Little Bardfield Village CC vs. Great Bromley District CC

Date: 25th May 2024

Venue: 

• Original - Great Bromley 
• Moved to - Fortress Bardfield

Toss: Great Bromley won the toss and chose to bat first.

In a reduced overs match that saw an unexpected change of venue, Little Bardfield Village Cricket Club emerged victorious over Great Bromley District Cricket Club.

The day began with Little Bardfield travelling to Great Bromley hoping to bounce back after the previous weeks disappointing performance against Nacton. Spirits were high as the players crawled their way along the typically slow, yet sun drenched A12, that was until the dreaded message arrived on the group chat. Jack Davies – I've arrived, there's nobody here and its pissing down…surely not, blue skies in all directions. Jack must be mistaken. 

In fact Jack was mistaken as he was sitting in the wrong car park on his own but his weather assessment was spot on. As the rest of the Bardfield team arrived, each in their own inappropriately summery outfit, they joined the shivering group taking shelter under the pavilion awning struggling to comprehend how the weather could be so different to where their journey had begun.

Eventually the rained eased enough for a pitch assessment – it was really wet. Both umpires agreed there would be no play at Great Bromley that day and the players could be released to enjoy day of England T20 and/or the FA Cup Final (won in spectacular fashion by the greatest team in the world, Manchester United). However, before a suitable pub could be agreed on Bardfield's Captain Rory Hitchcock through a curveball to umpires and opposition – it's sunny at our ground, we could all go there?! Bardfield's groundsman/top order batter/resident veteran agreed we had a pitch ready (enough) to play on. Bromley, not wanting to give up on 20 points, were very receptive to the idea and agreed. The umpires, not wanting to give up on an early finish, were less keen, but also agreed. Decision made, and the convoys set off for Fortress Bardfield.

Unfortunately both umpires were unable to navigate the journey to Bardfield and made independent phone calls offering their apologies en route but the teams persisted. A few stray journeys allowed the time needed to get the pitch ready and a 25 over game was agreed to begin at 3.30pm. Great Bromley won the toss and decided to bat first. Game on.

Bromley's innings got off to a shaky start with Michael Griffin (6) falling early to the Graham duo, bowled Matt, caught Tom. Griffin was soon followed by Brandom Carter (5) with Mohammad Khan taking his first wicket for the Oxslips, caught by Will Slemmings at gully. When Matt bowled Jack Lenno for 11 soon after, the score was 33-3 and Bardfield were happy with their start.

This brought Joe Earley to the crease who, along with opening batter Adam Cuthbert, set about steadying the ship. Wicketless spells from Slemmings (5 overs for 20 runs) and Hitchcock (3 overs for 12) meant the score moved to 85-3 before Cuthbert (28) was trapped lbw by Tom Graham and Earley (25) fell to Bardfield debutant Muhammad Shehzad. During the excitement Jack Davies managed to pull a muscle and was carried to the bar for an early finish. Whilst the rest of the fielders looked on in jealousy attentions turned as he crossed paths with a familiar bearded character on the boundary edge. Peter Bray, having played at the club since under 12s but selfishly moved to Australia to start a family in recent years, agreed to join as sub fielder.

From here wickets continued to fall as Bromley struggled to build momentum and Bray even appeared to have been practicing in his time away from the club with a smartly taken catch on the boundary. The away team finished their 25 overs with 134 for 9. Matt Graham finishing with four wickets for 30 runs from his 5 overs, Tom 2 wickets for 18 from 5 overs, Shehzad 2 wickets for 19 from three overs and Khan 1 wicket for 31 runs from 4 overs.

Bardfield's limited over experiment didn't go well, losing Khan early for 4 but this brought the usual opening pair together who moved the score along quickly to 72 to before Matt Graham (39) fell to a quick reaction catch by Earley at backward square leg. Callum Hymas added 15 before charging down the wicket and being stumped – an outcome he later reported to be inevitable. Scoring was slowing and suddenly the over rate was coming into play again. When Daryl Hymas (6) was bowled Bardfield still needed 30 runs from 6 overs. Joe Owen (5) tried to move the score along but was caught in the deep, 109-5. Slemmings joined Hitchcock and the pair ran well between the wickets, bringing the score towards its target. Hitchcock (50*) reached his half century in the 23rd over and Slemmings (12*) hit the final runs with his only 4 of the game as Bardfield reached their target from 22.4 overs.

19 much needed points for Little Bardfield in an unusual game that saw the club's second away game to be played at home this year and a catch from a player everyone had woken to assume was still on the other side of the planet. A game played in good spirit and an incredibly commendable attitude from Great Bromley and District CC for making the effort to get the game on, taking on a voluntary 2 hour round trip when it would have been far easier to call it off! Notable bowling figures from Ankush Jagota (3 wickets, 5 overs, 21 runs) and Joe Earley (2 wickets, 5 overs, 16 runs).

Next week Walsham le Willow CC visit Fortress Bardfield where the boys will hope to continue their one game winning streak.