Michael Keane’s first score of the summer came just at the right time as he helped BAC triumph over Norcross to lead BAC’s 1st XI to their 5th consecutive victory.

Keany who usually averages a healthy 23.6 for the 1st XI hit an unbeaten 29 in a closely fought contest against the Blackpool based club. After the bowlers had reduced Norcross to 136 for 9 from their allotted overs, with the Hogarths combining for 7 wickets (Jamie 3 for 29 and Andy 4 for 30), BAC had slipped to 70 for 6 with Greenall making 39. Hothersall (26) (Jonny) then started to steady the ship with Keane, adding another 30 to the score before both he and his Dad fell in quick succession.

Keane was then joined at the crease by Wilson with the prospect of 5 on the trot seemingly disappearing into the distance, but when the score was looking just too much a couple of lusty blows by both men meant BAC only needed a run a ball in the last over.

The ball was thrown to Zubaire (Zubi) Patel for the last over, but it was thrown back! “I no bowling” he replied as he trudged off to fine leg (I’d clearly seen him off! Hah). So on the second time of asking Norcross found a bowler, in the form of quickie David Allen, not a good idea, Keany took kindly to him and after 3 balls in the final over Camel had smacked him for 2 fours and BAC had won.

11 points this week moves us up to 3rd thanks to an F&B win over Vernons. Massive test next week against Great Eccleston especially with Andy Hogarth on holiday, but this will be seen as a good test of where the team are compared to the top of the league.

Yours in Cricket,

Willow

The pitch looked green and quite hard so was there to benefit both bat and ball in hopefully an even contest.  Due to 6 of our players chasing a football around a pitch for 90 minutes in the morning we only had the 5 at Kirkham for the start of the match so inevitably we would be batting.

In the absence of few Wilson and Steinson took to the middle having rushed to apply their pads and other pieces of padded equipment and first ball there was a bit of a shock as the ball kept low off a length and Steinson inside edged it past his stumps, a sign of something to come? The pair began to knuckle down and steal as many singles as possible until Wilson got his middle peg knocked back from a nipped inner through the gate. This sent the now arrived Doug the jug to the crease and he was soon into his stride following his fine hat-trick earlier. The pair really accelerated the rate and got us to 100 after 15 overs.

With 300 very much on the cards Edmile Heskey passed 50 (jug please) then fell soon afterwards for a well played 58. That took Alex “Dave” Thornton to the crease and he steadily supported Dougie while he pounded the Kirkham attack to all parts including one six that nearly went through my back window much to the disappointment of Scott Hammil who relished the opportunity of refitting the rear window. As the wedding party rolled in Dougie continued past 50, 60, 70, 80. “Dave” departed for 20 playing a huge cross batted shot which took Chadders to the crease. Dougie then went onto a ton with a back foot cover drive, a rapturous applause. A second ton of the season to take the lad to the highest run scorer in the league. After one more boundary Dougie was out. But it was another brilliant innings by the run machine greeted by a huge applause by all. Scott was next in and managed to plug his eyes back into his face after staring aimlessly at the long legged phillies at the wedding reception, infact he managed to do it in time to smack two straight fours soon after going to the middle. Chadders then fell for 3 and a strategic change of the batting order occurred as Gaskell was promoted from 11 to keep the dream of three double oh alive with some lusty blows. Lusty blows they were but Gaskell was riding his luck getting dropped twice before he reached 10.

Scott then departed and so did Mansfield first ball thanks to a catch at slip, yes a catch! They caught one! Field was in for the hat-trick ball so why not launch it over the top for four? Jack Wilson obliged with a big swing and a boundary. After a couple more swings, dings and a drop or two Jack was bowled. This brought “shot of the day” Cameron to the crease and he lived up to his nickname playing a couple back then unleashing the most aesthetically pleasing cover drive, dropping down to one knee and standing firm as the ball whistled away to the boundary, shot young man. At the other end Gaskell continued to take Willows orders and smash it to all parts, he moved onto a quick fire 40 until he was caught and bowled by Stevens.

So the dream of the three double oh was just a bridge too far for BAC’s future talent but they did set a season high of 286 all out.

After setting 286 against bottom of the table Kirkham we were feeling quietly confident. James “Mitchell Johnson” Gaskell and Cam “shot of the day” Yeulett were to open for BAC bowling to Lund and the classy Brooks. With an attacking field Mitch was cranking up some serious pace and did for Lund in the first over toppling his off peg. The two youngsters bowled with complete control but couldn’t break through Brooks or Whalley. Cam was replaced by Chadders and Gaskell by Willow, the former struck first, luring Whalley into a big hit and getting him caught in the out field by Dougie. New man Woods was soon run out following a misfiled by Alex “Dave” Thornton but the direct hit made up for that mistake. Chadders then took his second and third in quick succession bowling Moore and Jack Wilson catching Stevens.

The wickets were falling as Brooks at the other end was moving towards his 50 in style. Willow then took his first and only wicket of the game yorking Baer for 1. Chadders then took his forth Hodgeson caught in the outfield once again by Doug. Then came number five! Yes number FIVE! Chadders sealed his fivefor getting the talented Brooks stumped for 50 dead. Well bowled Chadders.

Scott then replaced Willow and with spin at both ends the game didn’t last much longer as number ten and eleven soon departed thanks to a run out and a Scott quicker ball respectively.

