Bowl Movement Cricket Club: 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 4^th 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.