BADGERS LAST STAND SEES OFF THE AMBUSH

Standing (l-r): Rob Webb, Serge Eaton, Paul Fagg, Chris Grain, John Grain, Baz Floyd, Ed Bradbury
Front row (l-r): Robbie Nicholson, Cam Newton-Grain, Stu Duff, Iain Nicholson

If there’s a better way to spend a hot July afternoon than out in the cricket field I’m yet to find it. And if that cricket field is at the beautiful Charlbury Cricket Club and the opponents are our old mates London Badgers, so much the better.

Mazza to supply names in order, please

After the disappointment of last year’s cancellation of this fixture, the Tigers and Badgers met for the third time. At the start of the day, the honours were even – a Tigers win in 2009, Badgers in 2010.

Badgers won the toss and elected to bat first. Badgers captain Mazza Hayes might have been regretting that decision early on as Tiger Robbie Nicholson tore through the upper batting order. Opener Ewels was despatched for a duck and when Joel Voysey and Michael Ludlow followed him for scores of single figures the Brocks were on the back foot. And when Martin Hayes was bowled by Stuart Duff for just seven, it looked as if the Tigers were on course to win their first game of the season.

But the Tigers hadn’t reckoned on the Badgers’ young middle order star, Ash Hubbart. As Rob Webb and Ian Nicholson paired up to get rid of the the remaining Badgers opener, Rich, for 21, Hubbart started his onslaught on the Tigers’ bowling.

A quick fire 50 by Hubbart saw the ‘retire at 50, come back at the end’ come into play. At that point, the Tigers might have been better off containing the Badgers lower order without sending them back to the pavilion. But, that’s not the Tigers’ way. After Wilding was bowled by Webb for six, Zuber was caught by Robbie Nicholson off Webb for a golden duck and Wilkey was eventually bowled by our Robbie for a stoic 13, Hubbart was warming up again. He didn’t have long to wait.

When Norris skied a straight drive off John Grain, Floyd was there to take the catch at mid-off to send the tail ender back.

It’s worth mentioning at this point that Badgers had about 160 on the board. The two Badgers now at the crease, James Hayes and Ash Hubbart would change the course of the game in the most dramatic fashion. As Hayes quietly but surely batted his way to an unbeaten 21, Hubbart tore into the Tigers bowling with six after huge six.

By the time the last ball of the innings was bowled, the young wicket keeper had blasted his way to 148 not out. Between them, he and Hayes had taken the Badgers from staring defeat in the face to placing them in a commanding position.

The Badgers Last Stand - James Hayes (21 no) and Ash Hubbart (148 no)

The Tigers opened with father/son combo, Robbie and Ian Nicholson. Robbie has had an excellent season for his club side Combe and the Tigers with bat and ball, so the Ambush still had high hopes for a positive result.

The two started positively with Ian Nicholson (Dad) knocking up a quick 11 before being sent walking by Norris with his off stump swinging in the mid-afternoon breeze.

Chase that Mazza - Robbie Nicholson (70) sends Badgers' Mazza Hayes running to the boundary

As Robbie plundered runs, Tigers debutant Ed Bradbury kept his head and stayed at the crease without troubling the scorer too often. And when Robbie left the crease on 50 on the ‘retire at 50, come back later’ rule, Ed was joined by Tigers stalwart, Baz Floyd. The middle order Floyd, lasted three balls before another appalling choice of shot saw him bowled by Wilkey after attempting a … well … attempting something. Another duck for Floyd.

Bradbury’s fellow debutant, Paul Fagg, joined him at the crease and the two nurdled three apiece before Bradbury was bowled by Wilkey and Fagg was stumped by Hubbart off James Hayes.

Another family affair at the crease for the Tigers, the ever reliable Grain brothers, saw the run rate pick up again. Skipper, Chris Grain, helped himself to six fours before falling leg before wicket to Ewels for 30. Meanwhile older brother John played a solid innings, seeing Stu Duff leave the crease for a duck, trapped leg before by Michael Ludlow.

Another father/son combination for the Tigers as John was joined by young Cameron Newton-Grain. After a very economical bowling performance, Cam was in confident mood (not to mention belligerent) and immediately made dad aware that he wasn’t just going to play a cameo.

John eventually left the crease, caught Wilkey bowled Voysey for 33. The chances of a Tigers victory were remote but still possible.

Tigers' John Grain smashes a four on his way to 33

But the Badgers bowlers were up to the challenge and as Rob Webb entered the fray, they turned the pressure up by stemming the Tigers flow of runs. Webb eventually left the crease, bowled by Zuber for two followed by Cam Newton-Grain who was stumped by Hubbart off the same bowler for an excellent 19. Nice work off a quick bowler, Ash.

Which brought back Robbie Nicholson to join Tigers keeper Serge Eaton for the last over. The run rate impossible, young Robbie swung for fun, leathering Zuber for two sixes in the last over before being bowled for 70 off the very last ball of the innings.

The Badgers last stand deservedly won the day and the London lads went back to the city winners by 43 run in the latest annual instalment of the fixture.

A brilliant game with some superb performances all round.

Thanks to Mazza, Mike, Joel and all the Badgers for one of the best games we’ve had. And thanks too to every single Tiger who joined the Ambush. Every one of you can hold your head up and be proud of your performance.

The Ambush will be here and waiting for you in West Oxfordshire again next year Badgers. Lets hope for another game like this one … except with us winning, eh?