By Philip Barrass
MoM, moi?! No, come now, the others played a part. I can't take all the credit. I mean, man of the match - again!
And now they're clamouring for me to write it up - they don't think anybody else could do it justice. Guys, guys, come on! Don't do yourselves down.
How can I sum up a game in which I was (once more - doh!) man of the match?
OK, if you all insist. I'll tell you what - I'll write it as a neutral observer, and please try to forget any match-winning performances that I may be associated with (yes you can!).
Here we go, then.
The game started in bright evening sun. AK Southey joined Fred
Barrass at the crease. AK is a strong boy, it’s true, and got a few
runs from top edges here and there. But the eye was drawn to his
partner, driving, pulling and glancing as though built by master
craftsmen from mercury.
But that’s not fair, you cry! The lad has
his father’s genes – what do you expect? Yes, but he has to apply
them. Hey! Still not fair! His father coached him from the day he
could walk! No wonder he has such style, such panache, such grace!
But enough – the boy must also follow his father and not let these
things go to his head. Had the Fallopians enough runs? They had by
the time the founder (yes, I nearly said it, but there’s no ‘I’ in
founder!!) had powered his first ball over the head of cover, and
shepherded the Crapstone Hopper to his personal best of 7. Those
last few balls really put the OFs out of reach of any pursuing
Vauxhalls.
How was the OF’s bowling? I really wanted to gloss over this, but
how do you hide a 4-wicket haul? Statistics speak the truth, and it
has to be admitted that the founder’s bowling (I managed it again!)
utterly bamboozled the opposition, right down to stepping aside from
a simple return catch to avoid the 5-for – come on, it wouldn’t be
fair to the others to dominate quite that much.
A word for the skipper, Jonathan Stebbins. Nice effort! It is to be
expected that the team would look to the founder (hat-trick!) for
reassurance and the final subtle field placings, but Jonathan should
not feel bad about that. Another 10 years and they’ll look to you,
Jono!
And so the match was won. And best of all? It was a real team
effort.
But who built the team, I hear you cry? Now now, that’s just being
mischievous!
(See also report
on League website)
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| Tight squeeze: (Rear L-R) AK Southey, Simon Hemelryk,
Joe Swift; (Front L-R) Matt Asquith, Jonathan Stebbins, Philip
Barrass, Alistair Bayliss Photo: Freddie Barrass |
