Old Mo brought low by J-Lam grand slam

Barford notched up a thrilling, last wicket win in today’s match versus Old Moseley Arms Fit Men. The victory was all the sweeter because it was achieved with only nine men, following a couple of late drop outs. Barford fielded first, with skipper Johnstone having lost the toss, and it soon became clear that the damp pitch was going to be difficult to bat on. Paul Robbins took the new ball and bowled with good control, but the first wicket fell at the other end when the old Mo opener punted a gentle shot in the air over the bowler’s head. It was a situation that had Paul Johnstone written all over it, but Jon Lambdon muscled in to take an excellent catch. It was the first of several (3) key interventions by the enthusiastic tromboner (fact, not euphemism).

Occasional player Simon Morgan snaffled a wicket in his first over, but then Old Mo’s loud number four bat took a liking to the pilot’s pies, smashing him for three consecutive sixes on his way to 32 off 12 balls. He chanced his arm once too often, however, in coming down the wicket to man of the moment Jon Lambon, and yorked himself. It was a key wicket. The spotlight then fell on Simon Morgan who took three wickets in quick succession before drinks, with good catches from Paul Robbins and gloveman Jake. With the innings standing at 87-6 after 20, the game took a long enforced break whilst the Chairman left the field to void his bowels following a party last night. He returned with a cheery “that’s all the runs I’ll get today” and we were under way again.

Simon completed his excellent five-for soon after and Barford seemed well on top, but some decent lower order biffing pushed the score on and Old Mo were finally all out for 145 in the 32nd, following a good catch by Ken. It was a great effort in the field considering we only had 9 men. Yet again the Laminator led by example, throwing himself around in a fine example of precision fielding, mixed in with more representative example of enthusiastic but comical sliding. He ended with the second most brown trousers of the day.

With an excellent tea not quite ready we returned to the field straight away, with Sandy and Jake opening. Both looked in excellent nick but were out cheaply, followed back to the hutch in short order by Fish and Ken. We took tea at ten overs with the score on 30-4 and the situation looking bleak. Those of us who have followed his Barford career, however, know that no situation is bleak when Jon is yet to bat. Meanwhile, back in the real world, PJ did an excellent job of seeing off Old Mo’s good bowlers whilst tucking in to the bad and by the time Simon Morgan came in to bat we needed 60 to win with 12 overs to spare.

By this time the bowling was much less hostile and Simon got stuck in, before being bowled trying to hoik a double bouncer. PJ passed 50 and Paul Robbins came and went, leaving last man Jon trudging to the crease with 24 still needed. With memories of a disasterous performance vs Khalsa in similar circumstances still red raw, the crowd were nervous. We need not have worried, however, as Jon played with a good straight bat whilst PJ farmed the strike and kept the boundaries coming. After a nail biting wait the scores were level before man-of-the-moment Lambon smashed a four to win the game.

PJ finished on a magnificent 69 not out which was a true captain’s innings, scored in difficult circumstances and against good bowling.

Without wishing to end on a downer, this is the third year in succession that we’ve not managed to raise a full team for this fixture – I guess that’s partly because it’s a long way to travel. It’s a nice ground, they make us welcome, the tea is excellent and we’ve had some good games, so I recommend that you put your name down next time.

Simon Hawkins