As we were in Africa, I fixed up a game against Kenya. They won the toss, and decided to bat.
Vicus took a wicket in the first over: 1-1.
That may have given us a false impression of their ability, as they then started to attack our mainline bowlers, and it took some time before Tom managed to get an edge, held by a diving Richard: 30-2.
Two balls later, a yorker knocked over off stump: 31-3.
I bowled my man the next over: 31-4 And another: 31-5 And one more: 31-6.
My kidneys were troubling me, so I took myself off at this point. Unfortunately, none of our other bowlers seemed able to trouble them, and runs were flowing freely, so I reluctantly dragged myself back, knocking over all four of their remaining wickets for 2 runs (both extraordinary umpiring decisions, given as no-balls). All out for 80 – oh, and yet another 5-fer for me.
There were some heated words said about the umpires at tea. I’m not sure Vicus really helped to cool things down, when he poured a cup of tea over one of them.
Before my back stiffened any more, I decided to open the batting myself. They turned out to be quite quick bowlers, as Carol found to her cost when she nicked the ball to the keeper: 18-1.
I was then given out LBW in an extraordinary display of umpiring incompetence – the replay clearly showing that the ball had hit my bat: 25-2.
CB was caught: 38-3
As was Steg: 46-4.
Christopher was caught-and-bowled: 48-5.
Ivy was out LBW: 51-6.
Richard was bowled: 62-7.
It looked very much as if we were in for the same sort of disaster that had overtaken us last week, when finally all the hard work Phil had put in at the pie-shop, sorry, nets paid off, as he saw us home – finishing the match with a well-executed boundary. We won.
Sunday
Saturday 19th July 2008
We had a match planned against Zimbabwe, but for obvious reasons I cancelled it. However the minibus had been booked to take us to Africa, so at short notice I arranged to arrange a game against the Namibian national side.
I think we all assumed this would be a walk in the park; certainly I had plenty of volunteers to bowl at them, so when I won the toss I put them in, and said that everyone could bowl one over – starting with our weaker bowlers, and leaving the heavy guns to break any resistance.
It looked as if we were right, as in the second over I bowled a man with my first ball (yes, I do consider myself one of our weaker bowlers – certainly the computer ranking shows five bowlers with better abilities than me at present): 2-1.
Sadly, Ivy dropped a catch off my third ball.
The runs slowly but steadily built after that, with no more chances being offered, until I eventually brought the big boys on – and Richard held on to an edge off Tom’s bowling: 28-2.
Vicus eventually sent a stump flying: 43-3.
Phil too bowled his man: 69-4.
I polished off the tail in seven balls, including a hat-trick and yet another five-fer. All out for 70.
There were some excited faces over tea. Our batting seemed to have steadied last week, and their attack didn’t look threatening. Certain people had great expectations that we would score the necessary runs inside ten overs.
We were soon shaken out of our complacency, when CB, looking to repeat last week’s half-century, was out for a duck when the score had reached: 15-1.
I was bowled soon after: 15-2.
Carol as given out LBW: 25-3.
Steg scored quickly, but was then caught: 42-4.
Richard was caught by the keeper: 45-5.
Christopher was run out going for a suicidal second run: 66-6.
Still, we only needed five runs to win, with four wickets in hand.
Make that three wickets, when Phil was clean bowled: 66-7.
A single and two no-balls brought the score to 69-7 – one run needed to tie.
Mincat played on: 69-8.
Ivy was bowled: 69-9.
Tom’s wicket fell too, and so we lost by one run.
More time in the nets everyone.
I think we all assumed this would be a walk in the park; certainly I had plenty of volunteers to bowl at them, so when I won the toss I put them in, and said that everyone could bowl one over – starting with our weaker bowlers, and leaving the heavy guns to break any resistance.
It looked as if we were right, as in the second over I bowled a man with my first ball (yes, I do consider myself one of our weaker bowlers – certainly the computer ranking shows five bowlers with better abilities than me at present): 2-1.
