It's a Walk-er Over

F.V.C.C. V Peterborough CAMRA

Carlsberg don't do Sunday Cricket but if they did….. a real ale team probably wouldn't be interested. Either that or they would provide a game like today. Perfect weather, amicable opposition and top quality badinage.

It's always nice to offer a debut and this time it was Imran Esmail and he seemed instantly a player in the Fleckney mould. Seasoned, affable, flashes of talent and a firm commitment to not taking it too seriously. Indeed his sporting nature was evident when he made for the pavillion when the opponent hadn't even caught the ball. Two balls later he made the same journey but this time with the crucial difference of bat having hit ball.

New was replaced with the more recognised sight of Brij Barot. A few balls into his knock he eyed a delivery with width. Perhaps he thought he was waving his weapon like the three musketeers but the execution was more like three blind mice. He played on and Fleckney reached drinks at 99 for 2.

A platform was set but momentum was gradually lost rather than built upon. Mike Dunkley (58) was caught on the boundary, the Yak fell for 48 and then it was a succession of cameos that took Fleckney to 181 at tea. A reasonable score but perhaps 30 short. Congrats to skipper Sainsbury and Bradbury for their tight bowling.

The visitors reply centred around opening bat Mike Walker, same name as a former football manager but with twangs of Jack Whitehall in person. Lovely bloke but that's a genetic splice that blows your head apart.

Anyway Mike, or was it Jack, had apparently come into the season with an average of 5. He had though obviously either netted like a demon over the Winter,taken some kind of biffage elixir or found a cheat code as he bashed his way to a maiden century. Most importantly congrats from all at Fleckney on this milestone and we hope it's the first of many (although maybe not against us) however….

With his score on 48 he heaved one up in the air off Gobshites bowling and Twinkle trundled underneath it. On line in play bookies probably had the fielder as favourite although cherry hitting dirt couldn't be discounted. However in an event that would make a “What Happened Next?” Round on a Question of Sport as ball burst through hands, smashed into cheek leaving a trace of claret and then hit grass.

It is a little known fact that Al Capone (commonly known as Scarface) was finally jailed for tax evasion rather than any gangland activity. Andy Twinkle, Claw, Mole , Dwarf Brother, Custard Tit, Scarface, Loomes should be jailed however for decking the chance that allowed Mike, or is it Jack, to hit his milestone. Too many names now, this is getting seriously confusing.

A few late wickets did allow a semblance of respectability as CAMRA trotted home with 7 overs to spare but it had been a truly lovely match. The fat keeper got a couple of stumpings,heck the Skipper had even turned a couple. It had been a rare old day.

Good luck CAMRA for the rest of the season. Nice club, nice people. As for Fleckney, its either catching practice or mandatory fielding helmets.