It is two weeks since my last post and I am delighted to say that we are 50 points better off. We travelled to Horspath 9 days ago knowing that 25 points should be ours against a side battling relegation and short of confidence.
We were greeted by a hot and sticky sort of day. The changing room at Horspath is airless and windowless and reminded me of somewhere that John McCarthy might have spent years chained to a radiator. Eleven sweaty men and kit bags only added to the steamy atmosphere, it reminded me of It Ain't Half Hot Mum.
Having dutifully lost the toss again we were surprised to be asked to field. The pitch was without doubt the most lifeless we have seen in a long time. Northern Gravy and Tigger did their best, I think they were both pleased to have a spell and be replaced by the spin twins.
Jordan picked up the first wicket as the pressure started to tell. Lofty then took over the show as he single handedly took out their top order. He ended with 5 for 34 from 21 overs, 4 of them caught and bowled. Tigger came back for a spell and finished off the tail to end with 4 for 10.
Their were no dramas as we knocked off the 118 runs we needed, Jones and Brisland dealt with the unpredictable bounce and shabby change bowlers.
We were finished in time to watch the end of the Division 1 clash on Horspath's main pitch, and very pleasant it was too. Watching a decent standard of cricket with a pint in one hand on a balmy summers evening having already collected 25 points is close to perfection for me.
On Saturday we arrived at Kimble again knowing that unless the weather intervened we should take 25 points from a side that have struggled terribly in the second half of the season.
The forecast meant that anything was possible as some matches were certain to be affected by the thunder and lightning that thankfully rumbled past us for most of the afternoon.
How do you think I got on at the toss? Of course I lost. We would bat first then.
We got off to a comfortable start reaching 47 before Pritch charged down the wicket and missed a straight loopy pie. The shot was so pre-meditated that he had sent a postcard to the bowler 3 days before.
Tubes continued his rich vein of form on his way to another 50 as we passed the hundred only two down. The middle order mis-fired yet again and all of a sudden we were 133 for 6 in the 42nd over. This was not in the script. We clawed our way up to 178 with the help of some pretty average fielding before I caught everybody off guard with a sporting declaration after 49 overs.
I suspect Kimble felt they could win the game, at 42 for 1 they were possibly starting to think that their wretched run might be about to come to an end. 20 minutes later at 49 for 8 it was clear that it wasn't.
Proving that there is still life in the old dog Northern Gravy just blew them away, his haul of 6 for 17 included a triple wicket maiden. That must have had them scampering around back in the pavilion, frantically searching for thigh pads and boxes!
Meanwhile at the other end Tigger was waging his own private war with his inner demons (and Kimble's number 3). My responsibilities as Captain prevent me from repeating some of the exchanges, and of course I cannot condone such behaviour. What the hell, it was highly entertaining and certainly put the wind up Kimble and the wind into our sails.
Defending a comparatively low total combined with the ever present threat of a day stopping storm and Tiggers inner Demons created an intensity to our performance that I don't think many teams could have lived with. We were hunting as a pack. The fielding was awesome, special mentions to Keats' ground fielding and to two stunning catches from Tigger and especially Jordan who took one of the best slip catches I have ever seen.
We won by 105 runs. Quite simply one of the best matches in my time at Didcot. To cap it all off the rain started not long after we left the field and TLFOTW lost at home.
We must play with the same desire and intensity next week at the Field of Dreams. If we do we are promoted.
Monday 27 August 2012
Monday 13 August 2012
Let's dance
Where were you in 1983? What were you doing? And what were you wearing? I wonder.
Some of you out there weren't even a twinkle in someones eyes, some of you were wearing loud shorts and smoking cigars, others were someone's fag and one or two were sparking their clogs against the kerb stones up T'North, dreaming of colour TV and vitamins.
I was poncing about Wiltshire in baggy grey trousers, a zip up burgundy and grey shirt and grey slip on shoes. I even had a ridiculous gelled up sort of quiff come wedge haircut. I looked a complete tit.
They say all fashion comes around again. This particular era seems to have been missed in the retro scene, although judging by some of the young folk around Didcot it may be about to re-surface.
You see, the hipsters all wanted to be David Bowie, this was perhaps his least cool period in a career that spans 40 years; it's all relative though as he was still sub zero. Incidentally if you don't own any Bowie, shame on you.
Somewhere in the Cherwell area a young father stared lovingly at his young son whilst he hummed to himself - 'Under the moonlight, this serious moonlight'. He may have muttered something else, but history doesn't record the full details.
Never mind, for his son grew up with a passion for music and cricket and a fetish for brightly coloured shoes.
The sun was high above the yard arm yesterday as the ram shackle collection of Banbarians wandered across the outfield at the Field of Dreams.
We waited eagerly like a pride of lions that has just seen it's next easy meal wander across the savannah. Win the (Bloody) toss and ask them to bat and 25 points would surely be ours. I lost the (bloody) toss and of course Barry - has someone ever looked, walked and acted more like a 'Barry'? asked us to bat. Not sure why, neither was his team. It seemed like a recipe for spoiling everyones afternoon and almost guaranteeing collecting virtually zero points and falling back into the relegation mix. Barry did just that, thanks Barry.
