Charlton Down Cricket Club

Abbotsbury v Charlton Down

 22 July 2008

The case of the angry dog and a feast full of runs.

CDCC hit loads of runs, conceded loads of runs, but won by 10 runs in an entertaining game at Abbotsbury.

Beautiful evening, weather and ground, and off go the big Andy’s in their usual way. Skip bonking, Smithy lovely shots but can’t hit a four. Skip out for 49 – lots of jug avoidance and then Smithy for 20.

Enter Ed E-S who starts to blast the ball in all directions. Good support from Matt but its Ed E-S who has everyone ducking and diving, including one very angry little dog who is almost hit by an enormous shot for six.

Abbotsbury fielder is heard to remark that Ed E-S is the best batsman on the field. Fair chance he is right because you can only have two batsman on the field at any one time – der!

Ed nearing a century in only 13 overs is caught for a magnificent 94. CDCC 183-5 wickets.

Surely CDCC can’t concede that number of runs!

We all troop out in our hats, needed for the low sun. Very smart, except for Greg whose white hat looks more ‘painter and decorator’ than ‘cricket’. If you want to keep the sun out of your eyes Greg the peak needs to at the front not the back!

Rich Fagence bowls the first ball and one of those cricketing freak events occurs, old Smithy leaps like a salmon and takes the catch.

Abbotsbury then take a liking to the bowling and keep up with the enormous run rate. Nearby sheep get hit and that angry dog gets another six hit in his direction. Chris Rickard doing the dog diplomacy in retrieving the ball.

Jesus and Will get some wickets and CDCC look favourites. The field is widely spread with Rudo doing a fair impression of a cross country runner as he moves between deep square leg positions at opposite sides of the ground.

Skip plays the game hard by bringing on Ed who is too quick and accurate for Abbotsbury.

Last over, 24 needed and Skip offers Marky Marky the ball, he refuses on the grounds that he might not be able concede less than 24! Jesus does the business and wraps the game up for CDCC.

Off to the pub to talk allotments and shed opening ceremonies.

‘John Arlott’