LILLEY (209-7, G, Tompkins 34) beat Steeple Morden (198-9, Ashby 3-28) by 11 runs
Lilley edged home as winners in a thrilling contest in blustery, damp conditions at picturesque Steeple Morden, despite a belligerent 83 from home batsman Bailey.
Lilley won the toss and batted in a strong wind, this time not from Ken Hammond’s backside. Openers Perry and Tomsett seemed comfortable with the Morden opening attack, but Perry got over ambitious against 11 year old J. Tidy, who bowled him for 15. The new ball attack was replaced with veteran Bailey and former Cambridgeshire all rounder Adams, a quick strong bowler. Too quick for Eyres, who, batting at three, was cleaned up with one which kept a tad low, although foot movement seemed the major problem.
Ashby’s wretched batting season continued, this time wracking up 4 before yorking himself, attempting to charge the medium pacer Bailey. Brad Tompkins and Tomsett (30) knuckled down and looked in good touch before the seasoned opener was bowled middle stump by the pacey Adams. Ken Hammond (6), fresh from being dismissed by a thirteen year old girl, went one better, being dismissed this week by a boy of just eleven! Child’s play…. A Tompkins feast was to follow, with both Brad and Gareth batting superbly in a super quickfire 61 partnership, before GT (34) played over a delivery as he attempted to smash it back to Luton.
Phil Clarke entered the melting pot and was soon stamping his authority on the game with a series of thunderous blows for four. The Clarkester was bowled by young Tidy, the eleven year old wonder boy, as he charged in somewhat generous fashion at one of the youngster’s deliveries, running all the way to the pavilion.
Enter Mik Carman, run-less this season until today, but a late order thrash saw him register an impressive 17 not out, with BT finishing 33 unbeaten, an overall score of 209-7.
Teas were the best of the year…awesome.
Onto the return effort, and the home side, chasing 210 to win, looked well off the pace. They had reached just 50 from the first 20 overs,as both Ashby and GT bowled well, GT picking up the two early wickets of Anderson (bowled, leg stump yorker) and Adams, caught and bowled. Perry (3-63) and Hammond (1-47) then took over proceedings, but found life very tough as Bailey and then Adams junior (he of Cambs fame) played some fine strokes and some, quite frankly, as fluky as fuck! Adams was dismissed with a textbook caught behind off Perry, but still Bailey plundered and threatened to turn a game Morden had never looked likely to win with a series of powerful boundaries.
With Hammond’s overs expired, Ashby came back into the attack and bowled Dix for 7. Crucially in his next over, he cart-wheeled Bailey’s middle stump as he attempted to keep Morden up with the improbable 9 runs per over required and then Tim Tidey was bowled in his final over, leaving Ashby with 3-28 and GT the prospect of bowling the last over with Morden needing 17 to win. Needless to say, the task was beyond Tidey junior and Osbourne and Lilley were winners by 11 runs in the failing light.
A good game, a great tea and somehow we got a whole game in, despite blustery conditions and a short break for rain.
