2020 season

The 2020 cricket season was a long time coming, after the virus lockdown banned recreational cricket for much of the summer. When it was allowed to restart, Bushy Park Girls were ready to go!

28 July 2020 – Hampton Hill U14B vs BPG U16

Score – BPG 149/3; Hampton Hill 153/2 – Hampton Hill win

In a fixture that is always closely fought and anticipated, BPG were put straight in to bat and, after an unfortunate early wicket for captain P Goodwin, the partnership of M Bartlett and E Abbott got down to business. The boundaries just kept coming, with Bartlett  eventually succumbing with an outstanding 56 runs from 60 balls and Abbott with 25 off 40 balls. Next in to bat were E Goodwin and honorary BPG player T Bryce making his second appearance, and between them they continued the momentum. E Goodwin eventually scored 17 off 14 balls and T Bryce 18 off 10 balls in a masterclass of a pairing that was a delight to watch. With a strong target set of 150, BPG were confident but also acutely aware that with two players short, the oppo would maximise on the gaps in the field. And that is exactly what they did unfortunately.

Although the bowling was disciplined and the girls worked hard in the field, particularly L Armstong, E Bryce, P Goodwin and A Apte, wickets from M Bush and M Bartlett were not enough and the oppo eventually took victory in the 19^th over with a stunning 70-run knock from one of their openers.

Always a good, close match and one the spectators love to watch, but ultimately a shortage of players made the difference this time around. The girls (and one boy) can be proud of the way they executed themselves though and there was some outstanding cricket on show.

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 27 July 2020 – Richmond U14 vs BPG U14

Score -BPG 89/6; Richmond 90/3 – Richmond win

With all fingers crossed that the rain would stay away, BPG U14s travelled to Richmond with some new players making their debut for the team. Always a tough fixture, this one was no different with BPG electing to bat first. Although the opening batters did a good initial job, it fell to the middle order to make gains, with captain E Goodwin retiring on 30 from 30 balls and M Bush scoring an impressive 18 off 19 balls. But with a target of 90 set, the girls would need to be strong and focussed in the field. An early flurry of wickets for E Goodwin, A Apte and C Dexter were unfortunately not enough to keep the oppo at bay, but the girls can be proud of their tenacity and spirit during the game. Notable in the field were B Ellis, E Jones, V Sleight, L Armstrong and L Sexton, with B Sheridan proving a safe pair of hands in her spell as wicket keeper.

Better luck next time, girls!

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Saturday 25 July

Bushy Park Girls U10s vs Sheen U10s. BPG’s first U10s match!

Pairs cricket rules

Score: Sheen 305, BPG 226

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Thursday 23 July

U14s in MCA U12s Boys league: BPG vs. Teddington B

Score: Teddington 177 for 8, BPG 56 all out

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21 July 2020 – Hounslow & Whitton U14B vs BPG U16

Score – BPG 83/0; Hounslow 80/7 – BPG win

In the first match of the shortened season, the girls were giddy with excitement as they took to the field to bowl first. With a player short, honorary BPG sibling T Bryce stepped in as trusty wicket keeper. Some fantastic spells meant that the girls came away with 7 wickets, particularly from J Jordan (2 overs; 14 runs; 2 wickets), I Higgins (3 overs; 13 runs; 2 wickets), P Goodwin (2 overs; 7 runs; 2 wickets) and R Davis (2 overs; 3 runs; 1 wicket). The team was also very tight and disciplined in the field, with notable skills on show from M Bush, E Bryce, E Mayhew and E Abbott. The oppo set a target of 81 and it fell to captain P Goodwin and younger sibling E Goodwin to open the batting. Both batted confidently, with neither wanting to fall first. In the end, they both carried their bats with final quotas of 39 from 38 balls for E Goodwin and 29 off 39 balls for P Goodwin.

A great start to the season!

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Monday 20 July – U14 MCA Girls league: Ealing vs Bushy Park Girls

Score to follow

 

Pre-2020 season

BPG’s first day-night game

Its not just a cricket bat and some gloves you need when you play for Bushy Park Girls these days. You best be armed with at least a wooden stake and some garlic and after Tuesday night’s game against Ealing  I will be popping down to Teddington Sports to see if they can’t get some made with our very own logo.

Yes, Tuesday was another first for BPG when we played our first day night game. I will warn you that subscriptions may need to increase significantly next year as we found that phone torches were really not an adequate replacement for good old fashioned floodlights.

Anyway, back to events on the pitch. The sun was out when most of the BPG team rocked up about 5pm at the Teddington clubhouse for a 5.30 start. Unfortunately, the clubhouse was shut and there was no sign of the oppo. With Sunset due at 8.15 this wasn’t ideal.

