• Robert Browning

It was the sort of Spring day which no doubt inspired Mr Browning to pen those words, sunny blue skies, birdsong, and flowers blooming, a lovely evening for the much anticipated return of LMS cricket. The Bar faced familiar opposition Mighty Diamond Ducks at Aigburth CC and, the Bar looking resplendent in their new caps, the scene was set fair. Having won the toss the skip elected to bat and opened alongside Harthan. The openers laid the foundations for the innings before the skip missed a straight one and returned with 18/14. Armstrong came to the wicket. Seasoned observers of Armstrong’s innings know that whilst his starts are often a bit scratchy, once he has his eye in he is a man transformed. His first few balls gave little indication of what was to come. However, having survived a close LBW shout and then, riled by the indignity of having the field brought in for him and spread for Harthan, the Banner to Hulk switch was flicked. Armstrong began to lay waste to the MDD bowling attack. Harthan became the first Bar batsman to pass the career milestone of 1,000 recorded LMS runs and raised his bat aloft to a bewildered response from the Pavilion which was clearly unaware of the significance of the moment. Soon afterwards, and perhaps sensing that it was time for the middle order to take to the stage, Harthan skied one and departed with 29/30. Reeve and Armstrong then produced a swashbuckling display of batting sending the MDD bowling attacks to all corners. A couple of huge sixes back over the bowler’s head stand out most in the memory. Armstrong retired on 50/30, Reeve was caught on 32/17. The Bar set a total of 144.

Well, where did it all go wrong? As the sun dipped towards the horizon what had been a pleasant Spring evening turned into a midge infested bite fest. The Bar bowlers struggled to keep their line whilst being eaten by the local Ceratopogonidae. Even when Reevie did find a good ball in the channel he was no balled because Austin had committed a fielding infringement by straying to the leg side. Reevie held a good catch, Austin is likely to be waking up today with a bruise to the chest. Armstrong’s over went for 17 but he was too gallant to attribute any blame to the missed stumping opportunity which he had craftily conjured with his familiar 3 ball plan of long hop, long hop, ripper. Armstrong unfortunately then had to leave for childcare duties and the game seemed to be swinging MDD’s way. However the Bar continued to take wickets, a stunning caught and bowled by Prior, which seemed to surprise him as much as anyone, stands out most in the mind. On the basis that if you don’t blow your own trumpet sometimes there is no music, your correspondent also notes that a reflex stop at short mid wicket followed by a direct hit to the stumps sent the dangerous looking Bandara back to the pavilion. Admittedly, the batsman was so far down the wicket that a leisurely underarm throw back to Prior would have achieved the same result without the jeopardy, but fortunately the shy was accurate.

In the end MDD got home in the final over but there were more positives than negatives to take from a close game.
MoM (Batting); Armstrong
MoM (Bowling / Fielding); Prior