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Driving to Brockley on the most perfect May day the captain mused that he wouldn’t wish to be going any where else; on arrival the ground looked perfect and we had for the first time in the history of the 2nd team a virginal (new) wicket which was flat and rock hard. I’m afraid that was as good as the day got as after the feckless captain lost the toss the Brockley bowlers toiled in the heat and were hit to all parts of the ground or should that be adjoining fields? Young Kimber bowled two decent spells and showed character when the going got tough, Brame seemed once again to struggle with the new ball although he had the tidiest figures of all the bowlers. Smart making a welcome return to the team bowled with character during the onslaught and Mingay again proved that even in the heat he could bowl lengthy spells. Perhaps the captain should have been willing to give the donkey drops of Carter or Blackledge a go but he displayed a cowardly side to his character!
Now in the face of such carnage the Brockley fielders would have been forgiven for wilting in the heat but with one exception all showed great fortitude and Allen, making his debut caught an excellent boundary catch. The vice captain, Blackledge, seemed strangely distracted; was he hung over? It was his birthday so was his mortality worrying him? After the game he sited boredom for his lack lustre performance although the captain favours the first of the options. Whilst fielding Blackledge spent long periods sitting on a boundary seat! Boredom? The captain certainly wasn’t bored; at his wits end maybe but not bored.
Apart from the openers all the Brockley batsman flattered to deceive; most got in and scored twenties or thirties but none went on to get the big total needed to challenge West Marcia’s massive total. Brame junior again proved that he has the potential to be a top batsman and Carter rolled back the years with a decent innings before fatigue took its toll. As for Blackledge he cheered up after the game when opening a bottle of pink champagne to celebrate that birthday.
The second team seems to have been playing for months but the first team played their first game away to a strong Felixstowe side, an amazing win ensued against a strong team with a number of minor counties players; so congratulations on a tremendous win. I look forward to reading the match report on the clubs’ web site.
Captains man of the match? Jack Brame was a contender with an excellent innings, Allen’s catch was superb but this week it goes to an oldie; Dennis Fisher for his innings of 32 and bowling figures 2 for 43. Well done DF.
Phil Reed |
