Written by Stephen Moriarty

Of all the grounds in our league, Lordswood is perhaps the most like a test or county ground, where matches are accompanied by the murmur and applause of numerous spectators from beginning to end.

Lordswood were in their new black, green and yellow kit, HBBH in blue.

This game was played in good light from a lightly overcast sky. HBBH lost the toss (finally!) and Lordswood elected to field, no doubt anticipating reasonable conditions in which to chase down the target to be set by HBBH.

To the buzz of the Lordswood hive, HBBH openers Moriarty and Bumstead were able to spend some time in the middle inspecting the wicket: the green “track” promised or threatened movement off the surface to make life difficult for batters. A low-scoring game seemed likely, and so it proved.

Lordswood’s opening over was an accurate maiden, despite Moriarty’s characteristically forceful manner of defence. Bumstead was able to pull his first ball for four, however, and pick up another single behind square to see Moriarty face the first wide of the match. Extras were to play a significant role in this game. The third “set” was another maiden for the bowler, but included a bye, whilst the fourth and fifth conceded only two runs each from the bat. The sixth, however, was somewhat more eventful, seeing Bumstead caught at a close midwicket. There were also two wides: four vital runs for HBBH.

The seventh saw five byes, and six runs from wides and no-balls; the two-run penalty for these extras is merciless for the unlucky bowler. Eleven runs had come without even a single from the bat.

However, Moriarty was out “played-on” and Connop T bowled in the eighth over. This, however, reconvened a classic HBBH partnership by bringing Bunker to join Hutton in the middle. True to form, Bunker lofted her first ball to point and was lucky not to be caught, and survived an LBW shout and a reckless run for a bye from the two following deliveries. Fortune, however, usually favours the brave, and Bunker glanced a four from the first ball of the ninth to begin her ascent to be HBBH’s top scorer of the innings, and “carry her bat”.

In the tenth, Hutton hit a six over square-leg and then a four down to third man, only to be bowled on the penultimate ball. Tibbetts H now joined Bunker and both entertained spectators with quick running and risky aerial shots until Tibbetts H was run-out in the thirteenth, bringing in Shirley, who edged a single from his first opportunity before retiring to adjust his pads.

His replacement, Zolnowski-Bull (Z-B), stuck with Bunker to the end to create the final and highest scoring partnership of the innings, runs coming mostly from well-run singles, but also including a glorious cut for four from Z-B.

HBBH ended their innings 84 for 6. Especial mention should be made of Lordswood’s opening bowler, who conceded only 4 runs from his four overs. Lordswood’s bowlers had done well.

Although a low score by normal standards, this was from a very green wicket that seemed likely to cause Lordswood’s batters as many, if not more, difficulties than it had caused HBBH.

Shirley did well to stop the opening delivery of HBBH’s bowling campaign going for four byes as Hutton began what was to prove another superb performance with the ball. Connop T’s second ball unfortunately did go for four behind but, vitally taking note, Moriarty thenceforth made sure to have a backstop fielder for his pace attack, successfully preventing a repeat.

After Hutton and Connop had bowled three overs each, Lordswood were 21 for 1, Bunker having taken a very good catch at deep square-leg to dismiss Lordswood’s opening bat from Hutton’s third (and maiden) set. Good fielding from, among others, Edwards, Hutton, Shirley and Tibbetts H, and of course the excellent Bumstead behind the stumps, had assisted Connop T and Hutton in keeping Lordswood somewhat under the required rate.

Conserving his pace attack, Moriarty turned to Bunker and Tibbetts H and was rewarded with great spells from both, Bunker finishing 2 for 7 from 3 and Tibbetts H 2 for 18 from 3. The heartwood of Lordswood’s batting had been carved out by HBBH’s skilful change bowlers. Conceding only the occasional single, Bunker’s relentless pressure was rewarded when Connop T took two brilliant, near-identical, catches close on the off-side in her third set. Tibbets H got Lordswood’s number 2 LBW in his first, whilst the final ball of his second and the beginning of his third provided the crowd with an entertaining and characteristic duel between slower-pace bowler and batter: hit by Lordswood’s number 4 for six over square-leg and then, coming down the wicket, a fine attacking four through long-on, Tibbetts H had the batter bowled from the next ball trying to do the same again.

Bunker and Tibbetts were ably assisted in the field by, among others, Shirley, Handa, Z-B, Hutton and Moriarty.

After 72 deliveries, Lordswood were 47 for 5, slightly under the required rate. Although there had been some bowlers’ extras and byes, they had been, very importantly, fewer so far than in HBBH’s innings. Could this essential task of keeping down runs and insidious extras be maintained?

Moriarty put himself on to bowl at a moment of considerable pressure: a few boundaries struck from his tempting spin and the balance of the game might tip irretrievably in Lordswood’s favour. However, aided by excellent fielding all round, Moriarty’s first twelve balls conceded two runs only. Woodrow at the other end interposed a superb over - again aided by superb fielding and wicket-keeping - to concede only a single.

After 15 overs, Lordswood were 50 for 5, now significantly under the required rate but with wickets in hand. Inevitably their batters would now try to score whatever the risk. Woodrow and Moriarty saw their next half-dozens go for 11 and 7 runs respectively and the game was now on a knife-edge; this despite Moriarty turning disaster into triumph by running out Lordwood’s number 7 (their highest scorer on 13) with an immediate under-arm roll to the keeper’s end despite having dropped the number 6 from his own bowling!

Woodrow then showed what he is made of by producing a superb wicket-maiden in the most trying of circumstances for a bowler. His exultant celebration at bowling Lordswood’s number 6 was richly justified. Perhaps this was the vital over, turning the required number of runs for Lordswood from a very “do-able” 16 from 3 overs with five wickets in hand and a member of the middle-order still at the crease to 15 runs (a leg-bye accounting for the reduction) from 2 overs and only the tail remaining.

Moriarty had kept an over each for Hutton and Connop in reserve. Hutton took the ball and ruthlessly supplied a double-wicket maiden, both wickets bowled. Again only a leg-bye added a click to Lordswood’s total. Connop T opened his over with a dot ball and the second delivery was popped up by the number 10 towards Moriarty on the off-side. Time seemed to stand still as players and spectators alike read the strain of responsibility on the HBBH’s captain’s face above his waiting hands, but the catch was taken and HBBH had won the hard-fought game.

Lordswood finished 72 all out from 19 overs and two balls. The batting performance from both teams had been broadly similar. The difference was more from extras: there were 22 “bowlers’ extras” from HBBH’s bowlers, 29 from Lordswood’s, seven vital runs from a winning margin of twelve.

Well done HBBH and thanks to Lordswood for a great contest.