Following all the difficulties that Bristol have faced all season getting a side out the interesting comparison exercise was had last night when Brum got out a full side along with a host of supporters whilst Bristol had to cry off their match due to lack of numbers. Fortunately your correspondent chose to go to the Brum match.
With only Read and Williams having played for the firm before, Garlick the skipper’s hardest task was going to be working out how to juggle his resources. Matters were made somewhat easier by the agreement that everyone had to bowl 2 overs (apart from the ‘keepers, much to Williams’s relief).
Garlick got matters off to a poor start by losing the toss and with the light clearly likely to deteriorate later on Yorkshire Bank made no hesitation in deciding to get runs on the board.
Gilmour and Fowler (both on debut) opened the bowling and whilst Gilmour kept it tight (4 runs off his overs) Fowler got a little bit of the treatment. By the time Priest and Gaibee (both on debut) took over the score was starting to get a little bit scary (49 off 5 overs). Fortunately Gaibee’s fourth ball was a treat and Williams completed the stumping in unconventional style (off his toe) and the breakthrough was had.
With Garlick (on debut) clinging onto a screamer of a catch from the bowling of Priest next over the collapse was on. With two girls at the crease Williams was given strict instructions not to stump either of them (instructions he obeyed much to his annoyance) before Read and Williams combined to run one of them out.
Willox and Rogers-Nash (both on debut) came together for a bowl and Willox snaffled another wicket caught by Biddlecombe (on debut). With four wickets down and their opener retired their next two batsman settled in and got the team back on track before Read and Percival (on debut) produced 3 fine wickets between them along with a suicidal run out courtesy of Gaibee and Percival leaving them looking rather parlous save for the fact that their opener now returned to the fray and “got amongst it” (particularly off Biddlecombe) before Garlick finished matters bowling their last man.
A score of 132 all out was a very pleasant surprise considering they were 89 off 10 overs at one stage.
Williams and Gilmour opened the batting and got matters off to a flyer (49 off 4 overs) both retiring (although Williams’s rather laboured efforts to get from 24 to 25 were shameful). Biddlecombe at least got off the mark before Willox and Rogers-Nash were back in tandem. Willox ran Rogers-Nash out before nearly giving Read a coronary running a third before she fell.
Gaibee was in and out (dismissed by one of the worst bowlers your correspondent has ever seen) and then Read and Fowler played some good cricket, Fowler thumping it and Read nurdling away. They easily kept up with the required rate and pushing on from 69 off 10 overs towards the winning line. Fowler sadly did not make it having to retire. Garlick smashed some quick runs before, with the scores level, Read cracked it straight and ran 3 (just so he could get to 25) for the win in pretty poor light off only 16.5 overs.
A good victory by 4 wickets followed by a splendid curry and some beers.
The first Man of the Match award for the Brum office is a real challenge, Williams, Gilmour, Read and Fowler all had a shout with their batting and Percival and Read had a shout for their bowling. In the end the nod has to go to Read for 2 wickets, 25 (dull) runs and his hand in a run out but Percival ran him very close.
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