A Grand Day at the Big Bash

Fonthill Park Cricket Club “Big-Bash” -  8-a-side tournament for charity

On Saturday 22 June, 6 teams competed for the trophy in Fonthill’s own “Big Bash”.  Teams were 8-a-side and had only 6 overs in which to score enough runs to beat their opponents.  In Group 1, Tisbury Full Tossers under Matt Chapman scored 58-2  against last year’s winners Lads’n’Dads led by Andy Bazen who scored 58-4 in reply, so the tournament kicked off with an exciting tie.  Old Fonthillians under Simon Prior then posted a big 69-3 which was just a bit too much for the Tisbury team who made a valiant 54-4 in reply.  In the final game for the Group, Old Fonthillians’ 54-2 was no match for the Lad’n’Dads who cruised to victory with an over to spare .

In Group 2 Jim Chetwode’s 21 not out took Dorset Knockers to 57-1 but this was comfortably overhauled by Ed Hobbs’ Wardour Warriors who reached their target in less than 5 overs, largely thanks to a commanding 22 no from Jonny Silver.  Warriors easily beat Ewen Moore’s Park Bottoms with 57-2 against 48-3, to top the group.  Park Bottoms then had a close contest for the final place in the semi-final, scoring 62-4  and limiting Dorset Knockers to a valiant 53-4 with Bexi Harris clean-bowling the opener with her first ball. 

Tisbury Tossers then met Dorset Knockers in the play-off for the fabulous wooden spoon, opening with a massive 82-1 with big scores from Tom Marshall and  ex-Dinton wicket-keeper Dan Syckelmore (24 off 6 balls!).  Knockers managed 54-3 but it was not enough.

In the two semi-finals, Lads’n’Dads comfortably defeated Park Bottoms’ modest 41-3 with ten balls to spare, and Wardour Warriors overcame Old Fonthillians’ even more paltry 39-2 with 12 balls remaining.  So it was fitting that probably the best two teams came up against each other in the final. 

Warriors batted first and got off to a great start with a big six from Ed Hobbs, but his luck was limited when he hammered another shot towards the extra cover boundary only for the ball to be plucked from the air by a diving Dad Bazen off his lad Dan’s fifth ball to take a stunning and spectacular two-handed diving catch to his right.  The catch was the champagne-moment of the day, but the Bazen celebratory swagger was even more priceless as he sent the stunned Hobbs disconsolately back to the pavilion for a meagre 8.    Warriors recovered to post 58-4  and then managed to control the Lads’ scoring rate  leaving them an unlikely 20 to win off the last over which bowler Harry Walker was determined not to allow. 

So this year’s winners  were Wardour Warriors, and the trophy was presented at the end of the day by former Wardour resident Chairman Eric Tracey to skipper Ed Hobbs. 

There was some great cricket with big sixes, tidy bowling, spectacular fielding, catches behind the stumps and on the boundary, slick run-outs and excellent spirit all round.  And the sun shone.   Apart from sharing the enjoyment of some fast and furious cricket, the other objective of the day was to raise money for charity. 

There was a good crowd and everyone had a good time; thirsts were quenched leading to excellent takings at the bar, and the barbecue was popular.  Thanks everyone for your support on the day: nearly fifty players for your match fees, everyone for buying raffle tickets, Tisbury Full Tossers for their cider consumption, everyone who generously donated raffle prizes and Molly Major for selling raffle tickets, Karen and Andy Knight for running the barbecue, ably supported by Freddie Power, Peter Catarinella for masterminding the scoring system and doing most of the scoring, Eric Tracey for his epic stint behind the bar, Tim Jones for stocking it and doing most of the clearing up, the captains for putting the teams together and Ben Allen and Mark Mikurenda for driving it.  Mark was also thanked for getting the ground and pitch in such good condition.  685 balls were bowled, and 1090 runs were scored altogether - that's over a grand - averaging 54 per innings, and more than 1.5 per ball!! Thanks also to everyone who helped behind the bar, and to Bexi Harris for the cakes and for pictures and the time-lapse video of the final over at the foot of the page!

Overall, with moneys from the players’ match fees, raffle takings, bar and barbecue profits, it looks like over £1000 was raised.  That's another grand. This will be distributed equally between our 3 charities: Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Seeds4Success and Solent Mind.     

Another good day at The Park.