Band of Brothers CC 283 for 7 off 56 Dec
Tonbridge School 183 all out 46 overs
Band of Brothers win by 100 runs
A gloriously sunny day greeted the Brethren on their arrival at the Head for the game against Tonbridge School, a fixture which first appeared in the BB card in 1885. Last year’s utter capitulation was on everyone’s mind and a significant factor in selecting perhaps the deepest batting line up in BB history. Still, old wounds heal slowly and before the toss it was agreed between the brethren that, upon winning, we would bowl first so as to control the game. All were very glad for this lengthy conversation when the Skipper, Regan, promptly lost the toss and the BB were put into bat.
Brothers Roberts and Burnap strode out to the middle and started confidently on a good-looking wicket, the largest cheer of the day came within 10 overs as the BB passed last year’s losing total of 42 all out. The pitch was deceiving however, and, despite an uncharacteristically critical Brother Hulbert, demanding strike rates in excess of 200 whilst lobbying for a promotion to number 3, it was obvious a more attractional approach to batting was required than of years gone by. Brother Burnap raised his bat for a fine knock before edging behind for 55, 104-1. Brother Paget was next though was unlucky to be the first of 6 victims of off-spinner Hazari-Webb and both Roberts and Candidate Williams opened up before lunch before the latter was well caught on the mid-wicket boundary for an eye catching 21 to leave the BB 145-3 at the break.
After refreshments in the Pavilion, the BB looked to kick on and push for a declaration. Guest Neiwoudt was brilliantly caught at slip off a well struck reverse sweep and Brother Bryan, just returned from surgery, was well stumped to leave the BB at 189-5 off 42 overs, in danger of wasting a good start. Roberts was soon to follow, agonisingly short of another BB hundred, LBW for 91 which included 3 enormous maximums. However, this only served to bring the ‘bomb squad’ of Brothers Hulbert and Richardson together. Both struck multiple boundaries combining powerful hitting down the ground with deft paddles and reverse sweeps to put on 76 runs in 10 overs before Richardson was caught for 39, leaving Regan just enough time to improve his pitiful average on the Head with a vital 3 not out before declaring tactically to ensure Hulbert was stranded on 45 not out and the BB on 283-7. Plaudits must go to Hazi-Webb for his 6/99 off 22 overs.
Hulbert took the new ball and almost immediately brought about dividends as he had the opener caught behind in the first over. Richardson started at the pavilion end with his ever-flightier medium pace as he furthers his evolution into the Jazzhat Darren Stevens. His masterful slow long hop accounted for the school’s ‘gun player,’ Seecheran, caught at mid-wicket by Neiwoudt before the introduction of spin produced another wicket for Guest Youngs to leave the school 35-3 at tea with the BB well on top. The Brethren carried on the uncharacteristically strong fielding performances of this year, with a good catch under a high ball from Burnap and solid work in the covers from Paget, Williams and Huggett, although the skipper, tired of collecting throws from around his ankles quickly instructed his charges to return the ball softly to the bowler’s end. Special mention must go to Brother Bryan for stopping two clear boundaries at 2nd slip off Hulbert.
From here, it seemed only two results were possible as the BB took another 3 quick wickets, with more and more spin being extracted from the surface. Youngs bowled with flight and guile in taking a fine 4/45, two more to catches from Neiwoudt. With 4 wickets required from the final 20 it seemed the game was heading to a quick finish. However, all were treated to an aggressive 70 from the school’s Pike at number 6, who took a particular liking to the off spin of Brother Huggett. Huggett however showed his quality, never panicking and eventually got his man caught at cow corner, again by that man Neiwoudt, before taking a further 2 wickets in his next 5 deliveries, one to an excellent diving catch by Bryan at cover, showing off in his preferred position, as the BB looked to wrap the game up with the school on 154-9 with 13 overs remaining.
However, a reminder to all why we play declaration cricket, the last pair hung on. It was not chanceless; two sharp chances went down in the slips off Huggett and another chance went begging as Richardson was slow to react at a new position for him of short leg. Suddenly there was only 2 overs to survive. The pace of Hulbert returned to break the gutsy resistance of the tail. Brothers Durham and Whyte, watching from the boundary, overheard a spectator scoff at ‘5 slips on the Head’ but at this point all seemed lost, the BB seemed destined to throw away their chance to claim their first victory over the school since 2017 before, with just 3 balls of the penultimate over remaining, Hulbert managed to coax some lateral movement from the pitch to see an edge flash towards the grabbers. Strangled shouts of catch followed as all heads shot towards third slip and erupted as the catch was held, unbelievably by Neiwoudt again to claim his 5th of the innings, the BB victors by 100 runs.
It was hard on the final pair, Van der Spay and Hastie, who showed great character in surviving an impressive 75 balls on an increasingly tricky pitch, but the BB were relieved to reverse the wrongs of last year. Our thanks as ever go to the School for hosting us again in this historic fixture.
Up the BB!
Reegs
