2020 Highlights

Once again the myth of bad Bank Holiday weather was proved wrong as we completed our fifth successive 2020 Day without interuption. Mind you the midday temperature was more April than August as a brisk Northerly blew across the Field of Dreams.

The BBQ was fired up early in readiness for the finish of the Junior 2020 appertiser. The introduction of hot pork rolls proved to be an instant success.

This year's game was a battle of the 'keepers with Benji taking on Beakey. Beakey's XII (as we had a glut of players) batted first and it was like old times as Liam Sanders tucked into some village bowling to quickly retire having made the 25 threshold.

12 year old Joe Nice needed a bit of luck bowled first ball off a no-ball, but then compiled a fine 16. Wickets fell at regular intervals with Benji's creative field positions working a treat. Bails was all at sea facing a 10-0 leg side field, bowled first ball by a Richard Normington off stump yorker.

Cllr John Cottee, rolling back the years with a cultured 10, and Liam 'When I'm Cleaning Windows' Elliott with 25, shored up the middle order, and big-match Bobby took advantage of the match now being 22 overs a side, hoisting three sixes, one quite literally straight into the confectionary stand and out again, in a day's top score of 29.

Beakey's side reached 159-8 off 22 overs. Billy Butter-Fingers and Jay were miserly both taking 1-6 off their 2 overs.

1. Liam Sanders – 26 retired 3x4’s and 1x6
2. Geoff Tindsley – 7 ct A Cowlard bowled C Legge 1x4
3. Phil Dearden – 0 ct J Stolworthy bowled C Legge
4. Joe Nice – 16 ct C Soar bowled B Harrison 1x4
5. Liam Elliott – 25 retired 4x4 and 1x6
6. Marc Bailey – 0 bowled (first ball) R Normanton
7. John Cottee – 10 ct R Normanton bowled J Vickers
8. Rob Baker – 29 retired 2x4 3x6
9. Dave Strong – 18 not out 3x4
10. Jack Palmer – 5 not out
11. Duncan Tarran – DNB
12. Rob Beake – DNB
Extras 23 (4 byes, 15 wides, 4 no balls)

In reply the weather had eased and it was down to just six layers in the scorer's tent for Shelley 'cooking the books' and Ted 'banging the drums'.

Beakey soon found that having 10 spinners at his disposal wasn't quite the attack he needed. Benji's top 4 batters scored quickly and it was left to Jay and Drurs to slow things down to test match pace, with the Chairman even affording the luxury of patting back a maiden on the way to 25. Wensley-Dale smashed some pies to the boundary, and it was left to Boss Hogg to see Benji's side to victory, his 23 runs edging him ever closer to his his 200 run season's target, now a definite possibly with friendly games hastily arranged well into December. The target was reached with an over to spare.

Tinno and Bobby were the best of a bad bunch both taking 1-4 off their 2 overs.

1. Ian Graham – 14 ct L Elliott Bowled J Palmer 1x4 1x6
2. Ben Elliott – 16 ct M Bailey Bowled J Palmer 3x4
3. Andy Cowlard – 5 stumped R Beake Bowled P Dearden 1x4
4. Billy Harrison – 15 ct R Baker bowled J Nice 2x4
5. Jamie Vickers – 17 LBW R Baker 1x4 1x6
6. Richard Drury – 25 retired 4x4
7. Chris Legge – 23 not out 2x4
8 Dale Collison – 21 bowled G Tindsley
9. Richard Normanton – 5 not out
10 Chris See-Soar DNB
11 Sam Nice DNB
12 Josh Stolworthy DNB
Extras 19 ( 4 byes, 1 leg bye, 10 wides, 4 no balls)

Bobby capped a fine weekend by taking the MOM award, not that his waistline needed the boost of a meal for two at Indian Nights.

Though a close second was Leggy, proving that the Samit Patel diet is an ideal preparation for the short form of the game.

A fine day all round, and thanks to everyone who played, spectated, score, served and snapped.