25^th June   Dukesmead       League 

The sun was shinning, the skies were blue and we were trying out another new ground.  Wycombe House was to host this local derby, and they put on a BBQ specially for us!  OK, so it might have been more for the hordes who were turning up to watch England take on Ecuador, but it did smell good. 

After our last clash in the cup, Dukesmead had something to prove.  Winning the toss, they put us in. Janice Fraser and Beth Morgan started off from where the batting had been left.  The first 6 coming in the first over – an almighty pull from Janice saw it sail over the fence and into the road – a few minutes were lost looking for it.  We settled down for an exciting afternoon.  It was a good job Janice and Beth were playing as well as they were, as finding new grounds is not something we’re good at!  The batting line up had a distinct look of makeshift about it as Sarah Bartlett was promoted to number 3 two minutes before the start of play, because a couple of our team were struggling with directions.  However, due to the patience and timing displayed by the openers, she needn’t have worried, by the time the first wicket fell, she was back down to number 5!  Anita ‘Meobs’ Thorose arriving and doing her best Darstly and Mutley impression over directions, but calming down sufficiently in time to replace Janice. Janice had looked good – positive running and some real powerplay shots, before she was adjudged LBW. 

Unfortunately for Meobs, it wasn’t to be her day with the bat. Too much World Cup watching had slowed her feet down to such an extent that she was unable to kick the ball away, and could only look on in horror, as the ball trickled back and just about dislodged one bail. The dressing room was evacuated as she made her way back, head bowed.  With Beth looking like a well oiled machine, Barts went out to join her Captain, and the pair showed a glimpse of what we would all love to see becoming a consistent part of our batting repertoire this season.  They moved almost effortlessly to 100, then 150, then 200 as they found the spaces at will, and punished the bad ball.  Confident and commanding batting normally inspires more than its fair share of bad balls, and so it was with these two.  Beth looking at her elegant best, and Barts alternating between straight drives - lofted and along the ground.  The Dukesmead girls were beginning to flag, and we began counting in earnest, walking runs round the boundary as Beth edged nearer her fist century.  Two cracking 4’s and the finishing line was in sight.  However, that’s where the story ends – having spent the best part of 35 overs using her feet to get down the track, she was finally beaten in the flight and stumped….on 99!  How’s  your luck! 

As so often happens when a long partnership is broken, another wicket quickly follows.  So it was, Barts following her Captain into the changing room for a season best of 64. The changing room was pretty packed by this time, as a number of lower order batsmen were frantically discarding shorts and vests, for whites and pads – nothing like a rush of wickets to wipe away the confidence!  Debbie Stock, much to the teams pleasure decided that anything the young ones can do, the more mature can do just as well.  A typical quick fire 53, including 12 in her last 3 balls, put a smile on her face and brought up what is possibly a club record of 284 from 45 overs.  Dukesmead must be sick of the sight of our batsmen. 

An unprecedented 45mins for tea was decided upon – just happened to coincide with the first half of England v Ecudaor, however, the tv reception was so poor that we decided to play on and listen to the crowds as an indication of how things were going.  Barts took the first over, and was on the spot form the off – however she was outdone by Bethie – first ball removed Sherina Butler, 5^th ball Sarah Trinder.  1 for 2 from 2, couldn’t ask for a better start!  A hostile 12 overs during which time Barts was almost unplayable saw Dukesmaed really struggling to lay bat on ball.  Behind the stumps, what she missed out on with the bat, Meobs was making up for with the gloves – greased lightening would come a long way second to the speed of her glove work.  If she decides to take it up seriously, she’d give the currant England encumberant a run for her money! 

Danni Warren was brought on, and the change of pace saw the third wicket fall.  Leonie Shields replaced Barts, and had them swinging and missing all over the place.  It wasn’t long before Katherine Winks fell to a well taken catch by Beth, and we were really on a roll.  Alex Cram was trying to force the runs – dispatching a few to the boundary, but it wasn’t long before she fell to the old combo of bowled Stockie stumped Thorose.  Meobs had a split second to remove the bails, as Crammy brought her foot back down into her crease, and that was double the amount of time she needed.  Dukemsead were really on the ropes now, and it was just a rush to get them out as quickly as possibly.  Keely Juster was brought on to try to tempt them, tossing the ball up for all she was worth, but canny Lorraine Bedborough was having none of it.  At the other end, Stockie was amusing the umpire with strange noises, and picked up a couple more wickets – a smart catch by Emma Jones at slip being particularly impressive. Almost as impressive as the cheers which told us Beckham had scored. This was confirmed by Emma’s number one fan.  The 15 of us out in the middle jumped up and down shouting and cheering – nothing like a big sporting occasion to make people act silly.