I am not a regular member of the Civil Service II cricket team - for some obvious reasons: can’t bat, bowl or field, and making 0 and losing is not much fun. However, today was something different! The team were second from bottom in the league and we were playing the bottom side and near neighbours in the league: all things were riding on getting a result. Today’s match held the prospect of a full 30 points and putting distance between us and New Earswick.
What made the day better was having a full 11 men, an umpire and scorer; this was topped by a bright yellow orb in the sky making it pleasantly warm. We aren’t sure what the yellow orb was, some of the older heads thought it might have been the sun, but we can’t be sure! With the yellow orb shining we really wanted to bat first and enjoy a rest out of the full glare, although Captain Tess thought chasing may be better for us - he lost the toss so he had no choice and they elected to field. Bingo. Sun glasses on and enjoy a few rare cancerous rays, let the batters stick on a good score and we can then put them under pressure.
Of course I was forgetting the team motto “Omnis oris hostes hostium” i.e. everyone bats! The first 15 or so overs passed with not much happening, quite literally: the score was only just ahead of the overs, but a few hard smacks and then, inevitably, the wickets started to fall. Indeed it was a regular clatter of wickets, including a big fat Golden Duck for Two Sheds.
With 97 on the board and five overs left I waddled out to the wicket in my favourite position: No.11. Not only had ‘Are Kid’ and I got bat out the remaining overs, we also needed to get to 100 to get a point and then try and put a few more runs on. This was going to be difficult in my case as I had not scored a run all season and I don’t think I scored a run last season either. The signs were not good!
However, the pitch was slow and their bowlers were not fast, so things were in my favour. I would like to tell you that I danced down the wicket with all my old speed and clattered them around the park, or batted like silk, with the ball racing off the willow wand with timing only David Gower in his pomp could show.
One can dream. I did bat like my old self, using all the shots in my bag! The two best were the classic Pasty Dancer straight drives for four - through slip and behind the keeper to the boundary! There were also a few of my now trademark leaves: play down the wrong line and hope the ball misses the stumps.
The final over arrived and ‘Are Kid’ was on strike, a quick single and Pasty was facing, ‘Are Kid’ suggested that I drop the ball and run, however, the fielders caught on to this idea and all moved in. No choice now Pasty, you’ve got to hit through them, eek. Fortunately the ball sat up nicely and a drive to mid-off through the gap brought two runs, things were looking up: a middled ball and through the gap, where was Peter Moores (I could make Sri Lanka or New Zealand if you are short). Pasty had reached double figures, a feat never achieved in this league! A push for one and then ‘Are Kid’ produced a six to cow corner, all over and tea: Pastydancer 11 Not Out.
In the cool of the late-afternoon the mighty Service took the field, although inspite of the last wicket stand, 121 was not an easy target to defend. However, some good bowling from Jimmy Taylor and the demon spin of John Taylor (nice one Shane) New Earswick were all out for under 90. An early finish, but this time we were 30 points to the good. Drinks all round.
A win for Civil and double figures for the Pasty Dancer: rarer than hens teeth!
Just need the Hobbit to make his next move on the Facebook chess site!