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.
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