Rainton v Burton Leonard
After familiarising themselves with the streets of Rainton, the players arrived at the ground ready to take on the team lying third place in the league. Skipper "Blakes" strolled out onto the green but surprisingly flat wicket for the toss. With a depleted side due to the second teams woes in division four it was a good toss to win and the captain opted to bat - a bold but confident move with Mickey "The Mouse" Wray absent from the team.
Craig "Minus" Eustace and Neil "Blakes" Blaken opened up for Burton. With near perfect batting conditions, the two batsmen made it look easy against the Rainton attack which lacked any real venom. Blakes knew he had to play a captain's innings to secure at least a point for Burton so he dug deep and restrained himself from playing any big shots early doors. Minus on the other hand had quashed his burning desire to smash every other ball out of the park until now and began to open up the taps with some super shots that kept the scoreboard ticking. Moments latter the aggressive stroke maker was undone by squirming one to backward point for an easy catch.
Next man in was Crawsh Senior and he was soon in good form, cutting several great shots to the boundary before been given out to a dubious LBW decision. Hawkeye (and Crawsh himself) suggested the ball was missing leg stump. Burton were now in trouble, with their two most experienced batsmen gone, Matt "Ranger/The BAS" Rangeley found himself at the crease with a job to do - stay in at all costs. With plenty of encouragement from the stalwart skipper, the out of form Rangeley began blocking it out at one end in true test match style while Blaken continued to keep the scorers busy with some sweetly struck lofted drives.
The Rainton bowlers were getting frustrated with the brick wall effect of the Burton batters and soon brought on their pace man to try and make a breakthrough. With a run-up longer than Dan Thirkell's list of hair products, Rainton's answer to Steve Harmison soon tired and gave the batsmen easy pickings on the leg side. Both batsmen were now finding their stride and further bowling changes brought more scoring chances (and missed catches from Blaken) for the Burton duo. Out of the blue Rangeley dispatched a six into the corn field but was out next ball when a lapse of concentration caused him to play at a rising ball and drove it straight to a fielder - a dogged 33 for Rangeley.
The partnership of 94 had left Burton in a good position to launch an attack for the last 10 overs and next up was Rob "Muzza" Murray - the perfect man for the job! Some good hitting from Murray and more expansive shots from Blakes elevated Burton's score before he was finally out for 71, skipping down the wicket and missing a straight one!
In came Stu "Tut" Barker for some agricultural big hitting. Unfortunately he only managed four runs before been bowled out but with several absentees from the Burton bowling attack he knew he'd get his chance for revenge with the ball. Andrew "Mr Chairman" Dallas was up next. The regular number 11 had the chance to score some runs instead of fighting for a point. After a few sighter deliveries he starting to swing the big Kookaburra bat, unfortunately not hard enough and he was caught on the mid-off boundary.
With eight wickets down and only Sam "Crawsh Junior" Crawshaw still left to bat, promoted 3rd team regualar Tim Hall was sent out to secure the point for the visitors. This never looked in any doubt as Hall skillfully stone walled out the last few overs with youngster Alex Ellerby at the non strikers end. Burton had posted a competitive 166-8.
One of the finest and biggest teas of the season followed. A truly' magnificent affair enjoyed outside Raintons new pavilion which they crafted themselves - Mmmm, what a good idea, hey Mr Chairman?!!
The players retook to the field of play. Muzza was handed the new ball but the young Rainton opener must have been on a promise and soon latched on to some short and wide bowling from Murray. The skipper again stepped up to the plate and after a few "looseners" was soon into his Mark Ealam style military medium bowling. Change of bowler - Murray replaced by his alter-ego Muzza "The Raging Bull" Murry - GET ANGRY MUZZA. The fired up Murray was now in the game, bending his back and getting the most out of the wicket, but it was Blakes that struck first clean bowling the other Rainton opener.
The Rainton youth continued to find the boundary off Murray's bowling but it was "Gunth" that had the last word, forcing the batsmen into a poor shot and Muzza had got his man - he then congratulated the batman on his fine innings!!
Rainton's number three was sent to have a go at the Burton attack. He was aggressive from the outset but skipper Blakes was on the ball and had a plan. Back went mid-on and mid-off and two balls later the batsman was on his way back to the pavilion, caught off Blake's bowling. Blakes then soon claimed another scalp with a beautiful in-cutting delivery.
Rainton were in trouble and the skipper decided to play his wild card - Genuine all rounder Rangeley!
With Barker economically holding the fort at the pavilion end, Rangeley was given the chance to operate as the strike bowler, striking twice with his first two balls, not at the wickets but with his stock delivery - a Wide!! We'll leave it there for Ranger's bowling, although he did buy an important, yet expensive wicket.
Minus Eustace was quickly called into the attack and despite not bowling since the summer of 1998 claimed three wickets in his first spell of the season. Barker then entered the wicket club and Rainton were down to their last batsmen and still required 50 for to win. A dogged performance from the last pair frustrated Burton who were on the edge of victory but after 10 overs the pumped up Murry ended Rainton's innings with a rather rank ball - Sh*t balls get wickets!!
It had been a splendid performance from BLCC. A well constructed innings with the bat was followed by a determined and masterfully thoughtout tactical display from the 1st team captain Neil Blaken, supported by some super fielding - Andy Woods been the pick of the bunch.
The Lamb Inn at Rainton provided excellent refreshment to all the players and even a free glass with the Special Edition Hoggy Ale!
The BAS
This entry was posted on Monday August 25th, 2008 at 9:25 AM and is filed under Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response.
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