We racked up 261 in only 48 overs of unremarkable bowling, everyone went for lots, no one was good and no one was awful. It takes real desire, focus, concentration and technical ability to really cash in against such an attack. It is easy to relax and throw your wicket away and then spend the rest of the afternoon regretting it.
As Tubes laced up his red shoes it was obvious he wanted to cash in on his rich vein of form that had seen him score over 150 runs in the last couple of weeks.
What we saw over the next 150 minutes was one of, if not the, finest innings at Didcot. Always in control and with hardly a false shot he put away virtually every bad ball, kept out the good ones and in doing so scored his maiden Didcot century on his way to equalling the second highest Cherwell League Didcot score. 144 not out. He was supported along the way Northern Gravy with a boundary riddled 50 and then some hitting at the end from Bris and Bernard.
As if this performance wasn't enough for one day it was followed up with the tea of the season so far, who knew cup cakes be so good.
The Banbarians came out to bat with no ambition other than to frustrate and accumulate as few points as possible. Jose has produced a fine track this year and it rewards positive cricket. Sadly Banbury don't know what positive cricket is. All the bowlers gave it their all, The caretaker was rewarded with his second five for of the season, well deserved for another fine spell. Tigger swept up the tail and finished with 4. To all of our disappointment we couldn't take the last wicket. We ended with 20 points, Banbury 3.
So the second Field of Dreams ton this season, and what a cracker it was. Let's hope it isn't the last of the season. We need an improved performance next week at Horspath, crucially we must take the chances when they come.
Some of you out there weren't even a twinkle in someones eyes, some of you were wearing loud shorts and smoking cigars, others were someone's fag and one or two were sparking their clogs against the kerb stones up T'North, dreaming of colour TV and vitamins.
I was poncing about Wiltshire in baggy grey trousers, a zip up burgundy and grey shirt and grey slip on shoes. I even had a ridiculous gelled up sort of quiff come wedge haircut. I looked a complete tit.
They say all fashion comes around again. This particular era seems to have been missed in the retro scene, although judging by some of the young folk around Didcot it may be about to re-surface.
You see, the hipsters all wanted to be David Bowie, this was perhaps his least cool period in a career that spans 40 years; it's all relative though as he was still sub zero. Incidentally if you don't own any Bowie, shame on you.
Somewhere in the Cherwell area a young father stared lovingly at his young son whilst he hummed to himself - 'Under the moonlight, this serious moonlight'. He may have muttered something else, but history doesn't record the full details.
Never mind, for his son grew up with a passion for music and cricket and a fetish for brightly coloured shoes.
The sun was high above the yard arm yesterday as the ram shackle collection of Banbarians wandered across the outfield at the Field of Dreams.
We waited eagerly like a pride of lions that has just seen it's next easy meal wander across the savannah. Win the (Bloody) toss and ask them to bat and 25 points would surely be ours. I lost the (bloody) toss and of course Barry - has someone ever looked, walked and acted more like a 'Barry'? asked us to bat. Not sure why, neither was his team. It seemed like a recipe for spoiling everyones afternoon and almost guaranteeing collecting virtually zero points and falling back into the relegation mix. Barry did just that, thanks Barry.
We racked up 261 in only 48 overs of unremarkable bowling, everyone went for lots, no one was good and no one was awful. It takes real desire, focus, concentration and technical ability to really cash in against such an attack. It is easy to relax and throw your wicket away and then spend the rest of the afternoon regretting it.
As Tubes laced up his red shoes it was obvious he wanted to cash in on his rich vein of form that had seen him score over 150 runs in the last couple of weeks.
What we saw over the next 150 minutes was one of, if not the, finest innings at Didcot. Always in control and with hardly a false shot he put away virtually every bad ball, kept out the good ones and in doing so scored his maiden Didcot century on his way to equalling the second highest Cherwell League Didcot score. 144 not out. He was supported along the way Northern Gravy with a boundary riddled 50 and then some hitting at the end from Bris and Bernard.
As if this performance wasn't enough for one day it was followed up with the tea of the season so far, who knew cup cakes be so good.
The Banbarians came out to bat with no ambition other than to frustrate and accumulate as few points as possible. Jose has produced a fine track this year and it rewards positive cricket. Sadly Banbury don't know what positive cricket is. All the bowlers gave it their all, The caretaker was rewarded with his second five for of the season, well deserved for another fine spell. Tigger swept up the tail and finished with 4. To all of our disappointment we couldn't take the last wicket. We ended with 20 points, Banbury 3.
So the second Field of Dreams ton this season, and what a cracker it was. Let's hope it isn't the last of the season. We need an improved performance next week at Horspath, crucially we must take the chances when they come.
Sunday 5 August 2012
Gold
Good afternoon sports fans. Yesterday was quite a day wasn't it? Six gold medals in one day, a supreme ton by Pietersen and Didcot finally gave Challow the thumping they deserved!
