Telling Tails — Ravens vs East Garston
As many of us said on Thursday 'why was this game not recorded?'. It was so jam packed with high-giggle-moments that we could have played this one game back at the end of season and everyone would have been glued to it.
Such was the hilarity, most of it you wouldn't believe to be true. Some I can't recall, and as such, some you'll need to chat to those who were there to hear their first-hand accounts.
We had countless run out opportunities, but it took the cool head of Euan to finally see one in.
East Garston arrived in great spirits. As our first T20 back in 2024 and a game which went down to the last ball, we knew it was likely it would be competitive. They brought beers too, legends! Sean was on the pen, not sure how we scored anything with all the laughter we provided on the grass, but nevertheless a legend for heading down to help out whilst recovering from Sunday’s elbow whack.
They opened the batting simply due to the number they had running late. And on an overcast evening we got underway. As I opened the bowling, Jamie was keeping wicket... Nick on route, good job I called him... 50p. Charlie not long behind either after a manic day at work, solid effort to both for getting involved when their mind was elsewhere.
With Warwick pairing up with yours truly, East Garston didn't get off to a flyer, so much so that it was the 9th over before they really go going... and with it came the first wicket off Sam's bowling. Myself, Warwick, Euan and Laurence bowling good lines with enough variation to unsettle the batsmen. Maybe it was nerves for Lee (Franklin) on his first game at Ramsbury (the Hungerford captain, is a face we'll see return to the Recreation Ground of Dreams later in the season when we take on his 'parent club'), maybe it was the overcast conditions or the variation in bounce on the pitch, whatever it was, we felt we had them contained. At the halfway point we had them around 50 runs... but we all know teams push on in the second half and they had wickets in hand too.
By this point, I'd missed a catch... didn't even touch it, literally just missed the ball entirely. One went beyond the reach of Sam, Gray stopped/dropped on at short range, Harry broke his finger and we'd missed about 5 run outs.
The best of the lot came at the other end though... as the umpire nearly signalled wide, a toe-ended drive was 'stopped', or shall we say 'dropped' in an almost carbon copy of a catch I'd taken in the previous over. With Charlie stood somewhere in the general proximity of the wickets at the bowlers end, Nick found himself at his end (now with the gloves on) with two batters alongside him. I could have picked up the ball (post my drop/stop) and simply walked to the stumps to run the batter out. But nope, I casually rolled the ball past the stumps, Charlie's mind was in a different postcode, so Jamie followed up, threw it back, which also missed the stumps, by which point the batter had had enough time to catch a local bus back to the non-strikers end. Suffice to say he survived, but our dignity did not... much to the joy of the onlooking supporters who were enjoying a good giggle along with the rest of those on the pitch.
But thats T20 cricket, with batters trying to pinch runs brings in those rushed, frantic decisions in the field. Some people shouting 'bowlers end' with others screaming 'keeper!'... both of which are probably correct. The key is sticking to a plan, acting fast and going on your gut. Eventually it pays off, and it did as we grabbed a couple of run outs towards the middle-end of East Garston's innings.
Big moments within the 20 overs... Charlie bowled beautifully, Harry caught one in the deep with a broken finger, and bowled with it too. Jamie took 3 wickets in 2 overs, and neither Euan or Gray saw the ball reach the boundary during their spells... in the case of Gray that worked both ways... more to follow on that.
East Garston ended at the break 154/7.
We opened with Laurence and Gray. A new pairing up top. Laurence smashed 28 in 10 shots, leaving for a beer within 4 overs. Whilst Gray decided to stick around a while. Charlie went swinging, connecting with one to flick it away for a beautiful mid-wicket boundary before going after a straight one which saw him follow in Laurence's footsteps. I entered the fold, grabbing a few quick boundaries and then two 2s back-to-back ,which ensured I was panting for sometime afterwards. Gray, well, he continued to find the fielders with beautiful shots for 1, eventually retiring on 26 and truly EXHAUSTED! A sterling effort to avoid the boundary, and run all 26 runs to retirement.
Its been a journey taking on a captains role in a team full of talented individuals who would be far more qualified to sit in the same position. But, it's a journey I've loved and I always try to play the game how I'd like others to play and lead by example (within my skillset), especially within the T20 format. On Thursday, though, my attacking, pushing, single-grabbing nature got the better of me. Gray, looking for the boundary, smashed one back at the bowler, who stop/dropped it, only to easily knock the bails off and run me out. However, I left the field happy. That kind of occurrence is rare and is the small risk when playing attacking cricket with strong backing-up. I'd rather that, than being run out because I wasn't off the mark quick enough!
Jamie, Harry and Sam all added vital runs to the total and just as East Garston put on a squeeze (of sorts) toward the end, Nick arrived to, well, nick the last few runs, beating wonderful, upbeat and well matched opposition with 8 balls to spare.
The Bell, beers, ciders, pork scratchings and chips. Lovely jubbly. This is post-work-mid-week-cricket and its beautiful. Both teams hit the pub, and I'm pleased to say we've bagged a return fixture at the Queens Arms in East Garston in July. Freddie, the landlord of the pub and team captain enjoys our company, and I look forward to us taking our upbeat vibes to their place.
A year ago we'd never played or met these guys and soon we'll have played them three times, with many more fixtures to come in the years ahead. Beyond proud to be part of this club. Long may the good things we're doing continue.
We face up against fight-ready opposition next week as we take on Leg Rovers, our oldest T20 rivals, who having been giving Harry plenty of stick for the last few months. Its expected they'll be putting out their strongest side as they're struggling with recent defeats to us.
Whatever happens, it will, no doubt, be a lot of fun!
See you out there!
Go well, cheers!