Bakel unbeaten again but 'follow on' fall short
by Alan Rowley, 26th July 2007

Once again, 'the follow on' had the honour of opening the annual Gotham Cricket Festival, but the heavy rain during the week, which saturated the outfield, meant a reduced game on the artificial wicket. As dawn broke, vast areas of the ground were under water, but sterling efforts by the Gotham groundstaff removed all the surface water and enabled a 48 over game to take place after lunch.

'the follow on' XI
back (left to right): Rob Turnbull, Gary Edginton, Howard Murden, Bob Stewart, Craig James, Andrew Bailey
Front (left to right): Michael Chambers, Dan Brooks, Paul Bakel (captain), John Combe, Ben Mills

Gotham won the toss and elected to take first knock on a cloudy day which saw odd glimpses of the sun. Alex Haworth and Gary Kerslake opened for the hosts and got off to a decent start, putting on 55 for the first wicket. Craig James, who had made the long journey down from Whitby to participate, grabbed the first wicket as Haworth skied one to Michael Chambers when on 27.

Brooks is pictured right telling the photographer how many wickets he took. Combe concentrates on the game. >>>

Kev Perrell joined Kerslake and the pair took the home side into three figures. With the score on 133, Andrew Bailey completely fooled Perrell and removed his middle peg with his score on 28.

Kerslake's fifty came up in the 33rd over, hitting three fours and three sixes along the way. His celebrations didn't last long, however, as Dan Brooks clean bowled him with his score on exactly 50. Anthony Paris only lasted five balls before he tapped one striaght to Ben Mills, who made up for an earlier drop by taking an easy catch to give Brooks a second.

Shane Litchfield didn't last long either before Bailey bowled him for six to reduce the hosts to 161 for 5. An under-200 score to chase was on the cards, but Robert Goddard hammered Gotham to 200. Matt Weston was caught behind by Gary Edginton, off John Combe, for 18, but Steve Haworth joined Goddard for some last minute bludgeoning.

59 runs were added in the last five overs as the Gotham total raced to 257 at the end of their allotted 48 overs. Goddard remained unbeaten on 57 and Haworth contributed a rapid 22 not out. Pick of the bowlers were Brooks (2 for 25) and Bailey (2 for 43).

Ben Mills and Bob Stewart (pictured left) opened the batting for 'the follow on' and the two started confidently taking the visitors passed fifty without incident. Mills was first to fall, chipping a ball from spinner Weston straight back to the bowler with his score on 23. Skipper Paul Bakel joined Stewart and the two took 'the follow on' to 82 before Stewart became Weston's second victim, caught by Paris for 32.

Look out Ready! Gary Edginton in action behind the stumps

Bakel showed why he is 'the follow on' leading run scorer as he batted steadily and confidently. Despite losing Bailey, to the same Paris - Weston combination for only three, Bakel and Michael Chambers put the visitors right back in the game with a 78 run partnership.

Bakel (pictured celebrating his fifty)reached his fifty in 73 balls but Chambers went in the 38th over, caught by Litchfield, off Brett James for a fine 32. Newcomer Howard Murden was bowled by Steve Haworth for a single with the score on 183 and, with the visitors slipping behind the required rate, Combe was sent in to hustle the score along.

With the run rate approaching ten an over, the game slowly slipped away from the vsitors. Combe skied one to Goddard in the deep with his score on 11 and Brooks went soon after, caught by Weston off Goddard for two.

Rob Turnbull got off the mark to a huge cheer from 'the follow on' contingent, but the quest for runs saw him run out for four. Craig James was unbeaten on four as the final ball was bowled, but the honours for best batting went to Bakel for a magnificent unbeaten 81 from 101 balls.

Pick of the Gotham bowlers was Weston with 3 for 40 followed by Steve Haworth with two wickets for 56 runs. The man of the match award went to Robert Goddard for his unbeaten 57 and one wicket.

Another great day out for 'the follow on' which was only made possible by the determined Gotham officials and players who worked hard to get the ground playable. Special thanks must also go to the Gotham catering staff who made light work of producing a hot lunch for the two teams in the marquee.

Scorecard | 'the follow on' averages