Burton Leonard.net

Sadly only 13 overs were possible in this game before the umpires called a halt to proceedings due to the incessant rain that had been falling since the start of the game, However the Burton Leonard dressing room was treated to some sumptious batting from Craig Eustace and Mike Stansfield as they quckly rattled up a half century opening partnership with Craig Eustace finishing 44* and Mike Stansfield 20*.

Below is a video of our opening pair batting with Craig Eustace actually stroking the ball through the covers in Comptonesque fashion (this is original footage honest, it has not been doctored). If anyone has difficulty viewing the video let me know as it is the latest flash/h264 technology and may require a player update.

The 2nd XI games against Ouseburn 2nds was also abandonded due to the weather.

Chairman Dallas reflects on the Studley game:-

1. Real fans of water sports converged in their thousands ones to Studley’s huge ground under leaden skies where a light rain relented sufficiently for the covers to come off and for the match to begin.
2. Our 1st XI was in high spirits having won the last two matches and looking for maximum points from the bottom-placed club.
3. Chief optimist and gourmand ‘Mr Whippy’ Drummond turned up in shorts and clutching a three-pack of deep-fill sandwiches to help him through those long minutes until tea-time.
4. In contrast, Dan Thirkell did not turn up - having ill-advisedly accepted an invitation to ‘football training’ at the Army Camp. He was later seen running over the moors carrying a 72-lb ruck-sack full of rocks singing old US marine hymns (in unison with 100 young men with no 1 hair-do’s) whilst being shouted at by a terrifying figure with many stripes on his arms. Serve him right.
5. They won the toss and inserted us – no doubt (as we modestly thought) to prevent us forcing an early result by bowling them out for nowt before the rain returned.
6. We opened with ‘Claude’ Eustace and the Flying Stanners. Eustace promptly drove the opening ball of the match through extra cover for four – with an elegance that reminded us of the absent Mickey ‘the Mouse’ Wray - sadly more of a drowned rat today as he takes his enormous family on a happy camping trip in the charming weather. How envious we are!
7. As to the shot, Eustace sought out your correspondent afterwards to re-experience the wonder of a shot-all-along-the-ground-on-the-posh-side. ‘I just leaned into it’ he marvelled - as elbows started to slip off the tables and his audience made polite excuses and sidled out of the dressing room. His delight on finding out that Ben had captured the shot on video was a wonder to behold. He will be submitting it to Lords for inclusion in their next coaching DVD.
8. Stanners rather spoilt the elegance of the occasion by getting off the mark with an edged four. Inexplicably, we clapped louder than we had for Claude.
9. After this, our two gladiators grew in stature (upwards – since sideways is already adequately catered for) as both struck impressively into the broad acres of the Studley offside field. Eustace even did some work on his handicap by striking some useful approach shots over the head of Long On.
10. After only 12 overs, Burton had reached 64 without loss with Eustace motoring along on 44* and Stansfield getting into his stride on 20*.
11. But the rain was getting worse and off they came. An early tea was taken before the match was finally abandoned.
12. Tea broke up in controversy after an unfortunate misunderstanding with our hungry openers. It appeared that they were unaware that the Battenberg cakes were meant to be sliced and shared out.
13. Match Abandoned – 2 Points each

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 21st, 2008 at 5:54 pm and is filed under Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.