MARA, MARIO AND MOOBS MARK A DOUBLE OVER BRICKHILL

Castlethorpe v Great Brickhill, Sunday 10^th July

We deliberated forever over whether to bowl or bat first – in the end Nige happily lost the toss and Brickhill batted. Dingers struck the first blow quite literally when he clonked their opener on the nose despite the fact he was wearing a helmet – and off he went to hospital. Shockingly, Nick tried to claim 20 points for retiring him hurt, and later another 20 because he was their best batsman and it meant they had to field with ten men.

We took wickets at regular intervals, although Jonesy bowled well and ended up with a nunfer. It was Tango who consistently chipped in and ended up with 4-23, despite some Jon Hill style no-ball trouble. Dingers picked up one legitimate wicket courtesy of some Stewart Tate safe hands, for one which he fortunately didn’t have to move for. Behind the timbers Nige had deposed Basher and consistently stood up to Russ and Tango. They were gently ticking along before we unleashed the Marri-Mara combination of Rosco and Nev. Competing with each other for tossing it up even higher as a pair they bamboozled Brickhill who seemed determined to whack the ball out of sight. They seemed determined also to whack it straight into the hands of Dingers who safely pouched three catches. Their innings was closed off finally off Tango’s second spell by Dion’s now trademark exclusive catching style, clutching the ball to his moobs from where they was no mistake. They reached 151 failing to use up all their overs.

A tea which included an eclectic (look it up) mix of goodies such as garlic bread, waffles and doughnuts was consumed with gusto, particularly by one extremely tall and thin daddy. He went out to open with Mickey but after a steady start returned to consume even more sandwiches caught behind off their leggie. It was a similar pitch to the one the week before where strokeplay was tricky and grafting was needed. Nige perished to a skier off the same bowler, and the Chairman advised Russ upon his arrival at the wicket to take it easy and get used to the pace of the pitch. Bam, Jonesy smashes it straight over long off for a monster six. Bam he does it again. Russ was then caught for 16 but much needed momentum was added to the innings.

Dingers came next and hit some good boundaries including a maximum of his own, but couldn’t make the most of a let off before ballooning one up. Tango then joined Mickey who was by now getting used to seeing partners come and go. After an exquisite inside edge for a couple, Pongo then spooned up a catch of his own. Having seen all his partners get out playing shots, Mick was determined to bat through. Nev came to the crease and started very solidly, they moved the field in, so he then smashed a couple of straight boundaries to join in the fun. After 15 solidly made runs Nev perished clean bowled and a vital partnership of 34. Cometh the hour, cometh the Tate. The number of 2s was cut down and the oppo sensed they had a chance of containing us, Mick amazed to see a boundary sweepers employed for his batting for the first time in about three years. Six to win it came down to and two overs to go, and we needed a boundary. Taters smacks one through the vacant legside for a dramatic boundary which more or less sealed the match. More drama was to unfold as he was bowled straight afterwards.

Dion marched to the crease with a steely look in his eyes. He saw out the penultimate over and we still needed two. At last they brought the field in, and Mick took a single. Dion was unfazed as he skilfully nibbled a half volley just behind square for a dramatic win. Mickey was left on 68 not out which boosted his average over the hundred mark on a Sunday. Who knows where we are in the league as after more than half of the season no tables have been issued and nobody has a clue who is where. Still, a fine all round team effort to keep us we think in the top three.