Photography © David Betteridge

SCORES:
32 over match

Eric Clapton's Celebrity XI 150 for 10 (Mark Ealham 30, Stephen Crook 29; Mark Wagh 2-5, Graham Napier 2-13)

Bunburys 151 for 8 (Mark Wagh 40, David English 21; Mark Ealham 2-12, Paul Craven 2-19)

Bunburys won by at least 12 wickets.

FULL SCORECARD WILL APPEAR SHORTLY

Return visit to Cranleigh School to face once again an Eric Clapton X1. This somewhat a misleading statement, more like twenty a side!! Once again a gallery of stars from all divides taking part and in the case of Bob Harris an encouraging spectator.

As to the game, a good crowd had gathered and the threat of showers had faded. Unlike last year Eric Clapton’s team batted first. Richard Steele and Eric opening the batting with good home support cheering them on. It could only be a Bunbury game where you would have Eric Clapton facing Jeff Thomson and Eric survived!! Then Ryan Sidebottom to Eric and again he saw the bowler off despite being out off a no ball!! A useful opening stand of 30 was put on before Graham Napier had Richard Steele well caught in the slips by Joe Kinnear for 16. It was Graham again who struck to dismiss Eric (11), clean bowling him to give him 2-13 in consecutive games.

The two Mark’s, Mark Austin (9) and Mark Ealham (30) then shared a stand of 31 for the third wicket before Matt Thomson removed Mark Austin with the score on 61. In the meantime Mark Ealham had struck Joe Lewis for a mighty six and two fours but Joe had the final say with Paul Prichard taking a
catch in front of the pavilion. Stuart Law (16) and Steven Crook (29) steadied the side and pushed the total over 100. The partnership finally broken with the total on 114 when Mark Wagh (2-5) removed Stuart Law (lbw) and then Steven Crook brilliantly caught one handed in the deep by Paul Prichard in the same over. 

Liam Botham (21) added a late flurry in the closing stages of the innings. Jordan Hick thanks to another good catch, this time from Parag Ravel took his first Bunbury wicket, that of Rob Shillaker. The innings closing at 150-10 after 32 overs. 

Eric’s side had an early success with Mark Austin (1-5) thanks to a catch in the deep from James Middlebrook removing the dangerous Graham Napier (9), 14-1. It was then James who struck as the bowler to dismiss Paul Prichard also for 9. A good catch in front of the main marquee by Rob Cowdrey (Captain of Cranleigh School 1sts) with the total on 42.

Graeme Hick was the next wicket to fall thanks to yet another superb catch on the day. This time it was from Max Patel, who plucked the ball out of the sky to give Mark Ealham the first of his two wickets. Graeme being replaced by his son Jordan. Mark Wagh quickly followed, caught and bowled by Mark for a useful and indeed valuable 40 in the context of the game (highest score on the day) giving Mark figures of 2-12 and reducing the Bunbury’s to 70-4. 

Pressure began to be applied by the home side but Jordan and David English gradually lifted the total towards 151 the target. Who said that David English was not running the full distance between the wickets? He is still recovering from two replacement hips in the winter!! Paul Craven switching allegiance then took 2-19 including Jordan Hick (8) as his mother watched from the pavilion balcony.

Graham Cowdrey then dismissed David English (21) and his son Michael Cowdrey was bowled by Matthew Clarke (10) to leave the side tottering on 128-8. This was tense but not as tense as the 1st Test between England and Australia at Cardiff. Jay Ravel and Andy Clarke were left to guide the Bunbury’s home in the final over, Andy hitting the winning runs with the pair undefeated on 13 and 17 respectively.

A win to the Bunbury’s with 12 wickets remaining in what had been an entertaining two sessions of play with 41 players taking part, you cannot be serious!! Now where is that cup of tea!!