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There was an old woman that lived in a shoe.
Had so many children she didn't know what to do. Luckily,
the (not so old) woman in this article was married to Bob
Brunt who fronts the Pioneers Cricket Team - a team full
of his many offspring, locals and some fiery overseas specialists.
This was the first of three tour fixtures, a 25-over evening
game, a chance to start the weekend off on a winning note.
The Cavs made their way down to Ilton, Somerset, via Timmy
F's for bacon sarnies, past Stonehenge, hot sun then rain-showers
and a 12-foot straw Owl. This would not be the last large
animal to cross our paths...
Jurgen made the seven-hour journey from Huddersfield to
complete the Cavs eleven. The opposition were down on their
numbers so were allowed to bat first. The team took their
time to settle in despite a nice green pitch - an agricultural
setting with 'Gandalf's cottage' at the north end and club
house at the other.
The bowlers fortunes varied with Firmin taking career best
2 wickets for 6 runs off the maximum of 4 overs. Simon Foster
and Ellis Thorpe took some punishment - faced with a 'set'
batsman (Snr would go on to take most wickets on tour -
5). On more than one occassion, Jay Wise reluctantly scaled
the fence to join the many cows in a search for the ball.
Catching was poor in the murky light, with Paul Clemence
palming one over the bar in cow corner. Tant also conceded
runs but gave us one of the truly memorable bowling moments.
A Chesney-buffet-ball was dispatched over the farmer's fence
and actually HIT a cow. The herbivore was unmoved but Bob
B-unt, as umpire, raised both arms to signal the maximum.
Ilton Pioneers scores 175 for 7 from their 25 overs. After
tea, with the Captain keen to give his lower-order batsmen
a run out, a shuffled batting pack would have to score at
7 an over.
Sadly, the experimental batting line-up let down the team.
Lloyd was bowled cheaply and quickly joined Mrs Brunt in
joint-scoring duties (Mrs B revealed to Lager L that she
actually wanted 13 children - that's a baker's dozen!).
Firmin was soon-after bamboozled by what honest Bob described
as "the best over of spin I have witnessed in West
Somerset". The Foster twins aggregating 7 runs and
the newly tattooed (yet ever-so slightly portly) Jurgen
failing to get 'of the motorway' with 6 not out.
Jamie Wise earlier delivered with 48 quick-fire runs, Ellis
supporting well with 18 and (another fifth-year) Jim Handyford
firing a gutsy 31. It was not to be Fraser Tants day, claiming
an ugly Golden Duck. Ben Ranking and Paul Clements did not
get a bat in this short-game. The Cavaliers finished 149-7
- a run-rate of almost 6. Sadly though, some poor bowling
had lost us the game.
The tourists stayed on at the Ilton clubhouse and completed
all 4 post-match rituals:- (1) Stump Game (2) Reading of
Tale of the Tape (3) Collection of Fines and Teas Money
(4) Drinking and talking at each other. So, tour game 1/3
was not to be - but there would be better results on the
West-Country horizon. The team picked themselves up, and,
with a quick turn around in the Manor Hotel enjoyed a traditionally
loud Italian meal and one of Yeovil's very best nightclubs.
