Thornton v BOTWCC Second XI

Sat 10th June 2006 - Bagworth

On yet another glorious sunny Saturday (yep, that's two on the trot) this weeks proceedings got started at midday instead of the usual 2pm, so that players could stop to watch England's first World Cup 2006 match against Paraguay.

Skipper for the day and Thornton Old-Boy, Rob Morley won the toss and chose to bat first. (No more need be said about that). Playing against a team that hadn't managed to win all season and hadn't even reached the dizzy heights of 100 runs in a match, a win was always the most likely outcome, even with the Burton team being decimated by natural absentees a First team who had a few short this week.

Anyway, Rob Morley and the proper skipper Steve Neal opened the batting but got off to a lightly shaky start with Neal gifting a catch to the man at 45 behind square, after chasing and gloving a leg-side wide long hop around the corner. Quite a shocker it was too.

Enter Mike Tagg, Star of the Day Number 1. The poor bloke had apparently tried very hard the day before to get out of playing, complaining that he felt as rough as old boots (not necessarily his words) and would be better off wrapped up in bed with a hot cup of cocoa and the present Mrs Tagg. But, the old stalwart turned out none the less and I think I'm right in saying, he was right to do so.

From the off he sprayed the Thornton bowling attack to all corners of the outfield and was in fine touch. Rob Morley stood by him looking in good form too for a while but eventually fell to a good catch on 18.

Enter Star of the Day Number 2, Ian 'Pauline' Merryweather. From the moment he got to the crease he was seen wildly swinging the bat and sweeping almost everything, along with one or two quite nicely timed drives too, and runs were quickly being piled on, boundaries being peppered asunder.

Some time during their partnership, one that would eventually reach 96 (crikey), the game was interrupted by the start of the World Cup. (Yes, I know the Germans had played the day before but it isn't really a World Cup until England have disappointed us).

At approximately 4pm with 15 overs to play and an England win under our belt, Pauline and Taggie resumed where they had left off and continued to knock up a useful total. Finally though, the young ginger got himself out after not committing to a shot on the off side, being caught in the covers.

Taggie continued ever forward as wickets fell around him; another blob for the Stella'd Richard Stenning and 6 for John Shipman, before Pete Mitchell came in and worked on his averages ending the 45 overs on 1 not out, and Burton on 191 for 5.

Well done especially to Mike Tagg for his superb 105 not out. A great innings and his first ton for a couple of seasons. (Enough of the compliments though pal, where's our jug, you whelching old so-and-so?)

Part two of the match saw an old opening pairing of Grant Penton (Star of the Day Number 3, I might add) and John Shipman and things started quite well with the season's best bowler Shipman bowling one opener for 11 and Penton having one caught by Stenning for only 2. Things carried on in this vein and wickets fell steadily and a win was really looking like it was in the bag.

Typically though, Thornton had a new boy (McMahon) who had never played for the club before and he come on and knocked up a healthy 47 before being caught by Rob Morley off Penton at mid off. It was a good catch, especially since we'd each had a cup of tea and a biscuit waiting for it to come down from the heavens.

Penton (I'm know, its a surprise to me too) continued in his magnificent vein of form took another couple of wickets, clean bowling a couple of the middle order, Shipman took one more and Morley also rattled a set of stumps in the second over of his spell.

So, let me make this quite clear, just in case you hadn't put it all together. Penton got 4 wickets. IN ONE MATCH ! That would be 7 wickets in two games! You've got to be kidding! The bloke couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo for the first three games. But there you go... (oh I do enjoy writing these things).

Anyway, with the Thornton skipper and his Dad at the crease, things got slightly painful with both Kelb's knowing that one more wicket would lose them the game. (They only had 10 players and the last man in is ALWAYS out for a duck every week). So, as crap as it was, they did all they could do NOT to lose the match and shut up shop.

Game over and a winning draw to Burton. It doesn't sound great, but it was 19 points and if you managed that every week, you'd probably win the league by some margin.

Next week... nothing, as Towles Fields is in use for the Burton Village Fete. The home match v Broughton Astley will now be played the following weekend on the SUNDAY 25th of June.

Grant Penton - 11th June 2006

BURTON MATCH STATS

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