We only had 10 on paper but Jacqs sporting a fetching new look of two sets of glasses (normal glasses with sunglasses over the top which I am sure will be all the fashion soon) was somehow persuaded to don a BPG green top. I personally thought it really complemented the glasses look. So we had 11. Or did we? As a quick count up revealed no sign of KJ. A text and a phone call ensued but no reply and we still don’t know where she is! We can only hope the oppo didn’t get to her first.

Anyway by 5.20 the clubhouse had fortunately open, stumps were up and the scoreboard ready. However, only a few Ealing players had arrived. James was on his way with others but apparently his flight from Transylvania had been delayed.

With the sun about to disappear behind the trees a figure was spotted with others trailing behind carefully keeping to the shadows to avoid the last of the sun’s rays. Sadly one of their number was not so careful so that by the time they reached the clubhouse they only had a 10. A flash of light and small pile of ashes on the outfield the only visible remains of their 11^th player.

This was going to be a good toss to win. We lost and were in the field.

So, what to say of the Ealing innings? We started very promisingly. Erin and Evie opened the bowling and we got a run out early as the batter forgot to ground her bat as Molly took the ball from Paiges’ throw and whipped off the bails. The non striker had almost run 2 by then but the other opener hadn’t completed the 1^st run!

In Evie’s second over the other opener went for a shot too many and hit a steepler to Molly who took the catch. 21-2. Maybe we would finish before the bats started flying and something evil lurked from the dark. Perhaps it would be a Thriller.  Sadly, it was a no to both of these. Erin, Evie, Paige, Simrat, Abi and Millie searched desperately to put a stake through the heart of the Ealing batting but the ball flew in all directions. Jacqs displayed some lovely footwork in the field putting Ronaldo to shame, Kate got solidly behind the ball which kept coming her way and Dawn noticeably improved her fielding when her daughters were bowling in fear of retribution. But despite all their efforts, a few bruises and a broken nail the Ealing bloodsuckers racked up a formidable 153-2 off their 20 overs.

At about 7.30, with the sun slowly sinking below the horizon the BPG reply began. Molly and Paige got us off to a good start and helped by some extras took us to 35 off 5 overs before Molly tried one ambitious shot too many and fell to a catch. Abi came to the wicket in the gathering gloom intent on trying to seize the initiative. Runs flowed freely as the sun completely disappeared and darkness started to shroud the ground. With 70 up after 10 overs the BPG team and supporters, tightly gripping their silver crosses had a glimmer of hope. But darkness is the vampire’s best friend. Abi lost the ball in the background and was bowled. Millie strode to the wicket swinging her wooden stake to intimidate the opposition. Regrettably the stakes behind her were immediately shattered as she took a swing at what she thought was the ball but was actually Mars. Evie left the haven of light in the clubhouse to try her best but Ealing sensed blood and 2 balls later Evie went the way of Millie although this time it was Venus to blame. As a BBC film crew set up nearby to broadcast the latest edition of the Sky at Night Erin our very own pocket rocket took up the mantle. Sadly, it was all too brief as she too succumbed.

20.23 and 12 overs in

Paige continued to bat serenely repelling the beasts as they edged closer. Simrat joined her in a brief stand before Paige was hunted down and run out. By this time it was proper dark. Ealing decided it would be good idea to change their wicket keeper half way through an over. Top idea.  As phone lights went on to help the scorers there was only one person who could save us. No it wasn’t Sarah Michelle Gellar but our very own vampire slayer. Dawn. Fear glinted in the eyes of the Ealing players. Simrat and Dawn took the attack to the opposition. Runs started to flow again although it was difficult to see where the ball had gone. The score crept over the 100 but just as we thought we might all be saved Dawn took one risk too many and Ealing pounced. There was still time for Kate (at least I think it was Kate but I couldn’t really see) to face 2 balls and scamper a run but the innings ended on 107 – 7 after 20 overs. The match ending in what was really complete darkness!

In what seemed like seconds the Ealing team dispersed into the night. Led away by the heartless Count as they took to the wing. I re-entered the clubhouse, my eyes tried to accustom to the light and I thought for a second I had entered a bar with George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino but it turned out just to be Ted and Ben. Ted shook his head “Did they look like psychos? Is that what they looked like? They were vampires. Psychos do not explode when sunlight hits them” (if you haven’t seen the film worth a watch but not one for the younger members!).

My thanks to Ealing and to James (no offence taken I hope 😊). Many thanks to Ben for risking his life and umpiring (was that a trickle of blood I saw on your neck?), to Jacqs for agreeing to play at the last minute avec glasses and Ted for trying to sort me out a bigger option for scoring! Onwards and upwards.

Darkness falls across the land
The midnight hour is close at hand
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize y’all’s neighborhood