Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Phew - What a Scorcher! Bevan bashes Bosherston in historic second tour win
A weekend of Welsh tour betrayal and treachery was completed at around 7pm on Sunday as Selfish Batter steered Cincinnati to a memorable victory - by crushing the side that nurtured him.
Only 24 hours earlier, Selfish - deserting Cincers to bat for his original home side of Bosherston and Stackpole - had snatched victory from us with a last-over cameo of a four and a six.
"Croeso gartref - welcome home!" cheered BSCC. In vain.
Selfish doesn't speak the language of his fathers and promptly defected back to Cincers for the Sunday game at BSCC's gorgeous home ground at Stackpole.
Worse, he notched up his highest ever score - a chanceless 136 not out to lead us over the line after a generous declaration from BSCC skipper Richard MacKay.
BSCC batted first on a blisteringly hot day in a 35-over contest and quickly set a hot pace to match - despite tight, sharp bowling from Big Jim at one end which earned him a second over wicket.
Max started well at the other end but BSCC's intentions rapidly became clear - whack it!
Enter the Honey Monster's cousin - Huw Cox, with some of the hardest straight hitting yet inflicted on Cincers (for the record, the Honey Monster in Galway last year preferred mid-wicket, about a mile over it from the Skip's 'spinners').
Max's third over went for 21, including five fours, after which the bowler promptly resigned from his spell.
"You're on next - Max's has abdicated," the Skipper told Test Match.
Sadly, it was still crash helmet order at long off and long on as Huw - assisted by opener Alan Webster - proceeded to knock the leather off the ball and wreck one bat in the process.
Catches were spilled as Cincers wilted until Adam woke up at cover to catch BSCC's skip for a duck off Selfish's medium pacers.
Next over, Adam woke up again to juggle, sorry, snaffle another catch to slow the onslaught.
No respite, though, as Huw - now aided by hard-hitting number six J. Williams - bashed on regardless, surviving the odd chance and scare.
Bravely, the Chairman took the ball from the Skip, provoked a chance that went down and suffered a fearful battering from the escapee.
But what's this? Over the hill came the 7th Meerkat Cavalry in the shape of former Chairman Rockie's inswingers and Max's massive hands at deep, deep, mid-wicket.
The Mighty Max took three excellent catches, including despatching Huw for 83. Tragically, a Kerrygold-sponsored drop at square leg by, er, the Skip, may have denied Rockie his first ever five-for as he went to bag a fourth wicket.
Rockie finished with an astonishing four for 14 off five overs while Big Jim sent down seven, one for 20.
Will, donning the gloves for the second day running, put in his best performance yet with behind the stumps.
Why, he even took a stumping off a flighted leggie offering from the Skip.
BSCC declared at 220 for nine off 30 overs - with, under Pembrokeshire league rules, Cincers getting the unused overs.
So, our target was 221 from 40.
A banquet of a tea followed before Selfish and Test Match strode to the crease to begin the reply.
An Australian-style arc of slips greeted Selfish's first ball - a wide sent down by the BSCC skip and the cordon promptly relaxed.
Test Match started watchfully - "could you move that dairy herd, please?" - as Selfish gradually opened up on the pitch of his youth.
One major alarm came when bowler Webster deflected a return drive from Selfish on to the non-striker's stumps. The Skip, umpiring, gave it "Not Out" - to the thinly-disguised - well, not disguised at all - disbelief of BSCC.
Ash - fielding for the oppo (I refuse to mention, Ash, that you hit me for a four, by the way, when batting for BSCC) - won plaudits from the home side for his dives which for once involved stopping the ball.
Eventually, Test Match succumbed to an extravagantly-turning off-spinner from Webster to depart for 28 but not before he and Selfish had racked up another century partnership.
A quick cameo came from Dan - he was caught at first slip by Frank fielding for the oppo after BSCC skip Richard was carried off injured. Will also chipped in quick runs.
Selfish ploughed on to an historic 136 not out and an equally historic tour win for Cincers off 37 overs - our second tour triumph in a year.
A great end to a great tour, formally marked at the Stackpole Inn where Max was named Fielder of the Tour and Rockie got Player of the Tour.
Well, we can't let Selfish win everything, can we?
* Picture caption: In his pomp - Selfish prepares for another boundary on home turf.
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