TDM Burleigh’s XI

Match Report

An agreed toss in the cold and cloud of Broadstairs saw Toto Berger and Jack Taylor set off cautiously against some robust bowling by the BOFs (TDMB XI). Will Falcon in particular kept the openers honest, but was unable to break through. Jack, who is getting into a habit of scoring elegant thirties was bowled for 35 at first change. Charlie Munton now upped the run rate sharply, hitting some very long sixes into the trees, which required a pile of alternate balls to replace those lost, and even connecting with the odd reverse sweep. Toto (53) eventually fell to Jasper, caught by Will Fenwick, the first of two good catches. Charlie marched on inexorably either side of lunch, with partners falling by the wayside, a century on the cards, when another big hit was miscued sufficiently to be really well caught by Will F hard by the boundary for 90. Benny Smallwood (5*) and Ruaraidh MacLeod (33*) pushed the score along to a declaration at 255 for 5 from 46 overs.

With a brace of MacLeods opening the bowling and giving absolutely nothing away (4 runs from the first 6 overs), Nigel opened the game up with an early first change – the Chairman took a bit of ‘tap’ and the BOFs were back in the game. A smart stumping by Blair Hart off Theo, and the Chairman having the last laugh brought the game back into the balance (almost). However, the master-stroke proved to be the introduction of 12 year old Freddie Bond. Freddie, bowling some very well flighted leg spin, induced a miscued slog to deep mid-wicket to take his first; and then bowled a pair of the highest quality balls to remove Jasper and Matt. With Theo picking up a second, and Hamish knocking over another, the contest was all but over; survival the name of the game for Simon O’Malley and George Kelsey. Bowlers rotated but not much given away. Ruaraidh got an LBW against George, but that only brought Tim Burleigh to the crease, and he was not in the mood for frivolity. For the second week in a row the Stragglers failed to secure the final wicket – 193 for 9 at the close.