CBCC win by 6 wickets scoring 243
SCC all out for 118
40 over match

Comrades, a new fixture for us, such a young a fledgling side in our third season. Testing the ground, testing our nerve, pushing our boundaries and learning the field. We travelled up to Chesham Bois Cricket Club and its very sweet ground near Amersham in Bucks. It is nestled in a small wood and secretly hidden down a few short wooded paths. The reception and pavillion was friendly and welcoming and if the weather could hold off, we would be fine. The weather did hold off from rain but hovered in between fine mizzle and drizzle for a lot of the afternoon. This was neatly accompanied by an infestation of midges that nearly drove me nuts whilst scoring! You should see my welts, missus!

What about the cricket I hear three comrades, mutedly asking. Well, we were i the field first. Opening bowling, my good self and my brother commencing opposite. Bye ‘eck, he’s tight, Mildred. Just look at the figures! Chipmonkski brought in 8 splendid overs for a total of 32 runs, 1 maiden and 3 wickets. Aye! Three!

Their openers were Withers P and J. O’Brien. The latter caught nimbly off Chipmonk. Then Savant was in and soon out for 6 caught off Chipmonk again. Then P O’Brien in and out caught for 7 off Chipmonkski. Catches from Samovar, Soldya Hatter and Jontin – And smart, neat, lovely catches at that. Hands like sticky buckets on tent poles. Lovely.

At the other end, my hand of Yuri was less wicket taking but at least held a reasonable 8 over cost of 40. No wickets though. Where has my wood gone?

16 overs passed and The Brothers of the Red Richardson were off and Samovar and Soldya GrandMa forrafiver stepped up. But with Shuttleworth newly arrived at the wicket, he and Withers just had a rhythm going and despite some beautiful bowling, were proving hard to shift with Withers supervising the runs to 57. Shuttleworth fell to a stupendous wicket catch by Robski off a snicking bowl from Soldya. Elegance.

Howe then came in. By now, Samovar had bowled up 6 overs for 41, pacey and tight. Soldya with 5 overs for 22, Buster 7 overs for 58. We were delighted to have Jontin present 5 slippery overs and jolly accurate too. His figures at 5 for 29. Cobramovich cam up the rear (pardonne moi) and hissed an over for 8. But could we shift Howe or the inimitable Withers? Nope. Hats off to Withers who plodded along in real style to 112 and Howe with a sterling 55. Now put your hats back on.

Drizzle on the outfield, mud on the crease, some deflation in the hearts and midges in the hair. But were we down-hearted? A bit, yes. at 17:04 we went in, opening with Cobramovich and Brandonovski. Within 18 minutes we had suffered our wobble. Brandonovski out for 0 caught off Beeson. Then Antonov similar for 5 and Cobramovich similar for 1. Ah! So we have at this point Jontin and Busterski. The former caught well off Withers for 8. The slippery slide is hard to hold onto yet Samovar and Busterski dig in.

Samovar is determined to hit hard and scores a quick 20 before he falls to O’Brien. But a needed score and well made. And so the Blackledges, captain Marx and Busterski face each other and through a barage of familial insults, knock up a decent tally. Buster is first to head in with a satisfying 42, falling to a catch but… 42 was sorely needed. Marx then watched a succession of partners come and go before being caught after sixty odd balls for 26 off Shuttleworth.

Soldya was out after dotting away 4 balls for 0. Robski making 2 and Chipmonkski got to watch his brother, me, dot one before the Nib Nib monster was out for 2.

A match of catches. 11 catches over the whole game. I wonder if the short boundary leads to a denser field and therefore to an increased chance of catches? Whatever, I do know that again we were good in the field and with our bowling. But our batting wobbled. Next Spring comrades, we shall pack in batting practice before we begin the season.

Roll up for the NFTS match comrades!

Yuri

SCC innings

CBCC innings