Game 10: 2nd XI vs Winterbourne 1st XI, Away

The skipper returns for another match report after removing his head from hands for a 3rd straight week. Why do it the easy way...

Winter(bourne) is coming.

The week had begun well. Cox had fought a car and lost so was unavailable...Hunt had fought Jonah and lost so was unavailable...Lord had fought a copper and drawn but was available.

Who's the idiot in there?

Needing an edge with some of the team in jail and the rest in A&E we turned to spying.

It was super spy Spunk who was chosen to infiltrate the Winterbourne camp. In itself, a classically contrarian Bristol decision. A blue badge holder, taller than many trees and as subtle as Pointon approaching a Kiwi cricketer on a nightout Spink is not best equipped for the demands of espionage.

But our very own cheese string completed his mission. His report 'they are at full strength and seamers will go for runs'.

Insightful stuff.

Bristol too had a decent side on paper.

For the first time in living memory Bristol had 4 genuine seamers if you include Manders.

The Doc was handed his debut and both Probes and Redwood were promoted from the 1s.

On a scorcher of a day the onus was once again on the skipper to win the toss and bat.

Bristol bowled first and things looked ominous when Taylor struck his first ball sweetly down the ground for four. The Doc then shook off the damage that had been done in a car journey with Redwood and trapped Taylor infront. 9-1 off the first.

Probert T opened from the other end and he too started well. I think with a maiden but I can't remember fully.

The pair worked well together and the second breakthrough was made by Probert. 13-2. Very good.

Winterbourne advanced to 40-2 off 10 before Spunk - spy-cum-cricket - nicked Trotman off. The ball sadly falling short of Roger 'the salmon' Sillence at slip. The momentum was shifting the way of Winterbourne and Bristol needed a hero. A game changer.

Without one we resorted to Manders. First ball was a full bunger. Second a long hop which Slade patted back. Third a vicious bouncer which slade pulled on the way back down straight to the well positioned Brown at deep square leg. What's the saying about shit and wickets?

Winterbourne did some more batting before Andy Du Frey or Michal Lord got one to scoot low and hit Trotman infront. In a rather bizarre turn of events Trotman appeared to review the decision. The review was unsuccessful.

Things then got weird.

At 70-4 a left handed batter came out. That bit wasn't weird. What followed was. About 8 balls in to his innings his back went to pieces. He went off for about 15 minutes and requested a runner. Not realising it was the umpires say and the laws of cricket our skipper refused. The invalid then began to pepper the boundary ball after ball. He went beserk in a way that belied the state of his tattered back.

Very annoying.

On fifty Jones got him. A ball that took the under edge and was quite brilliantly caught by our (to quote an onlooker) 'master gloveman'.

All this time Redwood had become a leather magnet. I'd just like to take the chance to thank WD40 for their help in getting him through it.

Bracey and their skipper batted well before Lord claimed the wicket of their captain as things looked ominous. Winterboune had been well placed on 170-5 with 17 to go.

Manders took the 7th wicket to fall. Unusually pitching it up. The batter was bowled playing a premeditated pull shot having seen the short heat Manders was bowling earlier.

A new left hander came and went quickly. Elegantly stumped. One onlooker described the stumping as 'world class'. His opinion not mine.

Bracey though batted superbly and took a liking to Manders. Thank god we've got a Bracey of our own. Patel eventually did for him with a short wide ball that was slammed to Lord at Point. The innings was closed by evergreen Brown who got one lofted to mid off.

Winterbourne closed on 225 ao off 46. A sterling effort from Bristol. 4 wides, no no ball. Lord the pick of the bowlers finishing with figures of 10 overs 3-43.

Tea was met with glee.

After tea a quick team talk got the minds reset on the task in hand. Roger spoke as if a Lion. He placed the emphasis on the top 4 getting the job done.

Roger was batting 5.

It began well. Spink carted their bowlers to all parts before being adjudged LBW.

Brown joined Osman for - what would become - a record second team second wicket stand.

Osman had started slowly. Giving every fielder a quick go at stopping the ball. He then decided to miss the fielders. No flies on that man.

It really was rather special.

Lara Brown played an array of delightful shots down the ground and square on the offside.

They ran well and played risk-free cricket. 146 runs later Osman was caught after a superb 74.

Brown continued on joined by the reluctant Redwood. They looked imperious during a partnership of 10. The partnership ended when Redwood clipped to midwicket on 1.

Enter the bear. He started well and looked the man to see us home. Even after Brown was caught behind with the score on 204-4 for a brilliant 80.

So relaxed were the Bristol 2s that Manders and Jones were busy working out in the outdoor gym whilst posted on the screens.

Disaster though. 204-4 became 204-5 when Bear was bowled. 204-6 when Lord gave catching practice.

Everyone was thinking it. I'm just writing it.

'Surely we can't lose. But this is Bristol, of course we can.'

207-7. Run out.

213-8. Run out.

214-9. In form Jones LBW.

It was left to Manders and Box. Many had already given up. Box's first three balls saw a play and miss and two appeals.

11 needed. Two from the penultimate over.

9 needed from the last. Leech on strike.

Pre-mediated paddle (during which he slipped) went for four.

5 needed.

Dot ball...Leech hits it to the best fielder in the Universe and dummies to run. A runout appeal but not given. Manders bat was out but his nose was in.

#beaknotbat

Down the wicket and kicked for 1.

4 needed from 3. Manders on strike.

Knock it for two Richard. Please Richard. Nothing mental.

The ball began its journey...the world's heaviest bat was raised...it was outside offstump. F*%^ Manders will have to go offside.

The inner withers came out - 'I've a double hundred against the Stephen Hawking XI you know' - The discount viscount heaved the blade forward and the ball soared skyward.

Manders you fool the man is back!

But the ball kept going. Kept rising moving past the noses gravitational pull with incredible effort.

Six. The crowd went mental. Manders had done it again.

Four in a row now for the twos. Much more work to be done. But a great game and nice to win a close one.