BPCC v RAF Sponsored by George Burrows

It was hot and sunny as the teams warmed up for the historic 200th BP ODR fixture, to be the first of two BP matches to be held at the hospitable Derbyshire venue of Ockbrook & Borrowash CC.

BP won the toss and chose to bat with Greg Gillespie and Will Evans doing the honours. The pair took the score to 33 in the 10th over before Gillespie (7) who never settled, was bowled by Binns. Evans made a slow start before launching a towering 6, followed by 3x4’s before he was adjudged lbw 39-2. The next two, in Ryan Watkins and Ted Roe, also look to have forged a partnership before Roe (11) was bowled by Watson, followed shortly by Watkins (13) caught behind, leaving the score 70-4 after 24 overs. The next pair to line up were Duncan Midgley and Ray Doyle and they put on 51 before Doyle (9) had to leave the arena. A middle order collapse was signalled with Midgley (44) bowled by Mirner and Phil Gray (8) lbw to the same bowler 133-7. 36 overs had gone and BP were left staring down the barrel. Richard Jackson and skipper Russ Bryan now had it all to do. In the next 12 overs they put on a splendid 77 runs, with measured defence and selective shots to reach 210. Russ Bryan was the first to go bowled by Mirner having totalled 42 in 39 balls and 45 minutes, 38 coming in boundaries with 5x4’s and 3x6’s, with a massive 6 over long on and two sweeps for 4 back of square off Watson’s slow left arm. The resilient Jackson was finally out for 27 (3x4’s) in the final over. Andy Sidgreaves (5 not out) and Nigel Fretwell (1 not out) ushered the total through to 222 for 9.

The RAF reply stuttered initially with openers Pearce (7) lbw to Bryan and Oliver (14) caught at short cover by Jackson off Fretwell leaving the total 31-2. 46 runs from Fisher and Watson stabilised the reply with the latter bowled by Andy Sidgreaves 77-3. Hill (3) hung around before he was caught and bowled by Richard Jackson. At 102-4 the game was in the balance. Fisher was joined by McGeorge (35) and they sensibly and patiently accrued 85 runs, until McGeorge was lbw to Duncan Midgley’s first ball of the innings 187-5. The RAF never gave BP a sniff and passed the required score with 5 wickets intact in the 47th over. It was fitting that Fisher should hit the winning runs a 4 off Roe, that also brought up his 100 not out. His efforts achieved in 162 minutes from 121 balls, including 15x4’s and 2x6’s. His final partner Bloor made 19 not out with 3x4’s and 1x6 and seemed almost intent on preventing a deserved ton.

The RAF always had the edge in this encounter.

The George Burrows MoM award went to A. Fisher for his 100*. It was was presented on behalf of the Sponsors by the Andy Orpe - Chairman of Ockbrook & Borrowash CC.