and Travis batted well together as we rebuilt, and they were looking set before a collapse (well this is Didcot) took us from 86 for 4 to 98 for 8, Hall and Granger not troubling the scorers. Then, however, some resistance from the tail as Alex R (6) and Dan Stainthorpe (14) stayed out of trouble and hit the bad balls. At one stage there were 15 consecutive dot balls but that was good enough, and we easily passed our first batting point. Jack went out with Nick promising him £10 if he scored a run. Sadly, Nick’s paper round money was safe as Alex fell at the other end leaving Jack not out on 0.
We had doubled the last score against Chearsley but it was unlikely to be enough. Despite one of the best bowling line-ups of the season (Granger, Rodman, Green, Stainthorpe, Broughton with Biplob and Simon in reserve), we came up against someone in top form who hit sixes at will. Only Alex escaped punishment, 4 miserly overs going for 8. With 23 needed, the last throw of the dice as Jack came on, but he was brutally dispatched. Despite the coaching session in the car park before hand, five legitimate balls cost 27 and their opener passed 800 for the season (200 against us).
A disappointing end, but hopefully this season we have given valuable experience of senior cricket to lot of the juniors. Top wicket taker has been Jack (11), top run scorer Clive, top score Clive (123), best bowling Jack (4-17), best all rounder Simon (9 wickets and 167 runs). One victory, two draws that we could have won, one more game that we could easily have won: we have been competitive in a fair number of games. Not all doom and gloom. We used 43 players, over half were juniors. And next season we can build on this foundation.
For several of us it has been a season of two halves – Jack bowled well first half, badly second, Jonathan batted well first half, badly second, Simon badly then very well, Uday well then went to India, Dan bowled well then went to Ireland, Travis and Jonny Meardon contributed well in the latter stages, Biplob’s batting and bowling improved through the season. Harry, Tom and Alex Rodman have a lot of potential to develop, Alex is the meanest junior bowler I have seen. Nick Grain kept very well, and has an excellent defensive batting technique, he will develop. Ben Faloona, Jamie, Ehsen, Humza et al have had their moments and will come good given time and practice..
