Struggling to find a team, Grace's were playing Beddington, a team with four Saturday league teams and two friendly Sunday teams. Church Lane in Beddington was surreal, lovely old churches and old buildings and a very quaint bridge leading to the ground.
Grace's are at the point in the season where we have stuffed some excellent opposition, where the skipper can do no wrong and where the players seem to just get better and better, but today we were without any of our front-line bowlers, except for Shofiq. Several players arrived early and we proceeded to make use of some excellent nets. New boys Mercuri and Ross bowled and batted away with something to prove, until the skipper Shofiq arrived and flipped the coin. Needless to say, we lost the toss and into the field we went. Deja vu! Timed game, 20 overs from 6.30pm! A long afternoon in the field for Grace's. Stockinger took the gloves and looked supreme behind the wickets, Shofiq bowled like a man on form and give the batsmen little chance except for the few on the legside (again!).
Bielby took the opportunity to open the bowling at the other end. With the ball moving around the Beddington batsmen struggled to score. Bielby soon swapped ends and Rishafi came on and bowled. On a dusty dry track, he moved the ball into and away from the batsmen and kept it tight. Rishafi did us proud and bowled their opener for 40. He had not missed 50 all year! Shofiq was without the usual bowling options (no Curtis, no Rice, no Dekock, no Hoeksma, no spinning from Silva), so occasional bowlers were brought on to contain Beddington. Bielby continued his excellent spell ending with one wicket, 4 maidens and just 24 runs from 13 overs.
Wingrove replaced Rishafi, still waiting to take a wicket. And oops, Stockinger just missed an edge which would have been his first wicket of the season, but Wingrove bowled well. An effective spell, ten overs, 34 runs, highly economical, and great to have our own little Australian Shane Warne back after a broken finger layoff. Page replaced Bielby and struck an early blow by removing the other opener Senior, getting the ball to rise sharply and being caught by Shofiq at short mid-wicket. Page claimed a second wicket in his five-over spell by clean bowling another Beddington batsman. With Beddington failing to score any runs at all, Shofiq used the opportunity to give further occasional bowlers a chance to show what they can do, so on came Ross, fresh from his two-week break around europe. First ball Ross bowls wide, second bowl wide, oh my God, this guy ain't got a clue? Things could only get better, and they did! The third over was nice enough, the batsman chipped it to square leg, Camberwell snatched it up and it was caught, the batsmen was out, Ross takes his first wicket for Grace's! Hoorah. In Ross’s next over, the batsman edges to slip and caught by the new Grace's man at slip, Mercuri. Two wickets in two balls, my goodness Mr Ross, you can bowl. Where have you been all season? At the other end, Rishafi dominated the batting, by controlling the run flow and picking up a scoop of 4 wickets by mixing his bowling up.
In 54 overs Beddington managed to score 140 runs and with plenty of time left, Grace's could afford a relaxing tea which was splendidly prepared - scones, cake, tea, sandwiches, salad, fruit, pies, hot dogs, lovely! Hardisty opened the batting with Camberwell. The young Beddington bowlers bowled tightly and a tricky ten overs were negotiated at 3.5 an over. Grace's reached 51, before Stockinger came to the crease, and was out for a duck having a bash. Swinburne came to the crease and patiently built an innings to take Grace's home, in partnership with Hardisty who scored 32 excellent runs, his highest score of the season. Ross scored 16 smacking runs, Mercuri did not stay around long enough to taste a great win, charging the bowling, whilst Rishafi was run out for an impatient 9. Page came in and showed no mercy, smacking the bowling to the boundary. Grace's got to their target with 4 wickets to spare. Another great win, though in hindsight against a weaker Beddington side. However this was Grace's eighth win of the season and sixth on the trot. A strong team performance. Wandgas will be stronger opposition.