Adjudicator George Wickens handed the award to Baker not only for top scoring with 81 for Ryde, and also taking 3-27 and a catch in his normal role as Northwood captain.
Miraculously, according to the scorecard on the www.play-cricket website, Baker even managed to catch himself out – off the bowling of Liam Roberts (2-37).
To confuse readers even more, it was Baker’s first game in Ryde’s colours .. according to the website that is !
Statistics reveal he initially lifted Ryde out of the doldrums of 20-3 in a productive fourth-wicket stand with Stuart Robertson (30) and was still batting near the end of the innings until 176-9 when he was dismissed (or caught by himself ?) for 81, a knock which included four sixes and six fours.
Given that Ben Baker (the Northwood one) took three of the last four Ryde wickets to fall and finished with 3-27 off five overs, there’s a fair chance the Baker boys were bowling to each other as the interval approached !
Ryde’s 212-9 was far too many for Northwood, who keeled over for 96, Robertson and Sam Rockley sharing six of the wickets.
And Ben Baker – how many did he get ?
Clearly exhausted from his endeavours in the afternoon session, he came in at 11 for Northwood – and got a second ball duck !
Just goes to prove that captains can’t do everything …