An arresting day at Parker's Piece
Posted Monday, May 19, 2008
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Sunseekers 180-5 (Wenn 72 not out, Williamson 52, Gibb 18)
Belper Police 118 (Crawford 3-10, Bennett 3-22)
Won by 62 runs
Yippee, a first win of the season, against a team who've given us a tough game in the last two seasons.
The first good work of the day was done by Brian, using his contacts and influence to negotiate us on to his second home, the vacant Parker's Piece, and away from Darley Fields. Nice one, BB and, in case no-one else mentioned it often enough, the scoreboard wot you made all those years ago is a wonder of modern technology, old mate.
"I can count," said the captain, nicking the strike off the last ball of the over. "Get down the other f*kin end," responded Williamson, calling him for a sharp single.
After the surprise early losses of Downes and Ashton and an all too brief but stylish effort from Gibbo, the foundation of a good Sunseekers total was laid by an excellent stand of 112 between the Little Fat Captain and Matty, not that the LFC welcomed it at first: "Bloody hell, here comes Matthew to try and run the bollox off me," was the skipper's gruff response to Sgt Williamson's arrival.
Matty's attempts to do so were, of course, all in vain. The LFC was having none of it. "I can count you know," said Wenn, nicking the strike off the last ball of an over.
"Get down the other f*kin end," responded Williamson, calling his skipper for a sharp single first ball of the next over.
It was the usual contrast from the captain. He frustrates by turning any number of twos into ones but also plays some lovely shots and, without his 72 not out, where would we have been? Several of his Saturday Sutton on the Hill team-mates turned up to watch. They texted club secretary Steve Taylor, on holiday in France, to report that Wenn had made 50. Back came the reply: "Oh, I didn't realise it was a three-day match!"
Anyway, a good total, and the opening burst from your reporter and BB made victory more than likely as two of Belper's league club players were quickly back in the pavilion, Robin taking two catches (or three if you count the juggle for my first wicket, although Brian, at slip, assured anyone who would listen that he would have pounced for the catch if Robin had let the ball slip a second time).
Belper slipped to 6-4, and when the fifth wicket fell, Sunseekers were an astonishing 100% in the catching stakes, Howard and Paul adding to Robin's two. The captain soon spoiled that record, much to BB's disgust, but it soon became time to give as many bowlers as possible some practice.
There were good spells from Kevin, Howard, Sam and his mate Tom Jennings, on his debut for the club, all but Kev getting wickets, although Kev's was arguably the most accurate effort.
Belper battled back well without ever threatening to change the result and the last wicket, for your reporter, was, I must immodestly claim, fair reward for an accurate first attempt of the season.
In the end, every Sunseeker contributed something with either bat, ball or gloves, the banter was good quality from both sides and that, of course, is what it's all about.
CC
