Page and Pollington started things off against a lively opening pair. Both were thankful that the more youthful and athletic bowler had bowed to seniority meaning some of his venom was removed by the strong headwind he had been asked to bowl into. Bowling of consistent high quality continued and the scoring pace remained far from modern as regular wickets fell. B.B. were thus left on a rather precarious 118-7 at lunch with Pollington having fallen shortly before the break after a top edge whilst poised on 49.
The only thing that stopped complete B.B. doom and gloom at lunch was the Côte du Pape (a good value Rhône just outside the famous official appellation), which Hilly kindly produced and the fact that a determined Regan and Richardson were now at the crease and had not been seen to touch a drop of the wine. Cornwallis and Whyte were also left to follow them, with the latter looking to be timing his arrival from Lewes perfectly for the no. 11 berth...if not the lasagne and profiteroles.
BB's hope, and the need to consider a declaration, increased after the break with Regan and Richardson looking comfortable and scoring more freely. By 40 overs they had admirably rescued the situation to a more respectable 200 and soon after completed a match turning and emphatic 100 partnership. However, whilst the hope returned, the need for a declaration did not. Richardson was bowled soon after for 46 before Cornwallis got himself out caught and stumped in the same ball and Whyte thought safest to leave a ball that cut back and took his middle stump. This left the indomitable Regan stranded on 62 and B.B. all out for 233 with no real idea of par.
The wind had by now died a little and conditions had become rather more humid. This produced some treacherous late swing for Richardson and Cornwallis who had taken the dark, new Readers ball. Both bowled superbly against the Seagull’s top order batsmen who had shown early indications of some class with a spattering of meaty cover drives and deft glances. Perhaps as a result of being a bit too expansive for such swinging conditions, the Seagulls were reduced to 43-4 at tea with the final wicket from Cornwallis a particularly aggressive in-swinger which skittled the off stump accompanied by a loud and unexpected roar from his Hon.
B.B. had the Seagulls firmly on the ropes as the game entered the final session and the Brethren returned from their tea well fed and ready to go for the jugular. Brother's Regan, Baird and Hill played a rotating and supporting role in achieving this as Cornwallis continued his energetic disruption of their batting line-up from the far end. As Cornwallis claimed his fifth wicket in ten overs, the Seagulls appeared to have entered an irreversible nose dive at 57-6, which was only confirmed further by a somewhat dubiously granted LBW appeal by brother Hill to dismiss their captain.
Having reached 100 with 7 wickets down, the Seagulls score looked to mirror that of the B.B. earlier in the day. Whilst the tail couldn't possibly boast the talent of B.B's and the game looked safe, overs were in shortening supply as the countdown from 5.30pm was now well under way with victory tantalisingly close. Brother T Page's languid leg spin was therefore called upon to try and break a partnership developing between Hadcock H, their last remaining top order batsman now on 42 and his brother, Hadcock L who had joined him at the crease. It took one ball...a half tracker which was hit high into the now brighter Torry Hill sky with a pumped up Cornwallis waiting underneath. Despite a running commentary as to the difficulty of the catch from the fielder in question as the ball towered above him, the ball was held. Two balls later and ball was back in Cornwallis's hands after an even more impressive catch diving forwards to remove the other brother. With this the drama all but ended with Regan claiming the last man LBW and B.B. claiming an emphatic 102 run victory in this inaugural and most enjoyable fixture.
Ale was taken after the game at the Chequers in Doddington in what had turned into a balmy and bright Summer's evening.
