Great Longstone - 3rd August
Posted Tuesday, August 5, 2008
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Sunseekers braved the Sunday drivers of the Peak District to visit the picturesque village of Great Longstone, just north of Bakewell. Wenny's chauffeur had convinced him that the game started early - a sneaky ploy to ensure that he managed an alcohol fix since he knew that the LFC would not allow him anything other than orange squash after the match. The spin off was that the LFH* was able to show everyone the fluid on his knee and give a run down of his other ailments that would prevent him moving at anything faster than walking pace in the field. Howard took a wrong turn somewhere and so missed this diatribe from the skipper, thus succeeding in running the latter out during our innings!
Anyway, to the game. The Great Longstone opening pair made a lively start but Freddy bowled well. He made the ball move both ways and generated bounce, earning himself figures of 3-15 and giving a shiner to Stuart who was keeping wicket. Freddy (who by this time claimed to be "steaming in like a freight train") brought one back which beat the bat and just clipped the top of the stumps - Stuart had no chance of getting his head out of the way as the ball flicked up, but was just able to turn his head sufficiently to make it into a glancing blow. That did enough damage, but with blood gushing out of the wound over the eye and looking increasingly like a Panda, Stuart refused the air ambulance and soldiered on. Ross was a little frustrated at first as he delivered a series of deliveries from both ends of the crapness spectrum, however there was no cap abuse and he managed a wicket in his second spell, a super catch by the Old Man of Cricket (BB of course). "Brian you were magnificent" said a delighted Ross.
I told him I couldn't run twos ...
Talking of Brian, he was first change (for Ross) and his first ball was thumped to square leg for 4, however, in the second over, Stuart managed to annoy Brian so much that he started to bowl really well, with just the odd bad ball and was unlucky on several occasions. From one of these, a slow long-hop outside the off, Old Tom, prowling in the covers, made a fine effort to catch it, stabbing his own foot with one of his spikes in the subsequent chase! That set the LFC off again with a list of his injuries and ailments ...
The Great Longstone score ticked over, with the middle order moving it along nicely, however wickets fell at regular intervals. Will came on as second change at the main road end and settled into his rythym immediately. Length and line were spot-on from the first ball. The battle between Will and Gt Longstone skipper Chris Barnes was an absorbing one, Chris finally being trapped LBW shortly after reaching a well deserved 50 with just a few overs to go. That was a relief to Will as the previous over, Chris had hammered 3 (I think) 4s.
So the innings ended with the score on 145 ao, a good score on a wicket that was probably more favourable to the bowlers.
Mick and Howard found the going tough to begin with and did well to keep the score moving, at one point, Carpo offered Mick some coaching "Move your feet Wenny" to which he got the usual 2 fingered response. We took that to mean "do you mean both of them John?". Eventually, the LFC was out - run out "I told him I couldn't run twos because of the pulled muscle in the back of my leg" (Nothing new there then Mick) with the score having moved into the 60s off just short of 20 overs. That brough Carpo to the crease, with Ross as a runner (Knee problems was today's theme). He and Howard battled away in the face of good bowling and excellent groundwork and throwing from The Gt Longstone lads to bring the score closer to the target. Howard was dismissed for a hard earned 49 - jug avoidance? It was evident that the finish would be a tight one but some good cricket from Carpo and Stuart saw Sunseekers through with less than an over to spare.
A big thank you - to the tea ladies for a great spread and the Great Longstone team for an excellent day's cricket.
Champagne moment - not discussed but I think that most would agree was Ross's effort to emulate the skipper and turn a 2 into a 1 with just 7 balls to go. Carpo called for a run, Stuart set off at high speed looking for two and it was only when he got back to the non strikers end that he realised that Ross was still there! Another Sunseekers classic of both batsmen at the same end after going for a two. Still, all's well etc as Ross made it back.
Comment of the day - Chris Barnes to the non striker ... "pick your balls".
*LFH = Little Fat Hypochondriac
