Ley Hill 3rds v Phoenix Old Boys on Saturday 23 June 

A comprehensive Ley Hill CC day this one; my day started with a pitch inspection at 8.45am at Bellingdon and a departure from the club’s 60^th anniversary celebrations at about 2am the next day, with pretty much non-stop CC activity in between, including a match against our old friends from Phoenix! What was yours like?! 

With Hill’s lads anxious for an early finish so that they could have plenty of time to tart themselves up for the evening ball, Phoenix very kindly agreed to a 12.30 start. Having examined ‘umpteen weather forecasts we decided to set out on a 35 over match, with an agreement to truncate it to 30 if rain interrupted. With Phoenix a few men short early on the toss was somewhat academic and I put them in, possibly against my better judgment!    

Their opening batsmen set off as if they were still playing the 10 over competition of a few weeks ago, but with Bellingdon’s ‘lush’ outfield precluding virtually everything bar singles Phoenix were soon rattling along at the relatively alarming rate of 3 an over; not bad for a soggy Bellingdon. 

Wickets started to fall eventually, three of them to Paul Green (one of them to a notable stumping by Jim), and one each to Terry, Talib, Hitesh and Steve Bell, who also took two good catches. With a run out thrown in the Phoenix innings closed on 119 for 8, which would probably take some getting.  

Sam Martin (no idea why I called him Sam Wilson last week) very kindly provided tea, which was memorable for the complete absence of butter or similar due to a misunderstanding over what the club provides and what it does not. (For future reference guys we have squash, tea and sugar; everything else is down to the tea-maker). Se we all ate very healthily as a result! The ‘French bread’ DIY option patented by one David Mortimer is proving very popular but it would help if we had access to the village hall knives! 

Mind you, watching the pedestrian start to our innings it was probably best that there were no knives around! Phoenix bowled tightly on a friendly wicket and runs were very hard to come by. With our run rate at barely 1.5 after about 12 overs though suddenly Leigh Dale hit a huge six over the hedge and on to the Bellingdon Road; certainly the first I have ever seen clear the ground’s perimeter on that side. A fruitless search for the ball meant we had to find another and, you’ve guessed it, he was bowled next ball!! Apparently he had a fly in his eye!  

Sadly however Leigh’s six was a one off and with Ian Peplow propping up one end, unfortunately our other potential big hitters (Steve, Hitesh and Talib) all fell by the wayside cheaply and when yours truly joined the fray we were 56 for 6 after no less than 27 overs! Despite the best efforts of the two Ians it proved a lost cause and we closed on 96 for 8, with Peplow undefeated on 29 and Walter surrendering to a grotesque last-ditch heave for 20. 

Hardly cricket to bring in the crowds, but who cares; we managed 35 overs each foiling the weather gods in the process and were in  the mood set for a bit of a do in the evening. 

The ball surpassed expectations and a fantastic time was had by one and all. It was not said on the night but on behalf of everyone who attended, many thanks to those that made it happen, notably from my observations Robin Carr, Denis McCarthy and Paul Green, all of whom seemed to be camping at the club all weekend.