There has been a lot written about legacy from London 2012, at the moment the only legacy in the Gates household is 2 Olympic level hangovers as a consequence of a lot of wine and an ever greater amount of rum drunk whilst watching and celebrating until the wee small hours. Will we ever learn? I dearly hope not.
Anyway, yesterday belongs to Didcot. People will talk about where they were on Saturday 4th August 2012 in years to come. They will become misty eyed and nostalgic.
Not in Challow they won't, they will talk about the day they won the toss on an absolute belter of a track and decided to bat first and then limped to 97 all out in 49 overs. Perhaps they were hoping for a rain affected match, or a miracle. They got neither.
The first 15 overs was high quality stuff, Tigger and Northern Gravy steaming in against two quality bats determined to tough it out. It was an even contest, the odd chance went begging and some edges flew into gaps and some good shots were played as well.
41 dor 0 soon became 51 for 4 as first Tigger caught the edge for a straight forward catch behind and then The Caretaker ripped out the next three. Jordan bowled beautifully and was joined by Jules who promptly took the next 4 wickets to leave them 67 for 8.
For the first time this season we saw the old magic return with the spin twins both bowling well in tandem. They were back to their best. The overs flew by and the runs dried up. I haven't enjoyed myself so much in the field for a long time. I love the phase of the game when two slow bowlers are on top. Between them they bowled 25 overs, 13 maidens and took 7 for 27. Top quality boys.
The quicks came back to mop the tail up. Tigger turned from a cuddly cartoon tiger into a snarling beast of a man. He doesn't take kindly to lower order batsmen at the best of times, when they hit him for boundaries it really makes him mad. a short rain delay allowed his blood pressure to return to somewhere close to normal and his colour from purple to red. He took the two final wickets and Challow were all out without scoring a point. Marvellous. Nothing puts you in the mood for a tea like a sub 100 total.
The runs were knocked off without drama for the loss of just 2 wickets. 70 of them were scored by Tubes in another fine knock. He didn't give one chance and was supremely focused. The way he dispatched the short ball was especially pleasing, the fact that he was wearing red shoes can only have added to the humiliation. It only took 26 overs, and would have taken even less had we not had to endure Northern Gravy paying homage to Sir Geoffrey with an epic 14 off about 50 balls. He said that he had enjoyed it. Thats Yorkshire men for you. an odd breed.
Tubes took the Man of the Match, as the only batsman to pass 30 in the match it was well deserved. The battle of the Didcot openers is hotting up now. Lets hope they both get runs next week.
We are back at the Field Of Dreams next week as awe welcome Banbury 4. I cannot wait.
There has been a lot written about legacy from London 2012, at the moment the only legacy in the Gates household is 2 Olympic level hangovers as a consequence of a lot of wine and an ever greater amount of rum drunk whilst watching and celebrating until the wee small hours. Will we ever learn? I dearly hope not.
Anyway, yesterday belongs to Didcot. People will talk about where they were on Saturday 4th August 2012 in years to come. They will become misty eyed and nostalgic.
Not in Challow they won't, they will talk about the day they won the toss on an absolute belter of a track and decided to bat first and then limped to 97 all out in 49 overs. Perhaps they were hoping for a rain affected match, or a miracle. They got neither.
The first 15 overs was high quality stuff, Tigger and Northern Gravy steaming in against two quality bats determined to tough it out. It was an even contest, the odd chance went begging and some edges flew into gaps and some good shots were played as well.
41 dor 0 soon became 51 for 4 as first Tigger caught the edge for a straight forward catch behind and then The Caretaker ripped out the next three. Jordan bowled beautifully and was joined by Jules who promptly took the next 4 wickets to leave them 67 for 8.
For the first time this season we saw the old magic return with the spin twins both bowling well in tandem. They were back to their best. The overs flew by and the runs dried up. I haven't enjoyed myself so much in the field for a long time. I love the phase of the game when two slow bowlers are on top. Between them they bowled 25 overs, 13 maidens and took 7 for 27. Top quality boys.
The quicks came back to mop the tail up. Tigger turned from a cuddly cartoon tiger into a snarling beast of a man. He doesn't take kindly to lower order batsmen at the best of times, when they hit him for boundaries it really makes him mad. a short rain delay allowed his blood pressure to return to somewhere close to normal and his colour from purple to red. He took the two final wickets and Challow were all out without scoring a point. Marvellous. Nothing puts you in the mood for a tea like a sub 100 total.
The runs were knocked off without drama for the loss of just 2 wickets. 70 of them were scored by Tubes in another fine knock. He didn't give one chance and was supremely focused. The way he dispatched the short ball was especially pleasing, the fact that he was wearing red shoes can only have added to the humiliation. It only took 26 overs, and would have taken even less had we not had to endure Northern Gravy paying homage to Sir Geoffrey with an epic 14 off about 50 balls. He said that he had enjoyed it. Thats Yorkshire men for you. an odd breed.
Tubes took the Man of the Match, as the only batsman to pass 30 in the match it was well deserved. The battle of the Didcot openers is hotting up now. Lets hope they both get runs next week.
We are back at the Field Of Dreams next week as awe welcome Banbury 4. I cannot wait.
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