The Waltons v BOTWCC 2nd XI
Saturday 30th May
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Burton set about their task with the kind of enthusiasm and vigor we'd come to expect in recent weeks. Yes, wickets fell all too easily.
But as time went on things settled down with very steady batting performances from Custard Headly and the ever improving Tom Shipman who was timing the ball well from the outset before falling to another ball that stayed low and walloped middle and off stumps. Custard made a season best 61 but it was not an innings without its moments. He was dropped a couple of times and he was extremely fortunate to place the ball into safe areas to avoid fielders. Nine lives indeed. Still, the score book says 61 and you have to admire his tenacity. Even though he'd given them so many chances he still kept on doggedly playing expansive shots and racking up the runs for his team.
Have been 32 for 3 after not too many overs, the Burton batters managed to get to a worthy 173 all out a few overs before before tea.
The second spell could and should have gone better but for a few unusual decisions. Openers Grunter and JC started well and gave nothing away with Grunter taking out the wild slogger of an opener that had one shot in his repertoire. A repertoire that didn't include defending the stumps.
After just half a dozen overs each, the openers were replaced by young Will Jones (yet to acquire a nickname, but no doubt one will surface at some stage soon) and John Shipman. Shippo (Birthday Boy as it happens) did his usual steady and effective spell and took a few wickets and Will, despite a few wild ones added a bit more pace to the attack.
But the overs kept ticking over and the runs kept being piled on. Treacle and Archer both had a go at bowling, one of which was effective and the end of the 45 overs was drawing closer. With just a couple of wickets needed Tom Shippo joined the party and helped out in that task but the final wicket eluded Burton Twos. So, a high scoring winning draw was snatched from the clutches of what should have been a simple victory.
Why? Its up to those there to decide why we didn't win the match against a team we were certainly much stronger than in all areas of the game. But for me (for what its worth) we might have made better use of the bowlers, certainly after about 30 overs or so when the runs were coming thick and fast and a couple of the Walton bats had gotten very settled. Equally, there were occasions where runs were too easy to make for the batsmen with the field placements. We live and learn. Hopefully.
There's no match next week as the game against Burbage is being played tomorrow (Sunday).
I'll give you the stats if I ever get them.