LAPWORTH VS OFFCHURCH
Skippers Report
After tossing out in the middle, Lapworth’s skipper chose to bat first on a blistering hot day on a wicket that supposedly produced nearly 400 runs the day before. Soon it became apparent that no one was entirely sure what had happened to the wicket since those near on 400 runs the day before, but it was suspected it didn’t involved a roller of any kind!
First 8 overs saw little action in the way of wickets, OCC’s rotation policy then saw Old Skip and a lesser spotted chairman take to the field (clearly wary that he is running out of time to get his minimum games in for the averages!)
Wickets fell at regular intervals from the 8th over onwards and after wickets from Old Skip, young Aman and 4 from Dean (jug avoidance) and a maiden career fifer for Bert, who’s first ball disappeared into the trees and didn’t exactly scream “drinks are on me today chaps” Lapworth found themselves 9 down for around 62 runs. Then due to Offchurch’s complete disregard for the laws of the game, Lapworth’s skipper was invited to send 2 more batsman of his choosing to the middle, he chose himself and his fellow opener, neither of whom troubled the scorers much once again and Lapworth found themselves all out for 67.
Special mentions firstly to Bert on his maiden fifer with figures of 5-13 from around 3 overs, well bowled. Also, to the Chairman who was heard as saying that the floodgates opened once he took to the field at deep gully in the 8th over. Draw your own conclusions…
Greg and Lucas opened proceedings and after Lucas’s off peg was dislodged off an absolute ripper than nipped back a mile. 3 more wickets fell, all consisting of OCC’s youth section in Ben, Henry and Aman.
Finding ourselves 7-4 off around 4 overs on, by which time, was a bit of a minefield of a wicket. The skipper was heard describing it as a “character building exercise” for the youth of the club...
Out strolled the chairman in at an unfamiliar number 6 position who by his own declaration steadied the ship along with Greg and saw us to a comfortable win.
After a brief chat with their skipper and only 34 overs played in the day, he suggested a hundred ball format game. With none of us, bar young Aman and more interestingly the chairman, knowing the rules, we decided to bat first (thankfully for some it was decided it wouldn’t count to the averages!) we made 110 from our 100 balls, notable knocks from Rich and a decisive 18 runs from young Henry at the tail end of the innings.
Most notably though, the chairman clearly not thinking straight from the adrenaline of his heroics in the first game, decided that the rules of the hundred included triggering the skipper off a ball going miles down leg. No wonder the traditionalists of the game aren’t keen on the format!
Lapworth fell around 16 runs short. Wickets shared around between the bowlers. Making it 2 wins in a day for the Church. A weird but enjoyable day for all of us, topped off by a pint each from Bert “Fifer” Woodward.