Coastal Ken in record breaking form..

PVB reports on HX 3 v Morton (Campbell Park)

HX 3rds (Dad’s army) were well beaten by a sporting Morton 2nds side at CP. With Andy and Ross hotfooting it from their morning hockey game, we were always going to two short at the start – putting our average age at about 58 for the first hour! Once they arrived it was reduced to a more respectable 51, which is two less than the number of balls it took Coastal Ken to get off the mark. Maybe the immense preparations required to play at Campbell Pk tired him out  - he is like a packhorse as he uncomplainingly drags bagfuls of kit / stumps / food / mugs / teapot / beakers / teabags / milk / kitchen sink…

So Ken eclipsed Andy Greig’s league record of 51 balls to get going at Falkland in 1982 – again when we were two players short for an hour. Coco racked his brains at tea in search of a JLRB innings of the same ilk.

The pitch was a shade slower than the indoor nets, and the outfield was uncut. Our total could have been worse as Morton were very generous in spilling numerous catches, and it would have been far worse but for a magnificent innings from Ross Parker who punished the bad ball brilliantly. He scored two sixes, and put on 33 for the 9th wicket with Willie Lytle who also struck the ball really well. Ross scored 35* off 34 balls approx.

We didn’t bowl badly but Morton were more positive with their shots and took risks with their running. To our credit we didn’t drop a thing and Richard took a lovely catch at long-on; nor was extras our downfall with only a single wide called by Morton’s fair umpires. Mahmood and Andy shared keeping duties and really looked the part.

How pleasant to play in a match where both sides appreciated the skills of their opponents; Morton’s skipper even apologised after hitting me on my toes!

pvb