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2004 MATCH REPORTS & NEWS
Bellevue v D Mains, Newfield, 14 June 2004

Bellevue approached their second game in 5 days with some optimism on the batting front, having run up such a good score against the students of E=MCC. The bowling, however, was untried as yet this season, and with several new faces in the line-up, the travelling support from Bellevue was unsure of what to expect. They clutched their blankets round them, possibly in nervous anticipation, as Bellevue lost the toss and took to the field with only nine men, six of whom had not been exposed to the fiery cauldron of a D Mains-Bellevue fixture before. Some time later Kenny Roger (NB not Rogers) appeared with enough cricket kit to start a game all on his own, and some time later still Steve Restall wandered on to the field and the game was joined.

The traditional Bellevue opening partnership of Sneller and Liddell performed well without taking wickets, but new boy Mark Robson soon had the Presbyterian batsmen scurrying back to the pavilion with 3 quick wickets, and the run-rate slowed somewhat as a result. When the batsmen at the crease appeared suitably inexperienced, Quinn brought himself on to bowl and snatched 2 wickets in one over, courtesy of a fine catch by debutant (in the truest sense of the word) Scott Graham. This capped an excellent performance in the field from Scott, who fielded well throughout and as a bonus dropped a catch off RobsonÕs bowling. Not bad for the son of a cricket-philistine. D Mains eventually managed a total of 98 for the loss of 6 wickets, and the scene was set for the famous Bellevue Batting Collapse.

Openers Liddell and Roger got things off to an unusually steady start, perhaps benefiting from the absence from the attack of D MainsÕ fearsome Deadly Derek, before Liddell carried on his fine tradition of hitting a big shot and then getting out. On this occasion the umpire (supplied by D Mains) was apparently oblivious to the ball being crunched off the bat prior to hitting StephenÕs foot and awarded one of the more interesting lbw decisions seen in these parts. Much head-shaking and murmurs of discontent from the crowd on the sidelines. D Mains seem determined to hold on to their most-dubious-umpiring-decision-of-the-series award from last year. Robson, rather naively wearing cricket whites for the game, was next in. Big things were expected after such a fine bowling display, and he didnÕt disappoint. Initially. One or two of his shots even befitted his proper cricketing apparel before he was caught trying to cream a full toss for six. ObedÕs innings, to the disappointment of the onlookers, didnÕt last long enough to allow his customary telephone call from the middle, although it appeared he was receiving text messages warning him against taking quick singles. By this stage the Bellevue support were looking nervous, shaking even, but the old-timers in the team looked as though theyÕd seen collapses like this before. They had, of course, many times.

In fact, to the shock of many, the Collapse didnÕt materialise. Sneller, finding some form lower down the order after many years of opening, and then batting sensation Steve Restall, who continued his sparkling early-season form with another unbeaten 25 containing some shots that wouldnÕt have looked out of place at Lords, took the attack to the D Mains bowlers in fine style. Sneller gave way to Ian Troke, another Bellevue player yet to lose his wicket, and together with Restall they brought us to the brink of victory. It was around this time that both sets of supporters retreated indoors, probably because the finish was too exciting to watch. Quinn appeared for a brief cameo once Restall had retired triumphant, hogging the strike from Troke and scoring the winning runs with 3 overs to spare, thus cunningly managing to grab the glory at the end of both innings.

The Bellevue support, nails bitten to the quick, headed home for a cup of cocoa and some physiotherapy on their joints. Once again Bellevue take the lead in the series, letÕs hope that this time we can take home the silverware at the end.