Sadly, Ivy dropped a catch off my third ball.
The runs slowly but steadily built after that, with no more chances being offered, until I eventually brought the big boys on – and Richard held on to an edge off Tom’s bowling: 28-2.
Vicus eventually sent a stump flying: 43-3.
Phil too bowled his man: 69-4.
I polished off the tail in seven balls, including a hat-trick and yet another five-fer. All out for 70.
There were some excited faces over tea. Our batting seemed to have steadied last week, and their attack didn’t look threatening. Certain people had great expectations that we would score the necessary runs inside ten overs.
We were soon shaken out of our complacency, when CB, looking to repeat last week’s half-century, was out for a duck when the score had reached: 15-1.
I was bowled soon after: 15-2.
Carol as given out LBW: 25-3.
Steg scored quickly, but was then caught: 42-4.
Richard was caught by the keeper: 45-5.
Christopher was run out going for a suicidal second run: 66-6.
Still, we only needed five runs to win, with four wickets in hand.
Make that three wickets, when Phil was clean bowled: 66-7.
A single and two no-balls brought the score to 69-7 – one run needed to tie.
Mincat played on: 69-8.
Ivy was bowled: 69-9.
Tom’s wicket fell too, and so we lost by one run.
More time in the nets everyone.
Saturday 19th July 2008
We had a match planned against Zimbabwe, but for obvious reasons I cancelled it. However the minibus had been booked to take us to Africa, so at short notice I arranged to arrange a game against the Namibian national side.
I think we all assumed this would be a walk in the park; certainly I had plenty of volunteers to bowl at them, so when I won the toss I put them in, and said that everyone could bowl one over – starting with our weaker bowlers, and leaving the heavy guns to break any resistance.
It looked as if we were right, as in the second over I bowled a man with my first ball (yes, I do consider myself one of our weaker bowlers – certainly the computer ranking shows five bowlers with better abilities than me at present): 2-1.
Sadly, Ivy dropped a catch off my third ball.
The runs slowly but steadily built after that, with no more chances being offered, until I eventually brought the big boys on – and Richard held on to an edge off Tom’s bowling: 28-2.
Vicus eventually sent a stump flying: 43-3.
Phil too bowled his man: 69-4.
I polished off the tail in seven balls, including a hat-trick and yet another five-fer. All out for 70.
There were some excited faces over tea. Our batting seemed to have steadied last week, and their attack didn’t look threatening. Certain people had great expectations that we would score the necessary runs inside ten overs.
We were soon shaken out of our complacency, when CB, looking to repeat last week’s half-century, was out for a duck when the score had reached: 15-1.
I was bowled soon after: 15-2.
Carol as given out LBW: 25-3.
Steg scored quickly, but was then caught: 42-4.
Richard was caught by the keeper: 45-5.
Christopher was run out going for a suicidal second run: 66-6.
Still, we only needed five runs to win, with four wickets in hand.
Make that three wickets, when Phil was clean bowled: 66-7.
A single and two no-balls brought the score to 69-7 – one run needed to tie.
Mincat played on: 69-8.
Ivy was bowled: 69-9.
Tom’s wicket fell too, and so we lost by one run.
More time in the nets everyone.
I think we all assumed this would be a walk in the park; certainly I had plenty of volunteers to bowl at them, so when I won the toss I put them in, and said that everyone could bowl one over – starting with our weaker bowlers, and leaving the heavy guns to break any resistance.
It looked as if we were right, as in the second over I bowled a man with my first ball (yes, I do consider myself one of our weaker bowlers – certainly the computer ranking shows five bowlers with better abilities than me at present): 2-1.
Sadly, Ivy dropped a catch off my third ball.
The runs slowly but steadily built after that, with no more chances being offered, until I eventually brought the big boys on – and Richard held on to an edge off Tom’s bowling: 28-2.
