South Liverpool CC
As Clarke and Harthan walked out to bat against South Liverpool CC, those waiting for their opportunity to swing the willow hoped that the scoring rate was more inspired than our opponent’s team name. Alas, how mistaken we were.
The start was solid. It was in keeping with the weather. The kind of opening that you sort of accept knowing that it could be worse and yet could also be better. Without the pyrotechnics of Armstrong, Clarke and Harthan laid the foundation. True to form this season (admittedly only two games in), Clarke was bowled playing across the line. It was a lonely walk back to the pavilion and his face told the story of a man who knew he had just cocked up.
The batting continued much like the conditions. Solid. Not spectacular. The game threatened to explode into life (just as a few rays of sunshine came through) when Harthan nicked one to the keeper. The appeals were raucous and sustained. Harthan was resolute in his belief that he could not be considered caught when the ball lodged in the keeper’s pads. The umpire was stumped. From the stands those watching could feel the tension. Harthan stood alone against the ongoing appeal. Finally, it occurred to the field that the laws should just be Googled. Two minutes later it was confirmed that Harthan was indeed caught. The celebrations of South Liverpool CC were certainly livelier than their name.
All in all, Liverpool Bar reached a total of 132/5 after 20 overs. The target was set and there was a sense of optimism when the players went out to field. Brownson opened the bowling and despite last year’s diet looked strong. Clarke assisted and bowled with a new lease of life. It was almost as if his personal life was breathing new impetus into his bowling (if not his batting). The pressure was mounting. Prior came into the attack. The Mic Jagger hair flowing in the chilly breeze. The batsman sought to attack Prior and following a nicely taken four slogged one to long on. The ball was high. The field turned expectantly to see who had the chance to take the catch. It was Austin. The pressure from the previous week’s drop still fresh in everyone’s mind. But safe he was. An outstanding catch!
With their tails up, Liverpool Bar turned to the debutant Berkson. He’d shown a reasonable amount of promise during the warm-up but the real test was now. He stood up well and took a nice lbw. Jones also got a bowl which was interesting.
The match rumbled on with both sides sensing a win. It came to the penultimate over when the scores were level. The ball was thrown to Tinkler who flighted a lovely delivery and was immediately dispatched for four. The game was over. There was a cold feel that had nothing to do with the weather. It was a knowledge that one had gotten away from the Bar.
Mighty Diamond Ducks 2021
- 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