Cricket: Bray beaten... by the rain

Posted on August 1, 2012

The Eaton Bray Sunday Superstars travelled to Ley Hill CC on Sunday deep in the Chiltern Hills. It was the first time the two sides had met, and on arrival it was found that rain had dampened what is a beautiful village ground. With a boundary one side that was short enough for Barm to hit the keeper's gloves from the rope and with a golf tee no further than 40 yards from the square, it was building up to be a very interesting match!

Bray welcomed under 14 player Aaron Gauntlett into the side, along with his recently transferred brother Lee. Sawdust manager / kit clerk / all-round cricketing enthusiast Fil Davies was also present.

To the cricket, and Bray won the toss choosing to field, with the match reduced to 35 overs per side and Hemming and Gauntlett junior warming up ready to open the bowling. Both bowlers bowled well and Aaron found some bounce throughout his spell, but with the boundary a sneeze away, runs were piling up. Aaron did break through in the 8th over having Pieterson jr caught expertly down the leg-side by keeper Del. A further rain shower ensued, enabling Barm to gawp at the women swimming in the Olympics, which quickly passed and Bray headed back out with more sawdust provided by Filipe Flop and beer towels at the ready. Harv and Barm bowled long spellls each, to no avail, with some toe-end chips to the short boundary ever accelerating the score. However, in order to make up for a terrible dolly drop in the 2nd over, Harv expertly run-out both number 1 and 4 batsman with two direct hits in to give Bray a sigh of relief before the rain returned once more. It was here that the game was reduced again to 27 overs a side. To finish things James "Pro" Green and the skip grabbed a cheeky wicket each at the end. Courtesy of opener Pieterson sr. and number 3 Nadeem's (sort of) brutal innings, LHCC closed on score of 197-5, which on a normal sized ground would have probably been around 150.

A lovely tea followed, with hot onion bhajis and mint sauce on the menu (Jake Barker wouldn't have left the table) and the Bray went out to smash their way to victory. It must be said that oppo skip Pieterson jr. must be a huge fan of Douglas Jardine, considering his bowlers pitched 90% of their balls in their half of the wicket. Bray made a steady start as the Ley bowlers used the bounce in the wicket to good effect. Both players then made a plan to hit their way through the short-stuff with both playing their shots, until Parrott strangely left a straight ball and headed to the pavilion for 12. Alden carried on the way he had, picking off runs until he was bowled for 20. It left Peacock and Gauntlett sr. to have a go with both piling runs up from some continuing short bowling. Both were going well, (26* and 30* respectively), but with a get-able 87 required off 9 overs and sloggers Harv, Del and Davies ready to club a few sixes, the rain returned to dash any hopes of a result and the exciting finish that was round the corner.

A wet man - 01/08/2012

Scorecard

• Result: Drawn
• Date: Sun 29th Jul 2012
• Start Time: 14:00
• Ground: Ley Hill CC
• Type: Friendly
• Scoring: Standard
• Toss: Friendly XI won the toss and decided to bowl

Source: Eaton Bray Cricket Club