By all accounts the Peckers first match at Marlow Park was 37 years ago, which was the year of that the first ever text message was sent just down the road in Newbury. With technology moving forward since then, in the year of 2022 we had a Peckers first with the Marlow opening batsman striding out with a Go Pro strapped to his helmet. Whether this footage was intended for his own personal appetite for Sunday village cricketers or he is intending to share more widely – it all started with Spinach bounding in from the Thames River end having been put into field on a hot muggy day with a rock hard outfield.

Those who have had the pleasure to play at Marlow will know that once the ball crosses the boundary rope you are either scratching through the undergrowth to find it or running 100m beyond as the ball flies over the open parkland. Unfortunately for the Peckers this became a bit of a theme in the first 10 overs, Spinach bowled with good pace in his first spell of seven overs, Jackie Chan at the other end was a touch rusty, and was replaced by POB after 2 overs following his fine form at Outwood. The two opening batsmen however were clearly in fine form and as much as I would have loved to have written that we bowled Mr Go Pro for a golden duck however it was quite the opposite with the at 45 - 0 off the first 5 overs, reigned in to 77 – 0 off 10. As Michael Owen once said “To stay in the game, you have to stay in the game” which the Peckers did following the arrival of Butternut into the bowling attack removing Mr Go Pro for 40 with a beautiful yorker. At the other end POB bowled tightly and was extremely unlucky to have a regulation catch dropped by keeper Muttley.

Here are the two scribes/openers Badger and Macca

With H Bomb replacing Pob, the wickets started to tumble all 3 next bowlers got wickets in their first over Butternut, Henners and Chef (after change of end) Lombard slicing a catch to Badger (one of two to find his safe paws) at backward point shortly after. The score moved from 90 – 0 to 122 – 5 with all bowlers keeping a tight line and being backed up with some excellent catching in the outfield especially from the skipper with two at mid-off. The pendulum swung again with Marlow doggedly working through some excellent spin from H Bomb and Chef and medium pace bowling Butternut. The 6th wicket fell with Marlow on 172.

Marlow batted on with Mo their number 7 keeping the scoreboard ticking over and Chef taking wickets at regular intervals, Metal Micky had a tidy spell but it was the reintroduction of Spinach which produced another Michael Owen quote “You have to believe your own eyes, don’t you?” Luckily for the readers I have dug out some footage which recreates the moment that Mo smashes the ball off a length for Spinach to stick out his right hand and casually take the catch (Recreated by BT Sport featuring Jofra Archer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwJEnBfDzDw). From there, the final wickets tumbled with Marlow being bowled out for 208. Notable performances from the spin kings Chef and H-Bomb who ended with near identical figures of 3-30 odd off 7. Milly – brilliant fielding, nicknamed Skidders by the wags for sliding everywhere saving 20 runs, and also Jackie Chan showing some threatening martial arts skills at extra cover. A fine comeback and a Peckers record of 6/6 outfield catches being taken , unfortunately Muttley also got 100% dropping 3/3…!

Great turnout and support from the Spinach Clan

Badger recently asked Macca to be his best man and as the two strolled out to open there was hope in the air that the partnership would last longer their last outing at Outwood 2021. Unfortunately, after edging his first ball through the slips for four, Badger would glove behind his third ball. In came Milly who copped a short sharp delivery in the grill which prompted Macca to swap his floppy for Badgers oversized helmet. Regrettably, this didn’t prevent him getting bowled, giving Brent Lombard his second wicket. Most of our chance rested with H-Bomb delivering with the bat like he so often does. After a couple of bruising fours to whet the whistle Henners was caught for 10 leaving the Peckers 25-3 off 5 overs.

Milly, looked to have recovered from the early blow and steadied the ship with debutant Jackie Chan, both running well between the wickets in dispersed with the occasional boundary. Unfortunately Milly was bowled for 18 and Pancake/Jackie caught shortly after for 12.

With the Peckers reeling at 63-5 it looked as though a heavy defeat was on the cards, even if there were plenty of overs, it seemed no one had quite found the restraint required. Spinach started confidently, defending well, communicating well and clearly with Muttley allowing the score to tick over at the required rate. Soon after both were striking the ball very cleanly, Muttley with some superb cover drives and Spinach some outstanding sweeping/leg side heaving. At one point Marlow had four men on the leg side boundary however Spinach still managed to pierce the gaps or plonk it over the top which caused a very heated “discussion” between a couple of the South African Marlow contingent.

With Spinach passing his highest score for the Peckers it took Muttley out in the middle to wake the rest of the team from their Rebellion IPA slumber to give Spinach the biggest cheer of the match. Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, when Marlow master Mo Munsha bowled Muttley for a superb 45 putting on a fantastic partnership of 94 with Spinach. This took us to 159-6 giving us a real chance needing 6.5 an over. With Captain Pob striding in we’d hope he could keep the scoreboard ticking over with Spinach boundary hunting. Regrettably, the packed leg side finally did its job and Spinach was caught on the boundary going for another 6. A fabulous innings.

Butternut, Metal Mickey and Chef couldn’t quite live up to their bowling and all came and went leaving POB stranded again, this time for 19.

Two very evenly matched teams with two brilliant fightbacks for the Peckers, firstly reducing Marlow to 208 all out from 90-0 and then ourselves recovering from 63-5 looking dead and buried to finish on 190 all out. Just as the Saffers of Marlow Park triumphed, the national team wrapped up the T20 series too. Our Lionesses at least gave us some comfort. Presentations were made and shots downed by the newly engaged Badger/Burnley Badgerina and Man of the Match, Marlow’s Mo Munsha (3-43 and 43)