HAC v England Deaf XI.

This weekend saw yet another cricketing 'first' at Armoury House. Now, Armoury House is not immune for cricketing firsts. Less of a list, more of a scroll. Middle stump has been joined by the HAC v England Deaf XI. 

The HAC had a strong team. A healthy mix of players from both sides with key roles handled by some of the 'guns' from the cricketing Armoury. Toss was won by skipper, Matt Edwards who, in contrary to the norm in a declaration game chose to bat. Tricky decision, but given the strength of the team the bowlers were charged with taking 10 wickets.

King and 'Numbers' Bax, took on the new ball. This itself was a moot point as the oppo had been, in error, given the best ball from the box! Oops! Sorry First XI Capt. No real problems ensued until thud and a raised finger offering King an exit, stage right, for LBW. Bax was joined by Casey who cut, and nobody cuts like Casey, the new cherry to the boundary with style and ease.
Bax carried on accumulating with timing and shape to behold. Sadly the grace of a Casey ballet was ended by the thud of ball on pad. A very prompt raising of the finger. What? We had just settled down for Act 2! 

Parry doesn't so much stride to the crease, he makes the entrance of a true gladiator. Undefeated in a thousand battles. He owns the crease. Faded gears and a bat which has slain so many bowlers it has a medal room of it's own. Bax accumulated, as accountants do. Steady, great shape, great timing. Parry soon faced the 'ball of the day'. It turned him around and brushed the bail just enough. Stunned silence. 

Do not fret, the mystery will be soon resolved by our very own floppy haired Sherlock. No sooner had he arrived and the problem was solved. He and Bax dismissed the bowlers with skill and accumulation until Bax found a rounding error and was so shocked he chipped one back to the bowler. A rounding error? Surely not. They were accumulating with such ease. 

Huxtable. J, bounded out with the kind of demeanour of a man new in his Army career. Sadly, his career will no doubt be longer than this knock and soon enough Edwards was joining Sherlock. No, so soon, Sherlock's top edge dropped into the pouch of hungry young England cricketer. Then Gilbert followed, "leaving us so soon?".....thankfully he is a gun bowler so had more important things to do later on.

At 123-7 the chant was......"What do we want? a rebuilding, when do we want it?......Now!".

It was down to the older men. Faj, 33 and Edwards, 56 (runs not age) nudged, nurdled, and gently ran a 92 run partnership. When they had both run out of puff, and luck, the innings closed with the HAC dismissed for 220.

Now it was the turn of the rather good HAC bowling attack to take 10 wickets. Gilbert and Santimon (the allrounder), opened with pace, accuracy, and wicked movement. Santimon saw off the top order in no time at all. The first four bunnies in the pot. Early bath? Put the kettle on? Not quite. The England Deaf team showed grit and mettle. They also threw the anchor over the side. Parry's raggin' tune dispatched 3 more but by then the anchor had been set fast and a wall built. 
Mitchell, Sarge, Faj (after tea, newspaper, and suitable rest) all knocked on the door. Gilbert came back for an encore. Nothing broke through. 

A draw. 

Credit to all players. The spirit in which the game was played was fantastic. The England Deaf team carried themselves very well indeed and showed a real keenness to make this a regular fixture.

Written by Matt Edwards.