Authored by Chris White
The Badgers hosted Millfields CC at the Sett (King George's Playing Fields) on a sweltering August afternoon this past Sunday.
The teams assembled, game time approached – “MORNING BOYS!”, cried Jacques. The Hash Express arrived, whites went on, a few balls chucked about at the boundary - prep thus complete - and we began, with Johnson and White opening the Badger attack (Captain Karl had decided to lose his 14th consecutive toss).
Trouble was to beckon early doors however, with the latter’s bowling promptly dispatched between 3-5 business days by the Millfields Aussie opener, and was asked by the umpire, upon commencing his 4th over,
“Keeping the faith, are we? HAHA”…
“ha sure am!” squeaked back White
Furious rage. Anguish at my choice of a Sunday afternoon pastime. A friendly umpire zing carrying that extra zest. Had he known he had murdered me? Anyway, the game progressed, the sun beat down … “we’re shining the crown side!” chimes in Claridge from mid-wicket. Cheers, the ball had already been sent to all four corners of the ancient world; there was no crown, barely a seam, but thanks for that Isaac, good to keep noise up in the field.
On came Allwood. Tight bowling, tighter batting. “Don’t mind seeing that boys!” offers Jacques from cover as the Aussie plays a technically flawless drive to an overpitched ball that hadn’t swung or seamed. You’re right, we want to see this, this exact play – it’s part of our plan… “Let’s ‘av A DAY!” reminded Jacques.
The opener passed 50, as I attempted to console Sam from mid-off: “you’re bowling in the right areas, keep it up!”. No audible response, something muttered about batsmen should “play at their own level…” as he ran in once more. This time more luck, a genuine seed from Sam, one of the great balls (M. Nicholas ’05) - the stumps were rattled, and we headed to drinks as happier men.
The middle overs, and Karl brought out the big guns - Hanafi from the pavilion end, displaying strong Hash and Carry through to keeper Rex. Peach reciprocated in tandem, and the oppo got bogged down. They couldn’t handle our Hash and Hash equivalents (I recently failed the CFA). Tidiness from Captain Karl, shambolic spin from White, clinical death bowling from Colonel Claridge, and Millfields finished on 230-8 off the full 40.
Robin and Rex began the Badger response with real confidence. Robin allowed himself the usual one ball sighter, before hitting four back to back 4’s off a young bowler who had just started to enjoy the sport. This fine opening partnership eventually ended, and so we saw Hash come in, hit the biggest six SW London has ever seen, straight down the ground, and get bowled next ball. Perfect. He’s perfect. Next up was Tom G, and he played beautifully, knocking a vital 50, as Millfields inner ring retreated faster than the Wehrmacht in Spring ’45.
Drinks, the Badgers were ahead of the rate, but only just. The sun and game heating up. This was going to be a close one…
Isaac came to the crease, fresh off his Sandhurst acceptance the day before, and marshalled the attack. He was joined by Sam, who had remembered suddenly how to bat, after being struck on the head preventing Just Stop Oil protestors from invading TfL property. The pair combined admirably, and brought the Badgers within sniffing distance of our target, until a skied ball from Sam brought Alex to the crease. He need Only Connect, for a few runs to win, but was untimely bowled. Thereby it was White and Claridge for the last wicket stand, with 4 runs to win and 2 overs in hand.
Dear Reader, alas! - there is not much to note now; as the game saw a rather uneventful, uncontroversial ending, with Isaac calmly knocking off the runs, receiving a well-earned BOTM, and the two sides shaking hands after a clear-cut, hard-fought match. We packed our bags, kicked a football about in the evening breeze; then many re-boarded the Hash Express home. “Do you need a lift?” he kindly offered me,
“All good, thanks Hash, I live nearby… I’ll walk”