Brucie performs two miracles

After a tumultuous week for UCC skippers to raise 4 teams for Saturday, I thought I should submit a report in order to thank the players and parents of some of the juniors who stepped in to ensure that we fulfilled the 4th XI fixture. So a big thankyou to Matt and Sophie Morris, Benjie Shiels, Will King and all the parents who not only agreed to their boys and girl playing, late on Friday night but also for transporting them to the game and providing vocal support throughout the afternoon.
Brucie won the toss and had no hesitation in asking the Burton skipper, Jordan Bailey to get his side ready to bat.
A usual mixture of experience ( Scraggy ) and youth ( Sol Turner ) opened the bowling attack and restricted Burton to less than 2 per over for the first 10 overs. South and Mason for Burton eventually put on 65 for the first wicket before the “aged imbiber” bowled South for 17 and then, after some ferocious hitting, had Mason yorked for 58. Sol bowled very tidily without success in his & overs and he was followed at the pavilion end by Will King, playing in his second senior game. Bowling with enthusiasm ( and appealing for everything ) he acquitted himself very well and was unlucky not to claim an LBW.
Scraggy having bowled his allotted 14 overs was replaced by Sophie Morris playing her first ever senior game. What a start!! Her bowling figures say it all, 15-1- 15-2 !!! Her first wicket was a family affair with Matt Morris taking an excellent catch at short cover and this was followed by bowling the bemused Barratt middles stump. She can be very proud of her debut for UCC.
The lack of depth in the bowling meant that the skipper, also known as Warwick Ide (W.Ide, think about it ), took over from Will at the pavilion end and somehow managed to bowl 12 overs and claiming 1 wicket. Sol returned to the attack and provided Tom Jones his first victim behind the stumps, getting Shaw out for 22. The Burton innings closed on 164 for 6, an excellent fielding performance by the aged/infirm ( 4 totalling 262 years ) and the youngsters ranging from 13 to 18 ( 7 players totalling 107 years!! ).
Due to the Burton Crown Green Bowling Group taking their tea in the clubhouse, we were obliged to delay the tea interval and face 10 overs with the “Doc” and Mr. Tufty ( aka Bob Chapman ) opening the innings for UCC. The Doc went to the crease ( eventually having managed to put his kit on after struggling for 15 minutes with some of his attire ) and attacked the Burton openers with 3 fours and with Bob joining in, put on 22 in 3 overs. The Doc was then out to a fine catch and was replaced by Nathan who supported Bob until the tea interval. A fine tea was provided and Benjie attacked the cakes with vigour. Nathan’s demise brought Tom Jones to the wicket and he started solidly, taking no chances with the now confident Burton bowling. Bob, the experienced “jug evader” was out for a fine 48, including 8 fours and was understandably confused to hear a strange sound from beyond the boundary, he was advised that this was applause, something Bob has never heard directed at himself.
Matt came to the crease in determined mood and showed what a class act he is with the bat. Hitting 4 fours, he accelerated the strike rate and was out caught for 27, an excellent effort. Benjie came in next and looked very eager after his top scoring innings last week. However it was not to be repeated and fell to a catch behind the stumps for 1. With the score on 122, Sol was asked accelerate the score but lasted only 2 balls before being bowled. Tom was building an innings and with 42 required to win with 4 wickets left, the skipper trudged onto the field feeling knackered after his 12 overs. Despite breaking his bat and being kindly offered Bob’s bat, hit 3 fours and brought the scores level with a solid 4 with 2 overs left. Tom was on 39 no and looking confident to seal the game in the next over but being selfish, Brucie, 28 no hit the final ball of the 43rd over for 6 over the bowlers’ head and sightscreen landing the red object in the car park. Game over.
Well done to the underdogs, who would have thought it at 7pm Friday night!!