In recent times, international cricket has been buzzing with test series matches. While England and Sri Lanka are locked in competition, Pakistan is facing off against Bangladesh. Simultaneously, the county cricket season has kicked off in England, promising an array of thrilling matches. Despite the longer format often leading to slower scoring rates, every player and team strives for runs. However, an unusual incident unfolded recently that is hard to fathom, even for the T20 generation of cricket fans, where a father-son duo broke all records for the slowest batting in a local cricket league.
An Unprecedented Cricket Match
This peculiar match took place not at an international or first-class level but in a local league organized by the Derbyshire County Club. Teams from various divisions compete in this league, and one of the matches featured the Third XI of Mickleover Cricket Club against the Fourth XI of Darley Abbey Cricket Club in Division 9 South.
Mind-Boggling Scorecard
Mickleover set a formidable target by scoring 271 runs for the loss of four wickets in just 35 overs. Their standout performer, Max Thomson, played a sensational innings, scoring 186 runs off 128 balls, including 17 fours and 14 sixes. However, it was not Thomson’s explosive batting that garnered headlines; instead, it was the incredibly slow performance of Ian Bestwick and his son, Thomas Bestwick. Ian faced 137 balls without scoring a single run, while Thomas managed to score just 4 runs off 71 balls. Remarkably, Thomas’s four runs came solely from a boundary.
Unforgettable Father-Son Partnership
This astonishing partnership resulted in the father-son duo facing a total of 208 balls combined, yet they managed to accumulate only 4 runs. The total score for their team at the end of their 45 overs was a mere 21 runs for the loss of 4 wickets, leading to a drawn match. Despite the shocking outcome, Ian and Thomas were elated afterward. They deliberately opted for this unconventional batting approach, aiming to avoid a loss given that their team was predominantly made up of young and inexperienced players.
The Aftermath and Team Morale
After the game concluded, there was an unexpected sense of celebration in the dressing room. Though their performance was certainly not one to be proud of in traditional terms, they managed to prioritize stability over risk, ensuring the young team didn’t suffer a heavy defeat. The match concluded with Mickleover securing 18 points, while Darley Abbey pocketed 3 points. Interestingly, both teams find themselves languishing at the bottom of the league table, but the focus was more on the experience and lessons learned during the game.
Conclusion
This extraordinary fixture has quickly become a talking point in the cricketing community, demonstrating that even at the grassroots level, cricket can produce stories that captivate and entertain. The Bestwick duo showcased a unique approach to the game, reminding everyone that sometimes, survival and team morale can outweigh individual performance and scoring runs.