Vicus eventually sent a stump flying: 43-3.
Phil too bowled his man: 69-4.
I polished off the tail in seven balls, including a hat-trick and yet another five-fer. All out for 70.
There were some excited faces over tea. Our batting seemed to have steadied last week, and their attack didn’t look threatening. Certain people had great expectations that we would score the necessary runs inside ten overs.
We were soon shaken out of our complacency, when CB, looking to repeat last week’s half-century, was out for a duck when the score had reached: 15-1.
I was bowled soon after: 15-2.
Carol as given out LBW: 25-3.
Steg scored quickly, but was then caught: 42-4.
Richard was caught by the keeper: 45-5.
Christopher was run out going for a suicidal second run: 66-6.
Still, we only needed five runs to win, with four wickets in hand.
Make that three wickets, when Phil was clean bowled: 66-7.
A single and two no-balls brought the score to 69-7 – one run needed to tie.
Mincat played on: 69-8.
Ivy was bowled: 69-9.
Tom’s wicket fell too, and so we lost by one run.
More time in the nets everyone.
Saturday 12th July 2008-07-10
The West Indies looked like being formidable opposition, as they seemed to be the men of three years ago, with Lara at his peak. They won the toss and decided to bat. Twelve overs of mainly defensive play against our main-line bowlers saw them at 28-0, with not a single wicket-taking chance being offered. I decide to try a few of our lesser bowlers, to see if I could tempt the batsmen into doing something rash.
That tactic failed, so I returned to our main bowlers – which is when they did decide to attack. With runs flowing freely and no sign of being able to get them our, I cursed the fact that I’d agreed that we’d play a 50-over match, rather than our usual 40-overs.
Chindarpool’s 50 came up in the 29th over, with the score on 82-0.
Finally, with Goyler on 47, and a little excited about getting his half-century (yes, the computer does actually factor in nerves at times like this, it is an amazingly clever little programme) Tom managed to knock out his middle stump: 115-1.
Christopher took a brilliant catch off Mincat’s bowling to dismiss Chindarpool: 142-2.
Unfortunately that brought Lara in, and he set about our bowling – but before he got too far, I tempted him with an off-spinner, which he mis-hit, Ivy holding the catch: 157-3.
Richard held an edge off Mincat: 157-4.
Two overs later I held a catch off Mincat – her swing bowling was the decisive factor here, as it really seemed to be deceiving them: 175-5.
A few balls later I held another catch: 176-6.
The next over Ivy held another catch off my bowling: 176-7.
I knocked out the off-stump with my next ball: 176-8.
And took a hat-trick with the next: 176-9.
And another five-fer with my next: 176 all out.
Despite my five wicket haul, I would say that Mincat was definitely the pick of our bowlers.
Tea-time was quiet. I think we were all very conscious of our poor batting performance over the last month, and against an impressive line-up of both speed and spin our prospects looked hopeless. There were some very pasty faces around the table (oddly matching the Cornish pasties we were eating).
Carol and CB made a solid start, before Carol was bowled: 28-1.
Mine was the next wicket to fall, when I casually edged the ball to the slips: 49-2.
CB was dropped twice, but rode her luck to a fine maiden half-century:
Sadly, she was caught behind soon after, but not before she and Steg had pushed our score to: 104-3.
Steg had been striking the ball well, but was finally caught on the boundary: 140-4.
It looked as if Richard and Christopher would see us home, but sadly Richard was caught off a top edge: 164-5.
Within sight of the finishing tape Christopher was caught-and-bowled: 174-6.
With the scores tied, Ivy was bowled, as she tried to hit the winning run: 176-7.
The match ended in anti-climax, as they bowled a wide, and thus our 177th run came up and we won the match.
That tactic failed, so I returned to our main bowlers – which is when they did decide to attack. With runs flowing freely and no sign of being able to get them our, I cursed the fact that I’d agreed that we’d play a 50-over match, rather than our usual 40-overs.
