Park Keep on Winning

A gorgeous sunny day greeted both teams in the picturesque resort of Westward Ho! Captain Dave won the toss and decided to bat, eyebrows were raised but Dave was sure we had the firepower to put a big score up and put the pressure on the run chase. Alas, 2 wickets down for just 10 runs, and things were looking a tad dicey. What we needed was a player on top of their game to go in there and get a good partnership going. Enter Brownie, alcohol seeping from his pores from a heavy night, this guy was not looking like the solution to our problems. However, a glorious partnership of 81 runs later and Brownie trudged off for a well deserved nap on the bench in the changing rooms, wakened only by the deafening roar of the crowd as Harry reached his half century. Next up was the two big hitters, Wolfy pestering the tourists in the tennis courts across the road with his mega sixes, Will adding a quick fire 21 to plump the score up nicely. A few runs were added from the other batters, the only real shame was the fall of Harry just shy of what would have been a great century, especially after hampering himself for the first 40 odd runs by wearing a sweater in subcontinental conditions! 221 for 8, faith had been restored in Daves decision at the toss all those hours ago.

After an excellent tea, we were out and ready to defend what looked like a very decent score. The two opening batsmen looked like they knew what they were doing, we would need every available fielder to get this job done….you all know where this is going. Over number three, Dave runs in, arms pumping, over the wicket, a vicious bouncer of a delivery, still rising past the stumps, just over head height for the keeper. Will jumps, catches the ball in those massive gloves, but no! It gets through the gloves and catches him full pace. In the face. Man down, concerned cricketers stand over Will’s prone body, not a first aider for miles. Following my expert diagnosis, “mate that's a pretty big hole in your face, you’re gonna need stitches”, Will headed off to A&E, although he did wash his blood from the grass before he left, which I thought was a nice touch.

Wolfy donned the gloves, and, despite being a man down, we fielded brilliantly for the whole afternoon, plenty of running, plenty of slides, good energy and a real team effort to get us through the game. Their opening pair were resilient though, and the deadlock wasn’t broken until Brownie got a lovely little edge, pouched by Wolfy, straight in the gloves, no face involved. Harry was bowling some lovely stuff, unfortunately it seemed the better the bowl, the luckier the edge or mishit that met it. Then he struck, in Harry’s own words, a “terrible ball” hoiked up in the air, Daves safe hands, and once again no face, used to dismiss their troublesome free swinging opener.

The new partnership settled in well, scoring steadily, if not spectacularly. Brownie in particular was bowling some very tidy stuff. But the maverick that is Dave Branch knew something special was required to get another wicket, something the bowlers will never have seen before, something on a different cricketing plane. Enter me, Mark Lee, walking pace slow medium bombers coming at you from the pebble ridge end. A definitely deliberate slower ball caught a thick edge, ball up in the air and Dave, face far removed from the action, pouched another, making my figures look much more respectable. A hattrick for the deadly Adrian ‘middle stump’ Scarrett combined with Matt’s excellent double really put a stranglehold on the game, a great spell of bowling for Park just at a time where it was looking like the game could go either way. Captain Dave got a wicket at the death to cap off a solid victory for the team, Barnstaple finishing up with 188 for 9.

Player watch:

David Stanton

Thrown in as an opener, Dave was an unfortunate victim of Barnstaples opening blitz, but a good afternoon in the field followed. Dropped a catch going down to his left but was quick and has a good arm, helped to keep the pressure on the batsmen

Harry Rainford

What a guy, what an innings! Sprayed it around like Jason Roy at the start, the jumper started to take its toll but once removed, it was business as usual. You would have thought if you got all the way to 95 though, you may as well have got a century… Solid bowling display and a wicket to boot.

Matt Parkhouse

Another victim of the blitz, to be fair Matt got shoved in a bit early to give Brownie time to throw up and put some clothes on! Good, quick bowling, 2 wickets and super reliable fielding from one of the young guns

Ian Brown

A medical miracle. From clinically dead to near half century batting in the time it takes to throw your guts up. As we all expect from Brownie, tight and tidy with the ball and top fielding all day

Joe Wolfe

Joe will need to be deducted the cost of a ball from his match fee after losing one in the Northam/Westward Ho! area. Volunteered to take the gloves and did a great job, taking the vital first wicket off of Brownies bowling

Will Anderson

Kept the run rate going, then buggered off when we needed him in the field. Did a good job sorting the teas as always, we would go hungry without you Will!

Mitch Power

A little cameo with the bat, followed by some energetic and enthusiastic fielding. The highlight for me being an absolute missile of a throw in from the long boundary. Granted, it had gone for four, but what an arm!

Adrian Scarrett

Teased the batsmen into trying to go after him, then bang bang bang, three wickets, done them like kippers. I sound like a broken record, but excellent in the field also. I didn’t see Adrian bat as I was desperately trying to warm up in the nets!

Dave Branch

Nearly killed our wicket keeper, other than that I think he had a good day. Took two excellent catches, didn’t use his face for either, bowled quick and got a deserved wicket at the end

Mark Lee

What can you say about this guy. Unbeaten with the bat, 2 wickets in 2 matches, more wides than you can shake a stick at. A complete enigma.

Paul Hayes

Put in a proper shift in the field today, there were a lot of big hitters sending it down to the boundaries but Radio had a great day out there, stopped loads and got the ball in early. Unlucky not to get a bat, but that’s what happens when you’re following the unbeaten Mark Lee in the tail.