1st XI Match Report vs Eccleston (Away)

Date: Saturday 16th May
Result: BAC/EE Preston Won by 41 runs
Points: 10

Report

Once again, the weather forecast was terrible coming into this important game.  However we found a glimmer of hope with the wind playing an important part in blowing over the rain clouds. For the fourth time this season BAC batted first in the hope of posting a good score on a surprisingly hard track. However, we got off to the worst possible start as Chris Greenall (Greeners) was out on the first ball of the innings.  Alex Unsworth (Unsy), Mick Keane (Camel, Bundy) and Dave Holt (Holty) followed shortly leaving us in deep trouble.  Jamie Skeoch (James, Skoochy) steadied the ship for a short while although the wickets continued to fall before Danny Wilcock (Dindo) entered the crease. Scooch and Dindo then put on a fantastic partnership of 80 as they scored 52 and 56 respectively. Both were striking the ball cleanly and straight out of the middle of the bat including a MASSIVE 6 from Dino which just cleared his own car on the car park and a shot to square leg which they both managed to RUN four runs for. A quality partnership and a batting display which pulled the boys back from the dead. After rain interrupted play a couple of times, the game was reduced to just 42 overs and with only four balls remaining skipper Lodge was caught out with a good diving catch with a pull shot leaving BAC on 141 all out.

One of the highlights of the innings was Mick Keane (Camel, Bundy, always one step ahead!) wandering off 3 miles into the village searching for Spar and a cash point so he wouldn’t be disappointed with some rubbish teas. Little did he know the Eccleston tea ladies then prepared the most delightful spread ever (just to annoy him) comprising of some mouth watering fresh fruit, a selection of appetising triangle sandwiches, bbq chicken legs, spicy spring rolls, soft boiled potatoes finished off with jam scones and a delicious chocolate cake! All for £2 each. Hope you enjoyed your corned beef butty Keano!

After the interval, blue skies were appearing and we were all feeling confident of defending the total, especially considering Eccleston is one of the larger grounds in the league. Dindo got us off to a great start with a peach of a delivery in the first over to dismiss their opening batsmen. It was Keano in second slip who took the lightning fast reflex catch to set BAC up for a great win. The opening partnership of Dindo and Steve Lodge (Captain Chaos, Lodgie, Back Hand) took 7 wickets 4 and 3 wickets respectively and again kept Eccleston quiet in the opening 20 overs. Keano and Tom Wilcock (Our Massive, Willo, Twilly, Coey) were both introduced and got plenty of turn on a wicket which was breaking up as they took a wicket each. It was in the last over of the game, when the lads were desperate for the final two wickets to seal the 10 points, Alex Unsworth (Unsy) produced a piece of brilliance as he stumped their batter, completely by surprise, whilst standing back to Lodgie. One ball later, the final Eccleston batting pair gifted John McKeever (Macca, Russ, Tanny, Dot Machine, Catalogue Ken, Seaman) a run out opportunity, who flung a good throw into the awaiting Unsy who whipped off the bails to hand BAC maximum points.

It was a great game of cricket, signifying the lads strength in depth and character to come back strong from an awful start to win comfortably. Man of the match: Danny Wilcock by a mile.

Scorecard