On this cold wet Saturday in early April, a hitherto unseen event occurred in Odd Down, Bath. A group of eleven Bears gathered (mostly on time) at a vast green expanse of short grass, known as a cricket pitch. A pre-season friendly set to the backdrop of grey skies and an unforgiving forecast.
Bear Flat CC were boasting debutants: Rowan Fisher, Mohammed Zohain and Henry Reeves. The BFCC regulars were quick to notice the similarities between the latter and another University of Bath recruit, Tom Harris. Although many of the Bears also noticed Reeve’s genetic advantages, one player (who shall remain nameless) even remarked that comparing Harris and Reeves was like comparing Captain America pre and post super-serum treatment (worth looking at on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F020aNi0wS0).
The Bears started strongly with Nathan Warren and Tom Harris V2.0 bowling tightly. Hampset put together a strong partnership before Josh “Big Daddy” Parkyn came into the attack to remove one of the openers (McDonald) and Jay Morris the other (Lear). The game continued at a leisurely pace, with Josh Smith making a well compiled hundred, taking the home side to 262 at the end of their 40 overs.
As the Bears looked to get back out there and apply some well learned batting lessons from YouTube cricket tutorials, hail intervened. Ending what would have undoubtedly been a simple chase where Jack Mainwaring would have scored an unbeaten double century.
The Bears have a week off their pre-season preparation games next week, before the build up to the season really begins in earnest.
#COYB
