And so, the Peckers season continued into the rarefied confines of Bushey Park for our annual game against the wonderful Teddington CC. Several Peckers are alumni of this fine club, but on this occasion only Muttley was flying the flag.

The early assembled Peckers (all 4 of us) were watching the u11 final hoping that none of the players (especially the bowlers) were going to be free to play against us as there was some expectational fast bowling on display.

However, it was clear that these games were not going to be finished in time to trouble us but there was a selection of U15’s to U18s alongside several other players who looked like they could trouble the usual ramshackle Peckers team.

Our day was further brightened by the arrival of the Life President with Borgav, who was settled in for a glorious afternoon. The most senior Pecker soon to be joined by the most junior as Cousin Le Davide and TicTac arrived with 12 week old Isla Hazel. The weather was set fair with a strong breeze coming down the ground blowing the clouds quickly across the sky with dappled sunshine. Perfect cricketing weather on what your correspondent feels is the most beautiful ground.

POB lost the toss and Teddington chose to bat first. As Teddington had 12 and we had an extra player in Murphy (who had come to get some stuff done on the boundary) it was agreed that we would play 12 a side, everyone had to bowl at least an over, and there had to be 2 catchers in place at all times.

Teddington opened with a father and son pairing who started slowly and with Spinach and Pippin given the new cherry there were few opportunities to score. Pippin stuck first bowling the younger Versey. Spinach, keeping a tight line then had Father Versey caught at slip by one of the catches of the season by Borgav. It was a stunning catch down low to his right which led to much celebrating (and the inevitable Pip-Squeak).

This led to the Harrington-Myers being together brothers to the crease, the elder an international cricketer (for the Cayman Islands) but this was short lived with the elder brother holing out to Kamikaze off the buffet from Chef. Other than this Chefs bowling also led to an injury to Borgav who was chasing a ball around the boundary when his hamstring went. His old nickname of ‘Matron’ came about due to two injuries in one match and is pushing for a recall. This led to Teddington providing a substitute fielder. More on this shortly.

Kami fancies himself as a Liam Livingstone…mmm

There followed a 50 run partnership which pushed the Teddington total towards 100 with some assistance from the Peckers in the field, including a stunning drop from Spinach on the fine leg boundary which those of us at the other end of the pitch were convinced had been caught but then popped out of his paws and over the boundary. Pobs was then brought on and got the first of his 2 wickets with a catch by Jimmy (our Teddington Substitute) with a shot that he couldn’t drop. This led to much hilarity for both teams (and a new signing for the peckers). The second caught by Cousin in the same position.

Kamikaze was brought on to further the spin option and this led to the breaking of the partnership and after that wickets fell regularly. Kwakka was brought on and with his first ball secured a wicket formed in the shire with a wide long hop spooned up to Pippin in the covers. Cousin then steamed down the hill and this led to the second catch of the season with a superb catch by Murphy in the slips, two handed above his head. In amongst this the ever-reliable Moleman managed to spill 2 tricky catches behind the stumps, your correspondent had a couple of overs, and the last three wickets were picked up by Spinach, Trash and Pippin. Teddington finished on 177 all out off 38.3 overs.

Pip-Squeak leads us off after a third consecutive brace of wickets

The teams made their way to the wonderful new club house for a superb tea with an excellent selection of sandwiches, duck wraps, hot samosas and chicken dippers finished off with scones albeit with jam first and then cream. In this correspondent’s opinion the wrong way round but still delicious.

After a team photo the Peckers innings started with Kamikaze and your correspondent. After a glorious shot for 4 Kamikaze was bowled but an exceptional ball nipping back and taking out his off stump. This correspondent was joined at the crease by Kwakka and with the ball nipping about all over the shop a 43 run partnership was put together which saw off the worst off the new ball. However, Jimmy was bowling excellently down the hill and with his pecker allegiance firmly put away and having taken Kami he got Kwakka with another beauty that swung in then seamed away once again taking the top of the off stump. Nothing that could be done.

from back l-r Kami, Mole, Murph, Borgav, Pob, Spin, Chef, Mutt, Kwak, Pipp, Trash, Cous+Isla

Moleman then joined and Teddington brought on a raft of leg spinners whom this correspondent struggled to score off, but Moleman didn’t and a partnership of 91 ensued with the run rate kept up so that the chase was going well. However, your correspondent managed to scratch his way to 50 and then hilarity ensued. Firstly, given out LBW having bottom edged it onto the pads but the umpire reversed his decision having decided that it was going down leg as well as bottom edged (your correspondent will accept his fine for holding his bat up to the umpire), next ball a catch was spooned off the back of the bat to slip and this correspondent had started walking off but realised it had been dropped and scampered a single and then finally hit a ball straight back at the bowler which was dropped. Amazingly, Moleman was next to go having hit a wonderful 47. Trash then arrived at the crease, having been asleep on the boundary and proceeded to hit 32 off 25 balls to bring the innings to a close with a further victory for the Peckers.

All parties repaired to the Bar where Jimmy was signed up to the Peckers due to his Tonbridge connections (and POB knowing his dad) and the many supporters enjoyed a beverage in the evening sun. The party had been enlivened by the arrival of the Kwakkettes -Kwakka-Licious, juicy Lucy and Clubbers and shortly Horse and GG also arrived looking thirsty. Many Drinks and Laughs were enjoyed in the early evening sunshine to celebrate a 14th win of the season for the peckers.

https://teddington.play-cricket.com/website/results/6043546

Peckers Up!!!