Match Report - Bures Vs Wickham St. Paul 24/05/03

Another defeat for less-than-mighty Bures at home, although it might have been closer but for a spectacular batting collapse (even by Bures standards!).

Ready for battle. The Bures wicket before the game.

Batting first on a slow green strip of Plasticine which had seen more than its fair share of rain in recent days, openers Derrick Messent (remember him?) and James Lee were quickly to work passing 50 in the 10th over. Sadly both perished, bringing Mr. Slow and "Steady" McKenna to their respective creases. A flurry of fours and a mighty six from Big Mac promised much before both were dismissed by fine catches near the boundary. Once again a partnership of Marc Norton and Mitch promised a good deal before they too were both caught. The tail offered little resistance; just 5 runs were added for the loss of the last 5 wickets!

Derrick Messent faces the Wickham attack under the watchful eye of umpire Brogan

All of this had caused more than a little consternation in the pavilion. Kate Mitchell, in her first outing as a tea lady, was suddenly faced with having to feed the masses some 40 minutes earlier than she had been told to expect. But against the odds and with noble assistance from stalwart tea ladies Ros and Susie, a super spread of nosh was placed in the appropriate troughs in double-quick time. It was an excellent debut for Kate who clearly displayed her attributes, not necessarily all of which are in the culinary department. 

Marc Norton and Mr. Slow opened the bowling and MS quickly gained a scalp with Phil Breary playing on. The introduction of Steady McKenna brought further benefits in terms of economy and for almost 30 overs the result could have gone either way. Mr Slow, in the Captain's chair, looked around in despair for a bowler to break the deadlock. "I don't mind having a twirl" said Mitch, "I took 5 for 13 against the Cygnets one year!" Relieved at having found a bowler which he did not know he had, MS tossed him the ball. Unfortunately, what Mitch had neglected to mention in this allusion to this finest hour was that it had been at a time when the Cygnets had fielded an exclusively paraplegic and disabled eleven and following investigations into an unusually inactive performance on the part of four of their number, it was proved that they were in fact clinically dead at the time Mitch had claimed their wickets. Sadly Mitch was put to the sword, conceding more runs in 2 overs than McKenna in 10! Lee Norton fared little better at the other end with an uncharacteristically inept performance with the ball. And so it was over.

Bures 115 all out. Wickham St. Paul 118 for 4. Victory for Wicham St. Paul by 6 wickets.

Man of the Match for Bures - Patrick McKenna.

Sorrows were drowned in the Bures Swan afterwards. An announcement (in a foreign language) of Mrs. Bocking's birthday was followed by the sound of Bubbly being opened and fizzy liquid being disgorged, much to Mrs. B's approval. She quickly immersed herself into a deep and meaningful conversation with Ros, on the subjects of men and birthdays and how Mr. Bocking had bought her the wrong TYPE of birthday card! A disbelieving Mr. B held his head in his hands (where it had been on quite a number of occasions that afternoon) and propped up the bar where he may well still be.

The River Stour at Bures 24/05/03 (with apologies to fellow non-broadband users!)

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