Chindarpool’s 50 came up in the 29th over, with the score on 82-0.
Finally, with Goyler on 47, and a little excited about getting his half-century (yes, the computer does actually factor in nerves at times like this, it is an amazingly clever little programme) Tom managed to knock out his middle stump: 115-1.
Christopher took a brilliant catch off Mincat’s bowling to dismiss Chindarpool: 142-2.
Unfortunately that brought Lara in, and he set about our bowling – but before he got too far, I tempted him with an off-spinner, which he mis-hit, Ivy holding the catch: 157-3.
Richard held an edge off Mincat: 157-4.
Two overs later I held a catch off Mincat – her swing bowling was the decisive factor here, as it really seemed to be deceiving them: 175-5.
A few balls later I held another catch: 176-6.
The next over Ivy held another catch off my bowling: 176-7.
I knocked out the off-stump with my next ball: 176-8.
And took a hat-trick with the next: 176-9.
And another five-fer with my next: 176 all out.
Despite my five wicket haul, I would say that Mincat was definitely the pick of our bowlers.
Tea-time was quiet. I think we were all very conscious of our poor batting performance over the last month, and against an impressive line-up of both speed and spin our prospects looked hopeless. There were some very pasty faces around the table (oddly matching the Cornish pasties we were eating).
Carol and CB made a solid start, before Carol was bowled: 28-1.
Mine was the next wicket to fall, when I casually edged the ball to the slips: 49-2.
CB was dropped twice, but rode her luck to a fine maiden half-century:
Sadly, she was caught behind soon after, but not before she and Steg had pushed our score to: 104-3.
Steg had been striking the ball well, but was finally caught on the boundary: 140-4.
It looked as if Richard and Christopher would see us home, but sadly Richard was caught off a top edge: 164-5.
Within sight of the finishing tape Christopher was caught-and-bowled: 174-6.
With the scores tied, Ivy was bowled, as she tried to hit the winning run: 176-7.
The match ended in anti-climax, as they bowled a wide, and thus our 177th run came up and we won the match.
Saturday 5th July 2008
After two hopeless performances, I arranged what should have been a rather easier match. Let’s face it, the
I won the toss, and realising that we needed as much batting practice as possible, decided we’d bat first. To be perfectly honest, their bowling attack was fairly innocuous, so I can only conclude that some of you weren’t taking this seriously.
Our first wicket fell when Carol edged the ball to the keeper: 31-1.
CB sliced the ball to the slips: 43-2.
Steg was given out LBW: 72-3.
Christopher edged the ball to the slips: 83-4.
I was clean bowled: 87-5.
Richard also edged the ball to the slips: 93-6.
Phil was bowled: 102-7.
As was MinCat: 106-8.
Vicus was given out LBW: 114-9.
Tom was bowled, leaving us all out for 117.
A bowl of oranges was presented to us for tea.
I felt their batting line-up probably posed no challenges to our modest total, so said that
everyone could have a bowl, while I took the other end, and tried to keep things tight.
Vicus bowled an opener in his over: 0-1.
My first ball clean bowled the other opener: 4-2.
My second ball also took a wicket: 4-3.
Phil dropped a caught-and-bowled chance.
The next over saw me hit for four boundaries, and I considered taking myself off, but things
changed rapidly in the next over, as Tom bowled a man with his first and third balls, and achieved an LBW with his 5th: 28-6.
I took a wicket the next over: 30-7.
Two overs later I took another, and another (giving me a five-fer) and then a hat-trick to finish the match: 32 all out.
We mustn’t crow. I anticipate stronger opposition next week.
Saturday 28th June 2008
After last week’s shambles, I must admit I was concerned to learn that we were playing
The match started quietly enough; a gentle accumulation of runs until the 8th over, when Christopher managed a clean bowled: 14-1.