109 all out and a comprehensive 178 run victory for BAC.

An impressive display by all but todays moment(s) of the game were Dougies second ton of the season smeared in grace and penash and Chadders first ever fivefor, it had flight, guile and a little luck but a joy to behold.  

Overall a superb day for everyone and a great way to end the season, Gaskell’s 40 was lusty and a little lucky being dropped around 126 times, Eddies meaty 58, Jonnys ton, Chadders fivefor, Camerons opening spell, Gaskells opening spell aswell then finally Jack behing the stumps showing more and more improvements.

So season over, stay tuned for a end of season review.

Yours in Cricket,

Willow

The weather was sunny and quite warm but the wicket was a state, the only indication of which strip of grass was the wicket was the run up marks in the outfield. So the wicket looked green and soft with the outfield looking decent.

Wilson walked out to the middle to toss … (should I rephrase that?). And like Paul the octopus he predicted correctly again (4 in 4) and BAC put the home team in.

As we took to the field we noticed 5 batsmen padded for Whitte, maybe a sign of things to come? The usual opening pair of Cam/low tower and Andy/Merve Hughes started off and hit early as Cam snuck one through bat pad to topple Bolton’s middle peg. Andy didn’t hand around either getting the other opener, O’Donnell, caught fantastically by Zeddy Zedster at cover. The Proctors then came to the crease and both looked ok putting the short ball away. Gaskell and Dougie then came on and Gaskell soon took a wicket, getting Proctor number two caught behind for 12. A run out then came two balls later as the seemingly inexperienced Hardman stayed stood out of his crease as Willow kicked the ball onto the stumps, maybe it was a little harsh but Wilsons competitive side shone through. Gaskell then got another wicket within his spanking with the ball, a superb diving caught and bowled did for Denning but after going for 20 in 4 overs Gaskell was replaced by Willow. With 4 quicks having already bowled Zed and Wilson both began to bowl some spin and Zeddy soon got Proctor 1 out caught after a nice 30 including a straight 6 that was called 4 due to the sight screen being inside the boundary. Wilsons spin didn’t last long as he reverted to bowling a mixture of cutters and quicks. Willow had no luck but Zed picked up another 2 wickets getting Flater and Dave caught brilliantly for 26 and 0 respectively. Whittle made a valiant 105 which was pretty competitive on this wicket and BAC may rue some missed run out chances and a couple of tough dropped catches.

Chasing 105 was never going to be easy on a pitch that had been ripped up during the first innings but we had 53 overs to play with and Doug the Jug was due a score.

Doug opened with Gaskell who was on the back of an innings of 50 in the seconds the day before but didn’t last long as he was caught behind for 0. Steinson then came and went for 0 bowled by an inswinging Yorker. This was all going on while Jonny/Dougie was going about his business at the other end blocking a few then hitting the odd four ball. Tingle was number 4 and stuck around for a little while pushing the score towards 20 until he was caught at cover for 9. With the score 20 for 3 we seemed to be up the creek without a paddle. Co-capitan (spelt wrong purposely) Willow joined Doug and was dubbed Trott for the innings as he blocked and blocked grinding the innings out. These two put in the hard work, defending and picking up singles and pushed the scores up to 50 for 3 by the 20^th over then began to accelerate a little with Dougie slapping a couple of pulled fours and hitting a lovely straight six while Trotty trotted down the track to the spinner and put him away for a couple of fours on the leg side. Doug the jug lived up to his name once again and passed 50 and took BAC passed 100 but with only 3 needed he was caught at point al a Martin Hothersall. He was devastated but knew the partnership with Wilson had got BAC the win, a 83 run partnership had carved the victory for BAC. 3 needed and the opener came back on, Trott drove for a single to put Scotty on strike who after saying he was going to block swung like Happy Gilmore at the first 3 balls with no luck, the 4^th was a wide tying the game, Scott then went off for treatment via his chiropractor and came back on to thump a magnificent straight six to win the game and leave BAC Nelson for 4.

Moment of the game would be Scotty’s six, maybe he was a little rash but it was a bit of excitement to end the game.

A few good individual performances Zed once again putting the opposition in a spin with 2 for 23 off 8.2 including a top class catch. Gaskell with two wickets even if he did get a bit of tap but a brilliant caught and bowled was the highlight. Andy and Cam also (once again) opened the innings well getting 1 for 16 and 1 for 15 respectively.  

Batting wise Tingle got a valiant 9 but didn’t go on to get a few more, Scott hit that lusty six but Hothersall’s 55 was the key off 83 balls, a well paced innings with a few beefy shots. Also Wilson’s patient, gritty and determined 25 off 69 was slow but required and to be unbeaten at the end was a right touch, if I do say so myself.  

Finally Jack Mansfield was very good behind the stumps only conceding a few byes and took a catch aswell.

A great 12 points for the team and it was very well earned.

The last game of the season will be played in 2 weeks time (5^th Sept) against Kirkham & Wesham who are bottom of the league. It’s a big 12 pointer if we want to kindle any hope of promotion so lets hope the weather is good.

Opener Andy Hollinhurst is absent for this one but has had a productive season for the team finishing with 26 runs at 13 and 11 wickets at 11. Well done Andy.

Yours in Cricket,

Willow