Hatfield gone for a Burton

Souvenir Poster Special

Jim Burton was the toast of the Cavaliers on Sunday when his simply awesome final over display took the Cavs to arguably their finest ever victory, and one that had looked beyond their grasp.

With the Cavs chasing 233 in 45 overs, JB was the last man in, with the Cavs still needing 25 to win with just two overs left. Without so much as a sighter, the Buzzard clubbed Hatfield's Hertfordshire U18 paceman for 4-6-4-6-4 which, helped by a couple of no-balls, saw the Cavs win with an over to spare. "That really was one amazing display" commented acting skipper Simon Foster "JB was in the groove today, no doubt about that!"

As ever, the Cavs lost the toss and were in the field, bowling on a flat track and in humid conditions. Sean O'Brien opened the bowling with a tight but wicketless spell, but from the other end Fraser Tant was pacey but struggled to control the new ball and was soon replaced by the ever-dependable Tim Foster. It was the Junior foster - one of three sets of brothers in the Cavs' XI - who got the breakthrough, enticing the dangerous opening bat to pop one back in to his grateful hands. At 100/1 after 20 overs, the Purple-and-blacks were starting down the barrel of a formidable total; it's therefore a great credit to the Cavs that the next 25 overs yielded only 132 runs, especially with wickets in hand and license to play some shots. There was a further wicket for Timmy F, brother Simon "Si" Foster also picked one up as did Paul Wise's cheeky tweakers, while the opening bowlers returned to bowl at the death and did a good job in keeping the hosts well below 250.

Benny Rankin and Jay Wise opened the bowling and looked comfortable, if watchful, against the aforementioned Herts pace ace and a wily old fox at the other end. BCR began to open his shoulders with some lovely shots, but it wasn't much surprise when Jamie "I'd rather be watching the golf" Wise was bowled for 18. On another day, with 45 overs to bat and on a great track, we might have seen our in-form star batsman register the Cavs's illusive first ton, but it wasn't to be. Brother Paul was next to the crease and he looked comfortable before becoming the first of three run-outs when he was a yard short on 24. Overseas Professional Aaron "A G-String" Terrey occupied the crease for a long while and kept things ticking over with another useful 24, but it was a real shame when Benny holed out at deep mid-off looking the for four that would have taken him to a well-earned fifty. He too was replaced by his brother, but Tommy R had less success and was skittled for the duck that was to later see him awarded the Orange Cap of Dejection (again). Snr and Gareth Lloyd started to up the tempo, before the former was run out by the latter with 23 to his name, which brought Tant to the crease. Despite some palpable nerves as Chianti fought to end his sequence of three ducks in four innings, he soon unleashed with a mighty six before becoming Lloyd's second run out victim, for 11.

So, at 150 for 6 and needing 10 an over, it looked game over. But, Lloydy (13), Timmy F (12no) and Sean (18) started upping the run-rate, combining some lofty blows with some clever nibbles and nudges in to space. Sean in particular looked in good nick, relishing the step up in class from the normal standard of cricket he's used to. It looked a big ask, but was just about still doable, even when SO'B fell to a great catch by the keeper. When he perished, the Cavs were in the last chance saloon… step forward Jim Burton, for some fireworks the likes of which we’ve never seen from our otherwise morose watch-collector.

So, it's two wins in two for the Cavs as they approach the annual derby with Harpenden. The Cavs have been bumped off the Common to play at Bogeyville, so will be keen to make the point that they are worthy of a bigger stage.

Man of the Match: Jim Burton - no contest, although BCR's 46 was a chanceless knock.

Champagne Moment: JB's mammoth six in to the scorebox ("Did it carry?" asked umpire Benny Bowden, despite it landing 20 yards beyond the boundary)

Orange Cap of Disgrace: Tommy R for a duck and, to quote his brother, "Blood may be thicker that water, but your abject fielding display was the worse I've ever seen in a Cavs shirt". Also mentioned in despatches: G Lloyd for running out Acting Captain S Foster and Club Captain F Tant; B Rankin for 1.0.15.0 and Jay Wise for being disinterested.