The first change of bowlers saw MinCat get an edge to Richard; 16-2.
They attacked us during the next eight overs –Tom in particular not looking his usual aggressive self – finally Phil held a catch off Mincat’s bowling: 46-3.
Three more expensive overs from our openers, and the score had risen to 72, and so I decided it was time to risk spin, in the hope that we might slow them up. A maiden over from me seemed to be doing the trick, but two sixes off Phil’s next over rather undid my good work.
They attacked Phil’s second over too, but one of their aerial balls failed to cross the rope and was caught by Ivy: 94-4.
I wasn’t sure we could afford to buy wickets, so brought Mincat and Vicus back – Christopher held a catch off Vicus: 123-5 and Richard one off the next ball: 123-6.
I held a catch off Mincat’s bowling: 124-7.
Vicus’ bladder problem was hampering his run-up, so I brought myself back on, taking two quick wickets: 132-8, 132-9.
Christopher polished them off, with an edge to Richard: all out for 132.
Ostrich egg sandwiches for tea were, apparently, someone’s bright idea to make our visitors feel at home.
After last week’s dismal batting performance, lots of time had been spent in the nets, and I promised a few people the chance to bat a bit higher up the order – particularly as 133 didn’t seem an impossible target.
Carol getting herself run out in the first over was not part of the plan: 1-1.
Ivy scored a creditable 11 against hostile fast bowling, before being bowled: 13-2.
CB’s was the next wicket to fall, caught behind: 36-3.
Phil was caught and bowled, having scored a valuable 16 runs: 43-4.
Steg was bowled soon after: 48-5.
Chris and I managed to hold the ship together, and steadily amassed the runs, until he was
bowled: 74-6.
I was then unfortunately given out LBW, trying (stupidly) to sweep the first ball from their spin bowler: 78-7.
Mincat was run out: 80-8.
In desperation, Richard, our last remaining recognised batsman, struck a magnificent six, but was then caught and bowled the next ball: 88-9.
Our innings ended when Tom was adjudged LBW: all out for 90.
We lose again. Extra work in the nets, I feel, will be required this week.
Saturday 21st june 2008
Tom took the first wicket, as an edge flew to Richard: 16-1, and then followed with one of his trademark caught-and-bowleds: 24-2. I realised then that, however many wickets I might eventually take, it would be fewer than last week.
Christopher achieved a caught-and-bowled in the next over: 28-3.
Their next pair, however, settled in and started to score relatively freely; 20 overs through saw the score at 78-3, and I decided it was time to introduce spin. My decision was justified when Mincat took a fine catch off my bowling: 78-4.
Vicus held a catch off my next over: 79-5.
Ivy dropped a catch during my next over, but Phil managed to bowl the chap shortly thereafter, so no harm done: 95-6.
Two balls later and Ivy held a catch: 96-7.
I polished off the tail with a hat-trick, and a five-fer: 96 all out.
I must apologise that I failed to take a photograph of the bowling statistics. I can tell you that Christopher got one wicket, Tom took 2 for 41, Phil 2 for 9 and I managed 5 for 9.
Over tea Vicus was heard loudly complaining that he had bowled fewer overs than the other pace men, and therefore had less chances to improve his statistics. I decided, therefore, that it was only fair to allow him to go out first, on this wicket which was now looking distinctly unfriendly, to face the
The first ball hit him in the ribs. The second one struck him on the elbow. The third one split his box in two. The fourth one did the same to his middle stump. Out, after having faced rather fewer balls than he might have hoped, albeit that his injuries were less than we had expected: 0-1.
Two balls later Carol followed him back to the pavilion: 1-2.
They really were bowling very fast, as CB found when she too was bowled the next over: 1-3.
Eventually Steg and Christopher managed to get their eyes in, and whilst essentially playing defensively, did manage to score a few runs, until Steg was caught-and-bowled: 19-4.
