Dive Bombs and Fizz Bombs

Here's a little song to play whilst you read the blog...



Thank God for Slogger Sal.

When Sally's in, you can lean on your bat like a little old lady with a walking stick, knowing that no running will be required. You can catch your breath, and watch with confidence, knowing that she will do one of the following things -

1 - Smack the ball beautifully for 4 - not just the hooky shot thing, but all around the pitch, sending fielders to plodge around in the nettles, the caravan park, Daisy's garden, the rugby club house, the railway line, river...

...OR, she'll

2 - SWISH!!!......and miss

OR, she'll even

3 - Play a lovely defensive shot. You can almost hear the 'devil' in Sal's head shouting 'Whack it Sally! Go on man just give it another whack!' She listens to him for a fraction of a second, lining herself up for another swipe, but then Sally's angel interupts 'Nooooooo, Sally! What the bloody hell are you doin' man! Defend! Defend!' and then phew! she listens and does it - just in the nick of time. You can almost hear the sigh of relief from the crowd back at the clubhouse.

but then, sometimes there can also be the

4 - SWISH!...miss......P-linky linky tink.

BUT these days, its usually after a BIG score - and Sal was really unlucky last night with ANOTHER full toss dive bomber ball that fell from the sky with a direct hit onto the stumps - just when she was starting to get the other team worried - REALLY worried!

The dive bombers just keep getting wor Sal!

She was disappointed and I was gutted. The little old lady would have to start doing some running...

It was the Corbridge Angels v Stocksfield 2nds game.

Young Northumberland county squad v's 6 creaky old ladies (one with feverish plague-like symptoms) and the 2 young lasses, wor Chloe and wor Jen.

Stocksfield were all set to thrash us as usual, and we were all set to be thrashed.

We fielded first. The bowling wasn't the greatest ever, but Cheryl still managed to do well despite being on the point of death. Loopy Sewell and Chloe the Rocket both claimed a Stocksfield scalp each.

Then - our captain stepped up, and with Kazza ready and waiting at mid-on-half-point-silly-slip-deep-mid-off-point-wicket, the Stocksfield lass hit it high up the air. 'Catch it!' yelled the captain in an encouraging but rather desperate voice.

Kazza was never going to drop it. She had her specs on, she has the safest hands in the team. She is the 'Catching Chomse.'

Sure enough she took it well, and then ANOTHER one a short while later. FABULOUS, and 2 wickets to Mrs Tiff! Get in!

Meanwhile, wor Kerry behind the stumps did a fantastic job, and didn't let a single ball (apart from the wides!) go past her!

By the end of their innings, Stocksfield had reached 100 runs for 4 wickets.

Time for Slogger Sal and Steady Scottie.

Things were looking great, until the dive bomber ball that got Sally out for 20.

In trooped the reinforcements - Chloe first - and WHAT an innings! Some lovely defensive shots, a great 4 and some lovely singles. The BEST we've seen yet of our canny youngster with the bat!

During our partnership, I managed to hit the ball hard for once - but it sailed right up in the air towards one of their fielders. Once again I could hear the intake of breath from the gathering crowds at the clubhouse. When she dropped it,  a most unlady-like cheer rang out, led by my partisan husband. So unsporting, but so lush.

When Mrs Captain came in, she had to trudge off 2 balls later - oot to a very tricky ball.  I could hear the umpire muttering as he replaced the bails. 'Aal that bloody practice, shockin', just shockin. She's gonna be telt mind. Shockin'.' 

Catching Chomse was up next, and put in a decent performance - we grabbed the singles when we could and kept the score board ticking over steadily.

With Chomse oot next, in came Death-bed Durkin. Once again, we managed a few runs before Cheryl was caught by their wicky.

There were only a couple of overs left, and in came wor Jen.

'Listen to the call,' I said, 'we're going to try and run every ball.'

'Ok,' she agreed, 'no problem.'

Jen was facing. The bowler pitched it right up and the ball was heading straight for the stumps. She got her bat on it and the ball trickled safely away - 3 inches down the wicket.

'RUN!' I yelled, charging towards her like a wild bison. Cheers again from the crowd. No LBW this time. Jen had her first run of the season! Woohoo!

I caught Eddie out of the corner of my eye - he was swinging a bat around madly, demonstrating how I should now be whacking the ball. It really made me laugh.

We tried, but we just couldn't reach their score. However, with an impressive 87 runs, we were SO close, and we really gave them a proper scare.

By the time my innings was over and my helmet removed, I looked like a strawberry fizz-bomb. (Remember them?) But I had just run the equivalent of 925.372 metres dressed in a michelin man outfit whilst dying for a wee....

Fizz bombs, for those of you who don't remember...

I bloody loved it. And it was the BEST team performance we've put in yet.

Thank you to our ever-growing army of supporters. I'm glad we gave you such a good game to watch! Thank you to Aaron, Steve and our pal Chris Catnach.

Lovely tea as ever. Can't wait to see you all at Greenside on Monday. Hopefully my legs will have recovered by then...