Sunday June 19th vs The Bushmen

The Bushmen 26 all out (R Frank 5-4-1-4)   Great Missenden Pelicans 152 for 4 (J Greenwood 59, J Rehman 52)

WON by 10 wickets

Man of the Match: Toobes

Bizarre, strange, bewildering, downright odd. You could choose any number of similar adjectives to describe the Pelicans’ win over those Bushmen on Sunday.

In all my years playing cricket, i can say i’ve never won by both 10 wickets and 126 runs in the same game. But that’s what happened on Sunday. Batting first, the Bushmen were rolled over for 26. Yes, that’s 26. So in an effort to rescue some sort of game, both captains agreed the two teams would bat again. The Pelicans piled on the runs and a demoralised Bushmen declined the invitation to bat a second time, so a ‘second’ win was sealed before tea.

The Bushmen have often proved to be tender meat for the Pelis to feast on and on this occasion, something akin to Wagyu beef was served up.

There was no sign of the carnage that followed in the opening over, as the Bushmen batsmen played a couple of crisp drives.

One over later, the rot set in for the visitors to the Meadow as their best batsman had an ill-advised waft and scooped a catch to the welcoming hands of Rags.

A couple of balls later, Toobes clung on to a beauty in the slips – and that set the tone for a brilliant fielding display from the Pelis.

Tony swapped his trampoline gloves for the Gorilla Glue variety as he pouched a superb low diving catch and Toobes clung on to two more stunners, one off his own bowling and the other a diving effort off Adam after the Skipper had introduced spin at both ends.

Adam proved to be the senior partner in the leg spin department, taking two wickets to Asad’s one, but between them and Rags they ensured the Bushmen were skittled out for the lowest score I’ve witnessed on the Meadow.

The decision was taken that the Pelis would have a full innings and Greenwood and Greenwood strode out with purpose.

PG rolled back the years, showing all the elegance of old, with beautiful drives and impressive cuts. Unfortunately, the Bushmen had a field set that PG could not pierce. But his role in the partnership was to see off the new ball. And what a job he did, which allowed JG to cut loose and punish anything slightly off line.

JG’s half century may have looked dominant in the book, but PG’s nuggety 3 in 18 overs cannot be downplayed.

With the Bushmen bowlers weary after coming up against PG’s finest Gandalf impression, Jalil, supported by Tony, cut loose and took the Pelis over the three-figure mark.

Greg and Skip put the icing on the cake and a declaration was made as the Pelis eased past 150.

Josh and Toobes were champing at the bit to have a second crack with the ball, but the Bushmen declined the invitation to have a second hit – and it ultimately proved a wise decision as the rain started to fall shortly after tea.

Job done, in admittedly the strangest of fashions.

Reports are intended to convey an entertaining picture of the day’s play. No disrespect is meant, but if on occasion we misjudge matters, please take it in the friendly and humorous spirit in which it is intended.