I had delayed coming in myself, as I do not relish fast bowling. I had no choice now, so came out at number 6. Christopher and I stayed together for several defensive overs, hoping to see the fast bowlers off, before Christopher edged to the slips: 28-5.
Richard was clean bowled: 30-6.
Eventually the slower bowlers were brought on, and I felt I had no choice but to attack, and try to push our score along – sadly I edged a ball to the keeper: 42-7.
Phil was given out LBW: 44-8.
Mincat edged the next ball to the keeper: 44-9.
Our last wicket fell when Tom was bowled. All out for 45. Not our greatest performance.
Saturday 14th June 2008
We played Canada
My first 50 runs came up quite quickly.
Our first wicket fell with the score on 117, when Carol was given out LBW.
CB didn’t seem comfortable, and was out when the score had reached 143.
The next over saw me achieve my first century this season.
Christopher was caught out going for a six on the short boundary: 167-3.
My 150 was the next landmark.
Steg was caught when the score had reached 253-4.
My 200 came up at the same time as our score passed 300. With Richard’s assistance I reached 250 the over before he achieved 50.
We batted nicely in tandem, my 300:
Being followed closely by his century:
Two balls later Richard pushed our score to over 500, and I gave him permission to keep the strike, and go for a slog. A series of sixes saw his score leap to 156 before he was finally caught. 573-5.
Ivy seemed to be dreaming as she played – perhaps she thought she was on holiday. Certainly a lack of concentration on her part saw me run out with only a few overs of our innings left – I was a little disappointed, as I was hoping for a not out to help my batting average – still, I suppose my score of 330 may boost my figures anyway. 578-6
Ivy’s daydream continued, and saw her run out too. 604-7
MinCat was bowled: 608-8.
Phil scored quickly, and our 40 overs ended with our score on 625-8.
I must admit I went for a lie-down during the tea interval, so I am unable to comment about the quality of the catering. I understand, though, that the scones (with a choice of raspberry or strawberry jam and clotted cream) were very nice.
With a target which I thought we could defend, I promised everyone a chance to bowl – with the proviso that I would bowl my overs first, so that I could then go out into the deep and have a snooze.
Needing to score fast, I think the Canadian batsmen saw my gentle spin bowling as an opportunity to slog – and so perhaps played a little rashly, as the first wicket fell to me. And the second. And the third. And the fourth. And the fifth. And the sixth. And the seventh (a hat-trick). And the eighth. And the ninth. Oh, and the final wicket too.
We won by a mere 613 runs.
In the bar afterwards there was much heated debate about who should be given the man of the match award. Modesty forbids me from commenting, but I will note that this is my highest score with the bat (to date) and I suspect these will be my best bowling figures ever (well, I can’t quite see how I could improve on them, other than getting the wickets in slightly less overs).
Saturday 7th June 2008
We played
Carol’s wicket fell when we’d reached 42.
The same bowler took Steg’s wicket, soon followed by Christopher’s. Two balls later he got Richard’s wicket, along with his five-fer: 62-5.
Merilitherin then came on, with his sneaky spin, and bowled me with his first ball, and had Ivy caught and bowled. At 66-7 we were into the tail, who subsided fairly quickly (fortunately a large number of wides were bowled, to help our score, which finished at 82-10).
The least said about the behaviour of some of our players at tea-time, the better.
Clearly with such a low target to defend, tight bowling would be the order of the day. We could only afford to give away two runs an over, and I warned all our bowlers that anyone not keeping up with that standard would be dropped forthwith. Given last week’s performance, Phil’s face fell somewhat.
Tom and Vicus opened, and Tom (as he so often does) managed a caught and bowled after only one run was on the board. Sadly, Vicus dropped a similar chance the next over.
Our second pairing brought some youth into the attack, as Christopher and I had a go. Christopher held his caught and bowled chance.
We finished the opening spell from our key bowlers, with 16 overs bowled, and just 14 runs on the board. Could Phil and MinCat be as economical?
