Burton Leonard Home

Another wet week, another hot Saturday and Blubbs entertained Burton Leonard at The Brennan Oval. Normal service was resumed as Captain Sherman lost the toss and Blubbs were in the field. With Splinter out, presumed fishing, and Bupa rumoured to be seeking counselling in Portsmouth, this week saw the return of Pepperami Man and Mad Frankie, who decided his toys were better back in the pram.

Captain Winton and moody Aussie Laves opened up the attack, and Rangeley helped himself to a 4 off the 1^st ball of the innings. Winton got his revenge a few overs later, flattening the off stump. Blaken come in – and walked back out, Winton trapping him first ball LBW. Townsend and Wray set about rebuilding. Winton slowed his bowling down, and gave the opportunity to Butch to stand up. With Townsend in the 20s, Butch dropped a snick and a bemused Winton trudged to slip for Laves’ next over. Things got worse as an aerial drive to Bobby ‘Tommy K Jr’ Lowe saw a missed chance.

“I didn’t see it because of Maltas’ car” – Rob Lowe

Sherman replaced the show pony and Frankie replaced Laves, but the runs continued to flow. A despairing Sherman had enough of his mis-firing shells and asked Bobby to warm up. Winton took it upon himself to persuade the skipper to keep himself on, and after a poor Frankie over, Sherman agreed. Instant reward, as Wray snicked to the hapless keeper who decided to catch the ball using his cleavage rather than gloves and smile began to break through to Sherman. Bobby replaced Frankie and, although it was evident he’d forgotten the LBW rule, kept the runs tight.

Parker thought he’d gotten away with an aerial shot when he saw Tommy K Jr under the catch but after a 7 for the theatrical dive and roll, Sherman had his 2^nd wicket and Leonard were 141-4. This became 141-5 as Winton brought himself on for 1 over instead of Bobby and bowled Murray for 0, who couldn’t work out how he got bowled whilst stood in square legs pocket. A lofted catch towards the bucket hands of Arnie looked like the end for Townsend, but the care bear was concentrating more on his teas and shelled the chance. Bobby came back on after Winton’s over and almost claimed the dangerman. A mis-timed drive headed towards an invigorated Sherman, who charged in and saw the ball drop a yard away from his despairing swan dive. 

Laves came on after Bobby to finish his overs and charged in. 2 wickets fell in an over as Bungle remarkably held onto a simple catch, and Laves holding onto a caught and bowled. Even more surprising than a Bungle catch, Laves managed to pitch a pigeon killer and Stewart managed to sweep a simple catch to Sherman at silly mid-on.
Leonard, on 168-8, soon finished 190 all out as Laves claimed the final 2 wickets and his first michelle for the club.

Butch and Angry strode out to the wicket and looked to make a solid start. After a few loose deliveries, Murray lost the plot and, in a moment of petulance, threw the ball back at Butch after a straight drive. Butch responded with a 4 but was unable to sweep the ginger afro from his eyes, missing a straight one from Crompton and was bowled for 5. Bobby was in and 2 balls later out again, a full delivery from Crompton was adjudged LBW and Blubbs were 12-2

Winton arrived at the crease and he, and Angry, helped themselves to some loose deliveries from Murray to take the score to 41 before an inside edge onto the stumps saw Angry trudging back and Arnie making his way to the wicket, keen to make amends for his drop. After some steady bowling, Leonard turned to Parker who claimed the wicket of Winton, mis-queing a full toss straight in the air. 64-4 became 65-6 as Laves missed a straight delivery from Kettlewell, and a loose shot from Bungle off Parker saw the stumps rattled and both men back in the hut for 0.

Sherman and Arnie took the score past 100 and a win was still a possibility before Sherman missed a slow full toss and was LBW to Parker for 11. Frankie was next in, and Arnie was next out. A nudge to short fine leg from Arnie, a cry of yes, yes yes, no, no, no, sorry from Frankie and Blubbs were 115-8 and Arnie out for 35.

“I didn’t realise how close he was because of the shadows on the pitch” - John Frazer

Titchie came in at 10 and hooked a full toss off his nose for 6. Thoughts that Blubbs could win were still floating about until Frankie missed a straight one and Pepperami Man was in, still 70 short. After some prodding, Pepperami charged and smashed a couple 4s to keep the game interesting, but with the score 137, it came to an end as Pepperami’s defence could not cope with a full toss from Blaken, and Blubbs were staring at another loss and a shambolic batting performance.

Points: Blubberhouses 1, Burton Leonard 5

Fielding Points:

Fact of the day: Catching practice is invaluable and urgently required as new excuses are becoming even more far-fetched.

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