Captain’s Report
On a cloudy and breezy but mostly warmish afternoon Wilcot welcomed a mixed team of youth and experience from old rivals Beckington. Peter Williams had once again prepared an excellent wicket which had been covered since the previous Thursday but the recent showers had penetrated the covers short of a length at the canal end which potentially might offer assistance to the bowlers. Having called correctly, Beckington’s captain chose to bat.
The hardworking pair of Billy Flippance and Ash Elliott were chosen to take the new ball. Billy, bowling fast and accurately was the first to strike with a bizarre dismissal when the ball spiralled in the air off the bat, bounced and spun back to hit the stumps. Ash was the next to strike with a good catch by Doug Perrins at slip removing Beckington’s no 3 who had had the temerity to hit him for 6 earlier in the over. The score moved on to 63 before Billy struck again with another good catch from Tim Mister and then Luke Flippance and Doug Perrins took over the bowling, taking wickets at regular intervals and only R Foster who made 62 offered serious resistance. Ash was recalled and took the last two wickets in consecutive balls with the score on 141.
Linda Keepence produced another excellent tea, the first the Saturday side had enjoyed in the new pavilion. Egg, cheese and pickle, ham, chicken and prawn featured in the sandwich choice as well as a variety of cakes and savouries, which were enjoyed by all. Fortunately some mini sausages and pork pie pieces were left over for the late arrival of the hungry Godley dogs.
Wilcot’s openers featured our vicar Mark Windsor and the footsore Mark Oliver. The vicar in particular was in fine form and scored freely until he decided selflessly to give himself out amidst much confusion having gloved the ball to the keeper with the score on 62. Mark Oliver followed soon after and with Russ also falling quickly the score was suddenly 73 for 3 and the archives were being checked in order to establish when Wilcot had last won two matches in succession. The returning Steve Sadler steadied the ship aided by our Aussie Doug Perrins and Tim Mister finished the job with some belligerent hitting in order to avoid running with loud shouts of no sending Wilson scuttling back and disturbing any spectators’ reverie.
My reader will be pleased to hear that I rushed back from a jolly dinner chez the Corbetts to post the result online and due to this sober alacrity, Wilcot sit at the top of the table as I write. The fact that none of the other results from yesterday have yet been posted is of course irrelevant. A good win nonetheless but featuring the inevitable Wilcot wobble to keep the spectators on their toes.
We travel to Marshfield next weekend, a place renowned for its bakery so hopefully we can look forward to another good tea.
Beckington 141 all out off 31.5 overs
Billy Flippance 9-5-19-2
Ash Elliott 6.5-2-27-3
Doug Perrins 9-2-42-3
Like Flippance 7-1-36-2
Extras 2 wides, 11 byes and 6 leg byes
Wilcot 143 for 5 off 28 overs
M Oliver lbw 30
M Windsor caught 39
S Sadler caught 25
R Spencer lbw 0
D Perrins caught 9
T Mister not out 30
W Saraj not out 0
A Elliott DNB
MFG DNB
B Filippance DNB
L Flippance DNB
Extras 9 wides, 1 no ball