This game illustrated much that is great about cricket: a hot, cloudless afternoon, plenty of runs, wickets, twists and turns in a close game against friendly opposition, and a barrel load of beer afterwards. Lown did not endear himself to his team-mates by electing to field after winning the toss, resigning his men to an
afternoon’s
toil under a scorching sun, and Ley Hill lost their cool a bit as they grew
frustrated against some effective Bradenham batting. The day began well with
wickets for Craig Ottaway and Rob Thompson, but Bradenham consolidated their
innings and then launched an assault in the final overs that took them to 202
for 8, a good total on a track that offered encouragement to the bowlers. Sadly
the bowlers failed to take that encouragement, serving up a hearty buffet of
long hops and full tosses in the closing stages. Gary Helm (pictured) stemmed
the flow a little, though the lively left-arm paceman’s morale dipped after
receiving some flak from his team-mates on taking the field in a 1970s era
flower pot hat, which he soon exchanged for a cap. 
Ley
Hill started their reply steadily but surely, as the bobby dazzler Lown (right)
accumulated yet another cheap as chips fifty. The score reached 100 with only
one wicket down before Andy Rennard played on trying to force the pace. Helm,
promoted up the order after some feeble excuse about leaving early because of a
wedding anniversary, followed for a duck, but twenties from Martin Leadbitter
and Mark Curtis helped to keep the run rate down to five or six an over. The
Bronzed Adonis of Aylesbury then fell for 63, and with 30 needed from five overs
and wickets falling, the game was in the balance. But Ian Birkett then hit a
composed unbeaten 21 from just 12 balls as the shadows lengthened, and in
partnership with Rob Thompson he pushed the winning runs to raucous cheers from
the pavilion at ten past eight. A great day and a fine win! Bradenham: 202 for 8 (Ottaway 2 for 47, Thompson 2 for 35)
Ley Hill: 203 for 6 (Lown 63, Rennard 37)
Ley Hill won by four wickets
Man of the match: Jon Lown, for a composed fifty at the top of the innings to set up the run chase
Clown of the match: Jon Lown, for shelling another sitter in the field