The Junior BB

Match Report

The BaBes looked to have formidable batting strength at their disposal, and so it proved in the early overs with the Smallwood brothers marching smartly on at over 8 an over in spite of good opening spells from Harry Pattinson and Charlie Sinclair. It took the guile of left-arm Paddy Butler, using the drying pitch much like Deadly and very well supported by Charlie holding 3 excellent catches at long on, to bring it all back under control. Unleashed in the 25th over the Chairman then wrapped up the tail to leave the BaBes some way short of a challenging score at 185.

Uncertainty about BaBes’ totals seems to be a feature of the fixture, as the target showing on the board was merely 178. With more than enough time to bat sensibly and play themselves in, Ben Methven and Harry Pattinson batted with unusual concentration and patience in this world of wham bam T20, and when Ben was first out scoring a very polished 30 in the 19th over, the score was only 71. A flurry of wickets followed, to bring Hugo Snape to the wicket. The run rate raced ahead with both Hugo and Harry confidently despatching the bad balls, but Hugo was undone by a lifter, and another flurry ensued. Harry was not to be troubled, and to great acclaim hit what was believed to be the winning runs to reach a very well crafted century, the first time father and son have achieved centuries in the same season, Chris having done so at Elham in May. However, it was not all over, as the scorer shot from her camper van to point out that the target was in fact 186. Harry, attempting to polish it off in two blows, perished with the scores tied, and a nervous over was blocked before victory was finally achieved. The difference between the sides was the catching – the Stragglers held all, the BaBes dropped Harry twice.