Cricket Match Report - Barbados 2009
Following a few days' speculation as to possible former internationals in the Barbados side, it was a somewhat relieved Abbey Wood team representing the South West when they discovered Barbados police had merely selected the 6 biggest cricketers they could find to make up their team. On winning the toss, Barbados elected to bat on an unsurprisingly warm and humid afternoon with a pitch that looked hard and true at the historic Wanderers Cricket Ground.
Following a brief discussion with the umpires to establish where exactly the boundary was, Abbey Wood started brightly with the new ball pair of Chris Bell and Paul Drennen bowling tightly. The first opportunity of a wicket fell to Bell who failed to hit the stumps with a run out chance in the first over, a miss that was to prove costly as the innings wore on. Drennen even elected to test the middle of the pitch, in an unwise move of trying to intimidate the home batsmen. The introduction of spin accelerated the scoring rate however, as Mark Biggs (he probably had his hair in his eyes) and Jamie Lavender both saw their bowling clear the ropes, although an over from Dave Ingram inbetween kept a lid on the scoring. Finally, the breakthrough came when Lavender beat batsman, stumps and wicketkeeper only to see wicketkeeper, Darren Reeby retrieve the ball and run out one of the openers with a direct hit from 30 yards. (Note: it may have been 20 yards, but time always has an effect of making things more impressive.)
At the halfway stage, Barbados had reached 66/1. Biggs's second over saw him claim the wicket of the number 3, smartly caught by Ingram running in from the long on boundary before the unfortunate Lavender took some more punishment. Drennen returned to finally dismiss the remaining opener, having survived the early run out chance, for an excellent 54 by sending his off stump cart wheeling 15 yards behind him. Chris Bell produced a fine penultimate over before Ingram and Reeby combined to pick up a stumping and a run out in the final over. This left Barbados on a healthy, but not insurmountable 123/5.
Following a large amount of water, the Abbey Wood openers began at a promising pace with Reeby smashing the first ball for 4 and 16 coming from the first over. Mark Biggs soon found his touch and the pair moved the score on to 55/0 at the halfway stage although, by this point, the conditions were starting to take effect. The heat and humidity, coupled with a large number of 1s and 2s being run, meant both batsmen began to tire and subsequently the scoring rate slowed. Reeby was caught for 19, bringing Drennen to the crease who, after a watchful couple of balls, reignited Abbey Wood's hopes by launching the biggest 6 of day onto the roof of the pavilion. (This has not been exaggerated!)
Unfortunately, the Bajans still had some more in the tank and smart, accurate bowling prevented the batsmen getting the boundaries they required in the final overs to get the run rate up. This, coupled with a painful blow to a delicate area (yes, where you first thought of!) for Biggs in the final over, Abbey Wood eventually fell 19 runs short of the target. Biggs finished undefeated on 44 (albeit in a little pain from that 'blow') and Drennen on 12. Following the traditional photos, a few sociable drinks were exchanged - notably a very strong, homemade, peach-flavoured shot, which was handed out by the victorious home team (in somewhat generous amounts) while everyone settled down to watch the Rounders team in action to finish off a fine day, only slightly tempered by the result.
Match Details
South West Team:
Dave Ingram (capt)
Darren Reeby (wk)
Mark Biggs
Paul Drennen
Chris Bell
Jamie Lavender
7th Man: Andy Somerville
Scorers: Dave and Lyn Richardson
Barbados 123/5
Chris Bell 2-0-21-0
Paul Drennen 2-0-17-1
Mark Biggs 2-0-27-1
Dave Ingram 2-0-23-1
Jamie Lavender 2-30-0
South West (ABW) 104/1
Darren Reeby 19
Mark Biggs 44 not out
Paul Drennen 12 not out
Barbados win by 19 runs.
Dave Ingram
Congratulations to the team!