Phil showed us that last week was an aberration, with three maiden overs, while MinCat took a wicket.
I returned to our openers, who were slightly more expensive, as was Christopher when we moved to our second string attack, although I was continuing to bowl maidens, so I stuck to spin and brought Phil back – he dropped a caught and bowled chance in his first over, but took a wicket in his second, so that’s OK.
I took myself off with one over of my spell left – I said I’d bowl the final over, and risk being hit for sixes as the run chase hotted up.
Vicus took a couple of wickets in his final spell, and with two overs left our tight bowling plan had worked, as they still needed 33 runs – not an impossible target of course, and full attention from the whole team was still required.
I took a caught and bowled with the final ball of the match;
As the scoreboard shows, every bowler had an economy rate of below two an over, as I had requested. Well done to all concerned.
Saturday 31/5/08
Having beaten New Zealand Australia
They won the toss and decided to bat.
Tom made the first breakthrough, with a clean bowled: 26-1.
Several overs later, Carol held a catch off Tom’s bowling: 47-2.
A top edge off Christopher’s bowling gave me a catching opportunity: 59-3.
Two overs later Richard took his first catch of the season (a fine dive to his left): 64-4.
Our pace bowlers were looking very tired by this stage, having bowled most of their overs; I turned to spin, but when Phil was hit for three sixes off consecutive balls, had to take him off – and Christopher got his third wicket as Ivy held a catch: 86-5.
Another edge to Richard off Christopher’s bowling: 98-6.
The next ball sees Christopher clean bowl his man, and get a five-fer in the match: 98-7.
I took the last three wickets.
Christopher’s cakes were, sadly, too heavy to transport over from
We made a good start against aggressive fast bowling, our first wicket falling at 29. I was feeling a little unwell (too many fairy cakes I suspect) so Ivy went in next, and came back soon after: 30-2.
Christopher, our next batsman in, played a nice little cameo, before their spin bowler winkled him out: 62-3.
Fancying the idea of some spin bowling, I came in, in time to see Carol clean bowled: 66-4.
Steg’s wicket soon fell too: 71-5.
Could Richard and I make the sort of stand we had done last week? No. I was given out LBW (Hawkeye later showed it was not out): 73-6.
We were down to the tail now, particularly when Richard was bowled; 82-7.
Phil too was bowled: 82-8.
As was MinCat: 87-9.
Once again it was left to Vicus and Tom to save the day. The Australians kindly bowled a few no-balls and wides, to push the scores a little closer, but when Tom’s wicket fell we had only reached 94, and so lost the match.
Match 24/5/08
Vicus and Christopher opened the bowling, reasonably economically in their first 4 over spell (half of their allowance of 8 overs per bowler).
Phil and Tom followed, equally mean.
However, when MinCat and I started to bowl, we were knocked all over the place. After two overs I took us off, and returned to Vicus and Christopher. This is the problem I mentioned last week – we do not have a great reserve of bowlers.
In fact, it turned out that it wasn’t so much that we were easy meat, but that the
The one advantage of this was that the ball was going in the air, and Christopher achieved his first wicket for the club, when I held a skying ball.
The next over Phil took a catch off Vicus’ bowling (this may be the first catch Phil has ever held – no doubt he’ll tell me if my memory is faulty).
I told Christopher to take a rest, and brought Tom back on – the rest was short-lived, as Christopher sprinted to take a difficult catch.
Two overs later I held another catch off Tom’s bowling.
Phil managed to clean bowl his man next over.
We were now in the last quarter of their innings, and I had no choice but to bring myself back on if we were going to complete our full quota of overs.
Our all-spin attack worried them – Phil managed a caught and bowled (his first?) and then another clean bowled, before I took the final three wickets.
Tea was interesting. It is fascinating what can be achieved with kiwi fruit.
