A few weeks ago we played Billesdon at their place, we knocked their top order over, we knocked their middle-order over and got bombed out by their late order batting insurance. Today it happened again, in spades.
Having lost the toss (a given) and being invited to field Fleckney tore into their opponents and had them 118 for 8. Yes, the scoreboard was ticking over quickly and yes the fat keeper come captain was struggling to stop a (metaphorically) extremely large pig in the proverbial passage but it was a start of note . Will Savory was hitting the gloves hard with his left-arm pace, Sam Baverstock guesting from Great Glen was similarly slippery whilst the Yak tempted the visitors with his wiles on his way to a four-wicket haul. Unfortunately, at this point, the party train got directed into a siding and stayed there.
One more wicket would have blown it open...maybe...but it never came and the score went from the aforementioned 118 to a positively towering 256. Never in the field of Billesdon cricket has so much been owed by so many to so few....since last time.
Like an ageing petrol mower, the reply struggled to get started. Mike Dunkley hit the first ball for four but was reaching for the shower gel two balls later, Brij dropped anchor well but was struggling for meaningful support. It should be mentioned and thankfully acknowledged that Chris Hill walked the first ball faced when even the fielding side wasn't that interested.
The innings however sadly subsided like an airbed let down by a mischievous boy scout and when the skipper was dismissed for the first time this season with 7 to his name Fleckney was all out for 126.
Now might be the time for another what-if sob story but the path there has been well-trodden this year. Instead, we will say well done to our opponents, wish them well for the rest of the year and try to see if Clarke Kent fancies a game next time out.