Your correspondent had understood that Friday had been a traumatic day for all associated with the selection processes at Carlton CC. He uses the word selection somewhat loosely for as one after the other players withdrew or declared themselves unavailable, skippers throughout the teams began to realise that they would have to make do with whoever turned up – if anyone.
Your correspondent was unable to make the journey to Largo to observe the Positively 4th XI’s bid for promotion but was on hand at the Inch to witness one of the more bizarre consequences of this week’s selection nightmare. As he arrived at the ground there was a sight to chill the blood. Among the members of the 3rd XI there was a figure bearing a remarkable similarity to Fantasy Bob. Coming closer his hopes that this was simply an illusion caused by the quality of the light at the fag- end of the season were dashed. This was Fantasy Bob indeed, and what was worse, he had his kit with him. The rest of the 3rd XI proceeded energetically with their warm up sensibly ignoring his spectral presence. Brad was on his phone asking Directory Inquiries for the number of an emergency stress counsellor.
Skipper Brad, perhaps unduly affected by this selectorial misfortune, contrived to lose the toss by a margin that would embarrass the skipper of much lower teams and was invited to bat. Black scorch marks on the artificial strip just short of a length were evidence not of serious pace bowling by previous occupants, but of a recent barbeque unthoughtfully positioned by summer revellers. The week’s dampness would slow the outfield so run scoring might present a challenge. The Largo skipper’s decision to insert Carlton looked a decent shout – and he must have felt pretty happy when after 7 overs Carlton were 21-5. A quick finish looked in prospect as early damage, when neither Matt Wells nor Ben Thurman got the measure of the slow pitch and spooned up simple catches, had been spectacularly compounded by a well taken hat-trick from one of the several Baddeleys in the Largo ranks.
David Simpson survived the remainder of the over and indeed survived the rest of the innings. Bit by bit he and George Lamb dragged Carlton back into the match in an excellent partnership. After 20 overs the score was on 70 and both batsmen looked comfortable. They could then accelerate and George began to hit out, passing 50 soon after. He motored steadily to three figures with a series of maximums. George was now in full control and resisted the temptations of the senior Baddeley’s moon balls. David sensibly played the ball into the spaces to give George the strike and survived a couple of tight run out calls as the pair stepped things up. After 30 overs the score was a healthy looking 126. Largo were wilting, Sneddon must have covered miles in the outfield chasing ball after ball. David brought up his own 50 – what was that noise - was it the crowd going wild – no it was the quaint rituals of the rugby match on the adjacent pitch. George – well past 100 now showed no mercy to the youngest Baddeley but eventually holed out to him for a superb 137. As good an innings as your correspondent has seen in a long time. Rob Grisenthwaite escorted David through the final overs and the latter ended unbeaten on 65 (this report may be the first that Kerry has heard of David’s innings). The innings finished with the total on 217-6.
With 217 on the board, tea tasted better to Carlton than had seemed likely a couple of hours earlier. Things got even better as Brad (2-18) got a wicket with the first ball of the innings, and then bowled the other opener in his second over. Shaun (1-30) also got on the scoresheet trapping Sneddon LBW with a yorker and Largo, already understaffed, were 32-3 after 8. However just as in the Carlton innings the batters now dug in as the experienced pair of Baddeley and Brown put together a partnership. At the half way point they had got to 82 and maybe it was going to be their day. Neither looked troubled and they had pushed on to 94 in the 23rd over. Then the roof fell in. Big time. Brown drove Callum Sibley. The ball was in the air. It looked to have cleared Fantasy Bob, who was minding his own business at mid-on, but the ancient crock somehow lifted his frame from the ground, arched backwards and grabbed it. Stunned silence. 9 balls later it was all over. Ben (2-11) twirled 2 out in the next over. Callum (3-16) then took 2 from 2 and will start next season on a hat-trick. Bowling to veteran Mowat he successfully targeted the barbeque marks and the ball shot through the defensive stroke. Mowat expressed his great contentment at the form of his dismissal, warmly commending the pitch and the excellent quality of the bounce to everyone as he made his way back to the boundary. Largo were all out for 96 in the 25th over.
This was a good win for the 3s – with extra special performances from George and David. The result means they finish the season in a respectable mid-table position.
The team coped admirably with the handicap of having Fantasy Bob among them. Your correspondent has noted previously that Fantasy Bob has gone through this season not batting and not bowling in the 4th XI. The selectors should be commended for giving him a chance to show his ability to not bat and not bowl at a higher level.
