Despite what had been a fantastic week for my foxes, securing promotion last week with victory over Obelisk in convincing fashion, and the weather being beautiful all week, I arrived at Foxfields on what was a gloomy, potentially wet day. None the less spirits were high amongst the GP boys, with a very strong field of 19 to select from this week, my boys had what would be one of the strongest teams I’ve seen this season. The main absentee was big RP who I’m told voluntarily sat out to make way for the younger players!
Todays Opponents were Thrapston who still chasing promotion themselves were looking confident. Having beaten my foxes earlier this year they must have thought they would be in for another walk over, how wrong they would be…
Tony tiger won the toss and elected to bat first a decision welcomed by all the GP boys! Thrapston would be fielding with 10 meaning plenty of gaps in the field for the boys to find. We opened with the tried and trusted partnership of Abercrombie (Jonny) and Little Finger (JB). As usual GP started slow getting their eyes in against the bowlers. Jonny fell cheaply bringing young Luca to the crease. Little Finger and Luca took the boys all the way to drinks scoring a solid 60 odd in the process giving the foxes a great start. Both made half centuries following drinks and embraced each other in the middle. (You would have thought they’d both scored 200)
A rain delay came meaning lots of tea and biscuits and everyone huddled for shelter but we were back under way in no time. Some comedy here too as OD and his dog managed to get tangled up in the chairs sending them and OD flying at the same time! I nearly fell out of my seat from laughing so hard.
Then came the first bit of controversy of the day. Steely, stood at square leg umpiring, flagged the lady bowler from Thrapston for ‘chucking’ the ball and gave a no ball. This infuriated many members of the Thrapston team because apparently, she had been through testing and as she was a ‘county player’ so therefore it was okay. The controversies continued as young Luca was later bowled by the chucker and it was not given as a no ball and so off he trotted for a well made 50. Steve would later point out this was also a no ball, but he did not want to give it as he felt it would have led to fisticuffs.
Next came the fireworks as out came rocket Ryan chasing the batting trophy he came (out as he does) swinging. He started well before a mix up between him and Little finger led to the latter departure via run out. We say ‘mix up’ Ryan shouting NO repeatedly at Justin as he continued to shuffle down the wicket before eventually trying to return to his crease at no avail. Seems like Justin was the only one mixed up in that scenario. He shouted something about targeting the fielder as he came off but nothing could really defend his poor moment of madness.
To finish off the innings Ryan accompanied by anand scored quickly taking the foxes total up towards the chartered 200. Ryan fell for a quickfire 40 which brought John Mason to the crease. He smashed the ball around for a super-fast 39 propelling GP to a season high 232-4 a truly brilliant effort.
After teas which were supplied by Steely and Luca this week, GP headed out to bowl with a very solid total on the board and knew victory would take them one step closer to the league trophy. Tiger opened the bowling with Magic Manik and Ollie Ollie sweet trolly who both got off to a fast and quite frankly brilliant start. Ollie removed the opener and number 3 without either troubling the scoresheet and Manik built pressure from the other end and got a scalp of his own too, an excellent catch by Abercrombie at first slip. On came captain tiger and Anand after a good opening spell, both of them adding to the wickets total.
A few dropped catches in the field this week none more comical than what can only be described as a dolly for magic manik which he shelled bringing laughter from the opposition players on the boundary. Not that they had much to smile about mind as 2 wickets for Little Finger and another run out for Sweet trolly and john mason took GP to a comfortable victory, winning by over 130 runs!!
Next week me and my boys travel to Old knowing that maximum points will guarantee us the league title with a game to spare, no pressure then!
GO FOXES
Dot xoxo
