The Lazarus VI welcomed two debutantes on Sunday at the 'Bristol Friendly Cricket League' sixes, the second debutant arriving just in time to bowl the third over of our first match, against our old adversaries Frenchay Hospital. The line-up was as follows:
(L-R)
M J Lines Esq
Alex (Bernie) (Bok rugby mate)
Spencer
Scott
Tim B
Pedro Lamb (whippet from Old Caths)
The competition consisted of a group stage of three teams per group, winners going throught to the semis, runners up to the plate semis.
The Rugby Supporters had comfortably beat Frenchay Hospital in the first game, so it seemed that we would need to beat FH to progress.
Your faithful correspondent won the toss and put Frenchay Hospital in, then crossed his fingers that we would actually be able to field six fit players. Thanks go to Frazer for fielding in bare feet for the first couple of overs in the absence of Alex (hereafter referred to as Bernie). The Lazarus VI took a while to get into the flow of this form of cricket, we quickly realised the the field should consist of a ring of four (the 'ring of fire') in front of the bat on the boundary, and that as a result communication was restricted to hand signals and abuse. I don't remember much about the Frenchay innings, their total of 68 was the highest against us all day, so it's fair to say they caught us cold. Our solitary wicket was a run out due to an arrow-like return from the boundary from M J Lines Esq - it surprised us almost as much as the batsman.
In reply we were going nicely until Scott was very well caught on the boundary, but for the fielder getting in the way it was heading to be a well struck, flat six. Special mention to Pedro for spanking the last ball of the innings for a straight six, alas a straight 12 were needed.
v Frenchay Hospital lost.
FH 68-1
LVI 63-3
So, now one game from elimination, it was a straight QF for us vs the Rugby Supporters. Again we won the toss, and again we put the opposition into bat, you don't want to change a losing formula? Again, I don't remember too much about their innings, however we weren't too concerned with their 61-1. In reply we set off well, however a flurry of wickets left us requiring six to win from four balls with two wickets in hand. Should be easy, but the nerves were jangling. A 1, 2, and 6 sealed it for the Laz VI, with Bernie carrying his bat and striking the winning runs.
v Rugby Supporters won with 1 ball to spare (and a six off the last ball!)
RS 61-1
LVI 65-3
This of course complicates matters. First we think we're going home because we lost the most wickets. Then after a rule clarification it turns out that we've won the group and the Rugby Supporters are on the way home! Laz win the group by virtue of highest run aggregate. Rugby Supporters somewhat hard done by here, as they easily overhauled a FH score of 40 or so but didn't bat the overs out.
SF:
Having made it out of what was clearly the 'Group of Death' we were quietly confident for the semis. Spectating and the odd bit off umpiring had made it clear that the other group games on the second pitch were of the 'village' variety, and that our opposition, although decent bowlers, weren't so clever with the bat. And so it turned out, but not quite so simply. We lost the toss and were asked to bat. A total of 47 seemed a little on the low side, both Spence and Bernie will have the bruises in the morning from their express bowler who successfully throttled us in the last over, and again Bernie carried his bat. The oppo certainly thought the game was won, however we were still quietly confident. And so it turned out, your correspondent takes some credit here for tweaking the bowling order (and thanks to their skipper for apparently reversing the batting order in misplaced confidence). We strangled them for the first four, M J Lines unique style proving particularly effective, to leave them requiring 15 from the last over. Don't bowl anything short Pedro....keep it up to the bat. Ball 1, short, bang, six! Ball 2, short, bang, four! Ball 3, short, top edge! Pedro holds his nerve superbly to hold onto a steepler! 5 needed from 3, we're back in it. At this point we realise they are down to their last wicket too. Ball 4, goes for byes, one, they come back for the second, Special has run back from wicky to collect, he has the ball in hand, the throw comes winging in to Pedro (who, ever alert, has taken up station at the wicky's end), it is only marginally off target, leaving Pedro to calmly take the bails off. The umpire deliberates.....(and hadn't been happy about being called for a few wides vs us).....an age....and the finger (correctly) goes up!!!! We've won by three runs. Glory beckons!
v Tideford won with 2 balls to spare.
LVI 47-1
Tideford 44ao
And so the magnificent Laz VI advance to the final.
Final:
By this stage word had apparently got around that we were 'a bit tasty', and I don't think they were referring to M J Lines' beard. We lose the toss and are asked to bowl. They are going well, but a well misdirected yorker from Bernie probably breaks their best batter's toe, he calls for a runner, then promptly swings and misses. They end on 64. Not bad, but again, we're not overly concerned. Scott and Bernie start steadily, with 20 coming from the first two overs, leaving 45 to get from 3. The game was effectively won (or, more accurately, lost) in the third over, a nightmarish mix of bad balls, no balls and wides goes for 26 runs, Scotty skillfully dispatching every legal ball to the boundary (a wide counts as four with no extra ball). Although we 'only' need 19 from two now, their heads are well and truly in their hands, two overs, two edged fours and two leg byes later the trophy is ours!!!! Again Bernie carrying his bat, it's fair to day we wouldn't have done it without him.
My spies tell me that the KCCC were 'shellshocked' in the stores later that evening.
v King Charles CC won with 1 ball to spare
KCCC 64-n
LVI 65-0
So we follow in the footsteps of the 'Crane Drivers', 'The Anchor', 'The Cotham Porter Stores', 'The Easton Cowboys' etc etc.
Some history of the comp here http://www.cothamporterstores.co.uk/cricket.htm
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