Some men are born lucky. Others are born Neil Wood. Playing cricket on his birthday at the ground he loves, Wood opened the batting with a sublime 24, and bagged his first 5 wicket haul of the season in a Brigands victory. After the game, he was seen on the pitch with a pint in hand with the kind of smile you see 007 wear at the end of a Bond movie.
His opening partner, Guy Ladenburg, hit a fine 70, his batting free-spirited and adventurous like Huckleberry Finn, and his classy drives provided a great backdrop to the film interviews taking place on the pavilion balcony.
Dave Turner made an uncomplicated 23. He defended the straight balls and hit the wide ones. The film crew moved from the Pavilion and were flying a drone overhead, capturing the tense moment when Gerry Northwood survived a hat-trick ball, and then the sixes that Dave Henderson hit on his way to a quick-fire 54.
The 200 came up with a wide bowled by author Charlie Campbell; Brigands supporters on the boundary clapped and those playing, unaware of the milestone, assumed it was a local tradition to applaud an opposition wide.
The declaration came in the same over. The young Turner girls told us to expect a great tea because “Mummy makes the best cakes”, and they didn’t exaggerate. A great spread was enjoyed while Brigands Caps were presented to new players this season, Peter Stearn and Rafi Abdeen.
Lee Gray bowled fast down the hill, Rafi Abdeen floated his spinners up it, and into a cross breeze. The Authors openers, Taylor and Duggan, attacked from the start; 26-0 off 5 overs became 56-0 off 10 overs. As cricket-loving Arthur Conan-Doyle might have said, the run chase was afoot.
Neil Wood came into the attack; the change worked and he had his first of the day with an in-swinging middle stump yorker.
The 20th over was pivotal. Rafi came back onto bowl and induced Taylor into an attacking drive too many, and then the very next ball a flighted spinner pitched on leg stump and hit off stump. Wood’s next over removed Wisden columnist Jon Hotten and Brigands were right on top.
Peter Stearn bowled well without reward, and Authors continued to keep the run rate required below 7 per over.
Gerry Northwood came on to confuse the opposition, and he bowled Charlie Campbell in his first over. When the big-hitting Ben Falk hit Rafi towards the Monument, it was a six or out moment; another epic catch from Gray and Brigands had taken 9 wickets with only one wordsmith to go.
As the Number 11 came out to bat wearing white clothes and black pads one wondered whether a similar combination had been seen in 250 years of cricket at Broadhalfpenny Down. It was a fleeting sight that lasted just one ball.
The Brigands and Authors posed for team photos and enjoyed a barbecue and sundowner beer, whilst Neil Wood made a birthday wish that every Sunday could be as special as this one, at the cradle of cricket.
Brigands 205-6 beat The Authors 159 all out by 46 runs.
Thank you to Spice Productions for the aerial photos.
Comments