The target looked easily achievable, but our chances of reaching 138 were not helped in the first over, when a mix-up over the call left Carol run out. I asked Steg to go in next, as my bootlace had snapped. Sadly he was bowled in the same opening over, so I had to come in, still trying to knot the piece of string Vicus had found in his bag.
We managed to steady matters slightly, before our American opener was caught going for a silly slog.
The score now stood at 17-3, and things were looking desperate. Christopher, however, now arrived at the crease. After his half-century last week, I was assured of a steady partner, who would soon push us towards the target.
Unfortunately, he was out LBW shortly thereafter, with the score on a disheartening 23-4.
Richard and I had no choice now but to play defensively, and attempt to grind the runs out. We made steady progress, albeit mainly in singles, and had managed to push the score up to a respectable 97 before I was bowled.
Sadly, the next over Richard fell too, and at 111-6 we were down to the tail, and in serious trouble.
Things did not improve when Phil was given out LBW: 112-7.
MinCat fell the same way: 117-8.
A slight stand followed, but when Ivy’s wicket fell at 132-9 we were left with Vicus and Tom to try to achieve the six runs we needed for victory.
A hush descended, as everyone held their breath.
They did it! We won: 138-9.
Match 17/5/08
Our first match of the season. We played India All-Stars in a 30-30 match. Tension was high in our new squad (with two players fresh to the team, and some old favourites taking a season off). We gave a traditional hearty handshake to our American Cousin, who is looking for a sport a bit more exciting than rowing, and Christopher Campbell-Howes, who (despite having said on page 10 of his excellent book French Leaves that he had moved to the Languedoc region to avoid compatriots urging one to join the cricket team) has finally realised what he is missing.
I lost the toss, and the opposition decided to bat first. Vicus and Christopher opened the bowling – Mr C-H achieving two maiden overs in the first six-over spell, which saw the opposition score just 10 runs.
I then brought on Tom and Phil, who were slightly more expensive – after 12 overs the score had moved on to 25-0.
I have a slight problem this season: we need a minimum of five bowlers (for no-one is allowed to bowl more than 20% of the match total) which is what we have. However, if anyone fails to perform, we will have to try some of our more casual players.
I brought myself on for a short spell with Christopher at the other end – taking a wicket with my 4th ball, as Ivy held a fine catch. Starting the season with a wicket maiden is quite satisfying.
After Christopher was hit for three sixes in one over I tried Tom and Vicus out – Vicus took his first wicket of the season when I held a catch.
His second wicket came when Ivy held another catch
Sadly he was knocked about badly in his next over, so I brought Phil back, who managed to bowl his man.
I then held a catch off Phil’s bowling.
With six overs left to be bowled, I brought Tom on for his final spell – and he took the vital wicket of Dravud, who was on 63 at the time, with a nice caught and bowled.
The next ball he managed to clean bowl the new batsman.
I had brought myself back on to bowl the final few overs – Ivy took her third catch of the day off my first ball.
In the final over of the match Mincat took a brilliant catch low down.
And the last wicket fell to my spin bowling.
All out for 166.
The least said about tea the better. Someone had forgotten the milk. And the tea. Cups of hot water all round did not go down very well.
We opened the batting in impressive style. A new lightweight Carol struck the ball firmly and had made a quick 23 when she nicked the ball to the keeper.
Chaucer’s Friend, despite batting as if she were using a baseball racquet struck the ball firmly, including one magnificent six, before being given out LBW (a rule she still hasn’t quite mastered).
Steg did apologise most handsomely for running me out in a silly call. I can assure him that I won’t hold it against him (this time). The rumours that he will be batting at no. 11 the rest of the season are entirely unfounded.
Steg was out for 36, after he and Christopher had put on 57 runs, and virtually made the game safe at 133-4.
Christopher and Richard then went to finish the match in grand style, Christopher scoring a maiden 50 for the club.
We finished on 170-4, and thus won our first match of the season.
Huzzah for us!!!
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