They say that a week is a long time in politics but a year was a long time to wait for the Parish Council to gain revenge for last year’s heavy defeat in this, the fifth instalment of the annual match with the Ebor Players.
Having finally won the toss, newly appointed Parish Council captain Liam Godfrey put the Ebor Players into bat. Moreover, a disastrous start it was too with opening batsman Bev Linfoot being run out early on for 0. The Council followed this up with tight bowling and although wickets were rarer than England football victories, the Players were finding runs difficult to come by. There were worthwhile contributions from Rose (7) Patrick S. (11) and Bruce T. (8) the latter riding his luck surviving dropped catches and a brilliant ‘run out’ from the fielding of Jemison but like Lampards ‘goal’ the referee, or in this case umpire did not see it. A late flurry of run outs and a caught & bowled by Davis overcoming his phobia following a childhood broken finger, restricted the Players to a modest 59 (the lowest score since the 15 over format was adopted)
The Council needed 60 to win at 4 an over. Openers Godfrey & Bewley began in contrasting fashion, the latter cracking balls to the boundary to retire on 10 the former opting for a more Boycottesque approach. New signing Dale M could not resist hitting his first ball for 6 and in the process nearly decapitating a nearby dog walker on Ferry Lane, he too retired on double figures as did Stewart Harrison whose undefeated 12 gave him the record for most runs scored in all the matches played to date.
The only blip in an otherwise perfect innings was when debutant Kay Redhead bowled Tom Davis for 2. This will not be the last time this year that Redhead (Puss in this years production of Dick Whittington) will get the better of Davis (King Rat)
And so, it was left to Godfrey and Chris Dale to see the Parish Council home, which they achieved despite very vocal harassment from the Players team that would have made Shane Warne blush. Victory by 4 wickets and with 5 overs to spare. The Ebor Players now lead the series 3.2
Scorecard
Ebor Players
B Linfoot RUN OUT 0
D Rose RETIRED 7
T Bruce RETIRED 8
K Redhead RETIRED 3
S Patrick RETIRED 11
T Patrick c&b Davis 1
J Eason RUN OUT 2
L Thornton NOT OUT 1
S Pendleton RUN OUT 4
N Pendleton NOT OUT 1
Extras 21
Total 59
Parish Council
L Godfrey NOT OUT 4
J Bewley RETIRED 10
M Dale RETIRED 13
T Davis b Redhead 2
S Harrison RETIRED 12
C Dale NOT OUT 13
Extras 11
Total 63
Did not bat: I Jemison, C Bruce, A Dunn