Barford Cricket Festival

The Gattling Fenns Select VI (It started as 11, went down to 9 for the last game, was down to 6 for the festival, one hopes for at least a dead cat bounce for the next game!) attended the Barford six-a-side cricket festival on 24th June. It was agreed by all that this was a cracking day of cricket as both runs and wickets came fast and furious, I think it’s a cert that we will be entering again next year.

Just to run through the differences in the game for those interested. The teams are made up of only 6 people, so with a wicket keeper and a bowler this leaves just 4 men to cover the entire pitch. Just so it’s equally unfair on the batsmen there are only 5 overs and each of the fielding side, with the exception of the wicket keeper, must bowl only one over.

Just as in the World Cup, each team is guaranteed at least two games, with the first game deciding whether you take part in the Cup competition or the Plate competition.

In the first round, the Gattling Fenns won the toss and decided to field first. The Lemmings decided to show their class and put up the highest score for the first round of 69. Not to be outdone, the Gattlings went out to bat. A very strong partership emerged between Wiggy and Colin and the chase was on. Unfortunately the mountain was just a little too steep and my highlight of the game was telling Geoff when he came on with just two balls to go, “Geoff, you need 2 sixes for us to win!”. We reached 67, which although the second highest score of the first round relegated us to the Plate Championship.

The second round was against “The Joey”. They won the toss and i think it’s fair to say that’s all they won. The Gattlings marched on to an impressive 78, the highest score of the any match played in the day! Obviously this doesn’t sound so impressive if i tell you of the 24 wides that they bowled, so i won’t tell you about them. The Joey, who only managed a miserable 22 in their first round match were always on the back foot. As is always the way, when you’re winning the bowling was outstanding as 4 wickets fell for a very cheap 38, we were now in the Plate Final.

The competition was hotting up, the tension between the two teams was building due to an earlier “Crowd Waving” incident. The Gattlings were put into bat first and things didn’t go as smoothly as they should have done. The earlier rock-steady partnership of Colin and Paddy faltered as Colin was run-out while meandering between the wicket. This was probably due to the “Secret Sweepstake” taken out by the other Fenns on whether it’s possible to get Colin to run 4! We should know better really.

The second blow to our attack was Paddy getting a top edge and then taking the ball to the head and having to retire injured. The middle order collapsed with very few runs leaving Geoff and Tom to pick up the pieces. This they did with some style, managing at one point to run 5 as confusion reigned in the field about who was doing what. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough, we managed to reach 53 but Barford managed to reach this by the 5th over.

It was all over, we won one and lost two, but we had good fun doing so.

The Managers Report:

Barford 6 a side Festival Report.

1st Round: Gattlings 67 Lemmings 69

2nd Round: Gattlings 78 The Joey 38

Plate Final: Gattlings 53 Barford win in 5th over

What a team,what a performance! Geoff (Captain), Colin, Ryan, Tony, Paddy and Tom were the “Magnificent 6″

Given the nature of this type of game with no time to play yourself in whether batting, bowling or fielding this was a splendid effort. The batting, bowling and fielding were excellent as was Tom’s great wicket keeping. Paddy was judged by us to be our ” Man of the Tournament” for his all round effort and for coming back strongly after suffering a nasty blow to his mouth. As usual I was proud of you all.

Pete.

My “Character of the Tournament”? Colin “Sat Nav” Bradley for route directions which enabled Tony and Vanessa to see most of Warwickshire before getting to the ground.