DEVASTATING DONALDSON DOMINANT FOR GRASSMOOR

GRASSMOOR WORKS 197 FOR 5 FARNSFIELD 2'S 196 ALL OUT

THE BASSETLAW AND DISTRICT CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT BARNES PARK

10 SEPTEMBER 2022 --- 1PM

JOHN DONALDSON IN DEVASTATING FORM IN GRASSMOOR V FARNSFIELD

Grassmoor were looking edgy as they fell to 40/3 against visitors Farnsfield 2's but when John Donaldson [94] joined captain Adam Bedford little did we know that a truly devastating performance from the all rounder would drive the home side onto victory with hitting that has not been witnessed in Barnes Park for a while.  A partnership of 156 would allow Bedford to pass his half century and the target of 197 reached with just over ten overs to spare.

GRASSMOOR WORKS CC LINE UP VERSUS FARNSFIELD CC

Penultimate Saturday of the cricket season then for Grassmoor and me and there was a strange feeling of melancholy not witnessed since my teen days of junior membership of Derbyshire CCC.  Those days of Eddie Barlow, John Wright and Peter Kirsten were generally spent in Queens Park Chesterfield absorbing as many days of cricket during the school summer holidays and even occasional after tea sessions when school was over.  My melancholy would remind me of queuing for Geoff Boycott's autograph and even carrying his bags to his car while asking him to obtain Arnie Sidebottoms autograph the final one I needed to complete the Yorkshire side on the collectable mini cricket bats of the day you see.  The wooden staging type of seating and then when I joined the wooden slatted park seats in the pavilion would bring a close attachment to the sport for teenagers of that era supported by the large groups seeking or chasing their required cricketer for that missing signature.  Sad to say on recent visits to Derby this seems to have largely disappeared and scrap books and autograph hunting is now the 50 and 60 year olds remit, of course they are the teenagers of my days who have continued their pursuit.

At the end of the season before I developed an extended interest in football it was always a sad time for this young un and the close season seemed so long compared to the football season left with just the solace of lifting an ear to Radio 4 long wave during the night for The Ashes tests out in Australia.

Over the last few seasons through The Huddersfield League, ticking some beautiful grounds off, and many more local that feeling of sadness at a season ending as increased and non more so than this season a time so enjoyed mainly with Grassmoor Works CC and Pilsley and Clay Cross CC.  On the plus side all cricket fans have to be thankful for probably one of the best seasons for ages weather wise with very little play lost to the wet stuff.

IAN BRADLEY AND ADAM BEDFORD PERFORM THE NEW MORRIS DANCE ROUTINE ACTUALLY ITS THE WONDERFUL BEDFORD CATCH OFF HIS BOWLING THAT BRADLEY IS PLEASED ABOUT,.

Reminisce over and onto today which started on a moment of paying respect to Queen Elizabeth ll and here Grassmoor made a noteworthy effort with club secretary Alan Woolven gathering the players before the start of play with a small address before both teams and supporters observed a minute silence followed by the playing of the National Anthem.  The lovely Queens Platinum Jubilee seat was brought out to add a nice touch as both Grassmoor and Farnsfield made a respectful observance with both sides wore black armbands throughout the game.

Credit here to cricket, rugby union and rugby league who opted to allow their sporting communities to come together for this moment while disappointingly football seemed to get the mood wrong by cancelling all games.

THOMAS DUNNING TOP SCORER FOR FARNSFIELD

To the proceedings then and Farnsfield went away like a train reaching 101 before their second wicket fell.  There was a half century from Thomas Dunning [53] and a supportive opening roll from Joseph West [36].  West was first out off the bowling of Bradley a wonderful catch by the chasing Bedford who took the catch over his shoulder with Donaldson bowling Michael Hall taking the second wicket.  By the half way stage the visitors had reached 117 for 2 and looked on for a large total, even when Mathew Payton was caught by Malc Jelley off the bowling of Rhys Evans the score had reached 145.

JOHN DONALDSON WITH IAN DONALDSON STANDING AT THE PAVILION END

However Farnsfield would now lose their remaining seven wickets for 51 runs as Evans added three more finishing with 4 for 36 and in tandem with Bedford 3 for 32 they even denied the visitors a moral gaining score of over 200 from what had looked such a dangerous position.  There had been some sharp catching this afternoon non more so than Bedford's second grab this time to his left off his own bowling to dismiss captain Alex West [4] and Evans who took a beauty off Bedford to send back the dangerous Dunning.

FOUR WICKETS FOR RHYS EVANS

Yes the tea break was taken up doing a quick tour of the nearby country park and back in time to see Carl Bowling and Andy Woolven taking to the field to start the reply.

The runs came fairly quickly but on the down side so did the wickets as the home side reached 40/3 after seven overs so the run rate was there and that was more than thanks to Woolven [29] off 14 balls but he was out to a superb diving catch from Devon Brocklehurst off the bowling of Jack Richardson, a superb hold at the pace the Grassmoor opener had leathered the delivery.  

A WELL OPERATED SCOREBOARD BY BOTH SIDES TODAY

This brought all rounder Donaldson to the crease and he joined Bedford [53] who would take a slightly quieter role that normal but with Donaldson in the mood he was to show it was hardly surprising.  The ball was destined to find most parts of the ground as the Grassmoor number five unleashed one of the most powerful displays of hitting Barnes Park will have seem for a while, it was certainly the most exciting I had witnessed this season and included 18 fours and innings that took just 67 balls sums up what we had witnessed.

AN ALERT JOHN DONALDSON

As the scores were tied and in a melancholy [the word of today's blog] way the late summer shadows were lengthening across the outfield as Donaldson needed a maximum to take his score to what would have been a deserved century, in true fashion he went for it.  The first attempt took him to his knees and as he strode down the wicket the next ball bypassed him and wicket keeper Dunning whipped off the bails.  But we had witnessed a wonderful hour or so to warm us into the winter months.

Captain Bedford would agonisingly fall also trying to go out with a big hit bowled by Alex West before David Spendlove came in to stroke the required single to secure 20 points for the Works.

A thoroughly enthralling game thanks to both sides for a game played in good spirit.

Thanks Grassmoor a very enjoyable time with you in the 2022 season.

ADAM BEDFORD AND JOHN DONALDSON 156 STAND TO GET GRASSMOOR HOME