After a year’s hiatus (we all know why, alas…), the annual Ramblas Family Day returned amid scorching scenes at Ex-Blues.
For the third time, the undefeated Brewer’s Bashers took on Rozy’s Rascals in an abridged game of 10 overs per side, in an effort to be done in time for the England-Croatia game.
Following the classic selection method (believed to be followed by all international sides) of ‘picking numbers out of a hat’, these were the two sides:
| BREWER’S BASHERS | ROZY’S RASCALS |
| Lucy Cooper (neé Brewer) (c) | Rozy Thomas (c) |
| Chris Thomas | Eva-Rose Kennedy |
| Colin Thomas | Geoff Parrett |
| Darcy Kennedy | Glenn Trotter |
| Graeme Moir | Laurie Stocks |
| Jason Christensen | Matt Rudgyard (wk) |
| Karim Bandali | Michael Cooper |
| Mark Loughlin (wk) | Ruth Moir |
| Qahir Bandali | Steve Fitch |
Bowling first, Brewer’s Bashers opened with the young (D. Kennedy) and not-so-young (Ch. Thomas), with the former quickly grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck. Rudgyard was caught in her first over and – after Cooper had launched some great attacking shots against Thomas – in her second over, a nonchalant run out by K. Bandali saw the demise of the aforementioned Cooper.
That Cooper proved to be the side’s top scorer with 12 (just edging out Extras) should tell you all you need to know about how the rest of the Rascals’ innings fared…
Two stumpings by Loughlin put paid to Parrett (3) and Fitch (9), as their aggression towards the bowlers (L. Cooper and G. Moir respectively) proved comically misplaced, leaving the dogged batting and running of E. Kennedy and R. Thomas to try and bring some respectability to proceedings.
Despite having to contend with pads and gloves that were about five sizes too big, E. Kennedy battled hard – including taking a blow to the body – to show her more experienced colleagues how to dig in.
Alas, the wily bowling of Co. Thomas castled E. Kennedy for one, while captain R. Thomas managed three before falling the same way to Christensen. Her greater relief seemed to be in the fact her husband hadn’t seen her off this year…
R. Moir and Trotter were the final pair, managing to add just a couple following a maiden at the close from Q. Bandali, as the Rascals finished on 40.
A quick turnaround led to a Bandali double opening up for the Bashers, with an unfortunate injury curtailing a promising innings from K. Bandali, who had to depart for 11.
Having watched from the other end as his father did the business, Q. Bandali proved stoic in defence and snatched a single before being caught by Parrett off of Fitch.
D. Kennedy continued to showcase her all-round abilities, blocking well and striking where possible, seeing the team through to the end with eight not out working with an array of partners helped the Bashers march towards their total.
Not to be outdone by her elder sister, E. Kennedy reminded the crowd of her own all-round skills, nabbing the wicket of L. Cooper, caught by Fitch. Rumours of scouts promising the Kennedy parents untold riches were unconfirmed…
G. Moir got off the mark but was soon sharply caught on the run by Parrett (who was close to throwing the ball over the boundary line in celebration) off the bowling of M. Cooper, before Christensen showed no mercy in a quick-fire 18 to finish things off with two overs to spare, as the Bashers won by five wickets.
Ramblas Family Day MVP: Following the captains’ consultation, despite some strong shouts from K. Bandali, J. Christensen and E. Kennedy, the award went to Darcy Kennedy for a cracking all-round display.
Thanks to everyone who came down to play, support and score (thanks Sheila and Amy!) to make it a great day and our best ever turn out. See you next year?!
