CAPTAIN BEDFORD BLASTS GRASSMOOR TO VICTORY

GRASSMOOR WORKS 205 FOR 2 BLYTH 203 FOR 7

BASSETLAW AND DISTRICT LEAGUE ONE AT BARNES PARK

4 JUNE 2022 --- 1PM

GREAT AFTERNOON FOR GRASSMOOR CAPTAIN BEDFORD

Grassmoor captain Adam Bedford played a massive part in their victory over basement club Blyth at Barnes Park.  With an unbeaten century and 3 for 34 with the ball he led his side to victory after the visitors, residing in bottom spot, looked to have posted a challenge total of 203 for 7 from their 40 overs.  

Thankfully local cricket was available again and where better than what has now become my nearest club after crossing the village boundary, passports, visas checked and all that I was allowed into Grassmoor on what was a overcast and cold afternoon for watching at least with the wind, in fact it felt more like end of season September than June.  Still can't grumble most of the cricket before as been shirt sleeved stuff so far this season.

JOHN DONALDSON FLYNG HIGH FOR GRASSMOOR

The sports pavilion in Barnes Park had been completely replaced from its old wooden structure to a new modern establishment which both football and cricket have been using for a year but due to the problems of recent times had not been officially opened but it was great to see that on the Thursday before the game it received that honour.  That honour fell to Grassmoor legend Edwin 'tat' Smith former Derbyshire County Cricket Club player and coach who we met at the game against Blidworth at the start of the season, so a lovely gesture from the club.

JOHN KENWARD NASH THREE WICKETS FOR GRASSMOOR

There was of course a limitation to spectators today in the conditions and it was a day for keeping the coat zipped up and moving around.  Grassmoor won the toss and put Blyth in to bat and with the visitors struggling for form there was a wonder of whether to expect an early finish but that theory was soon put to bed with 55 put on for the first wicket before Carl Curran [18] fell caught by captain Bedford off the bowling of John Kenward Nash, indeed the spinner took out the top three of the visitors line up Daniel Jarvis [46] and Scott Hammond [16].  There was a steady stream of players getting established but failing to go on to make a big score indeed the top eight all got into double figures but a constant was the fall of wickets and here Bedford accounted for Rob Davy [20], Luke Dymyd [16] and Ryan Stubbins [10] with the other wicket that of Geoff Cooper [16] run out by Andy Woolven.  But the visitors stuck at the task and were some would have thrown their innings away they made sure they batted their forty overs out with captain Thomas Fisher [13*] and Mathew Bowen [2*] there at the close.

Grassmoor had Bedford with his triple and Kenward Nash returned 3 for 37.

MARK CRAIN GRASSMOOR WORKS CC

There was still a chance to purchase a few draw tickets even though there was little crowd there today and credit to the lady who undertakes this for the club on a match day.  As previously mentioned so many clubs don't seem to bother with things like this or with their social media accounts but Grassmoor have kept theirs going this season which is always great for their profile and of course you just never know who might be taking a look at you as a club.

ANDY WOOLVEN AND CARL BOWLING ARM FOLDING CONTEST

Tea interval breaks seem to take in similar walks at Pilsley its the old pit canteen walk and here at Grassmoor a stretch to the country park and nearby housing estate to keep the joints moving before a return sees the umpires walking to the middle for the Grassmoor reply.

MARK CRAIN 48 FOR GRASSMOOR

That reply didn't start in the best of ways when Woolven [4] fell on the last ball of he first over but it brought Bedford [100*] to the crease with opener Mark Crain[48] they put on 131 for the second wicket and moved through the gears to set a firm base for the home side to confidently approach the target.  When Crain fell it brought John Donaldson [34] to the crease and he hit a quick flurry that saw 'works' get on top of the scoring rate and allow a sensible approach of stroking the ball to all parts of the outfield as Bedford secured his century with a single that saw Donaldson glance the next ball to the boundary to secure victory by eight wickets with just over four overs to spare.

For Blyth there was a wicket for Dymyd and Jack Tarr but it was a hard afternoon in the field after an encouraging performance with the bat.

CRAIN AND BEDFORD IN MID WICKET DISCUSSION

A superb effort from Grassmoor and non more so than Bedford but of course this had been a team effort with a team innings building score from Crain before Donaldson could come in and take advantage late on.  Mention should also go to Kenward Nash who took out the top three on the Blyth scorecard when it looked like they just might get away.

The afternoon called for a brisk walk back to base to warm up and ready for some more cricket next week.

ADAM BEDFORD HITTS OUT FOR GRASSMOOR WORKS