Match 24/5/08

New Zealand won the toss, and decided to bat, in this 40 over match.

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 New Zealand batsmen had decided, at this halfway point in their innings, and with no wickets down, to go on the attack, as they proceeded to drive powerful shots all over the field.

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.

New Zealand all out for 137.

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 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.

We finished on 170-4, and thus won our first match of the season.

Huzzah for us!!!