New Zealand won the toss, and decided to field. I decided to use the same batting line-up that had performed so well last week and I aimed to set them a target of 150 (ie setting the opposition a run-rate of 5 per over).
Our hearts were in our mouths when Christopher was bowled first ball: 0-1.
Ad was run out: 8-2.
So was Mincat - we were starting to realise what sharp fielders the Kiwis are: 20-3.
ILTV and I settled down, and saw us past the 50 mark, until she clipped one to the keeper: 52-4.
Richard was bowled: 66-5.
Our target of 150 looked rather unlikely now.
Carol too was bowled: 81-6.
Well, at least I reached my half-century before we were all out.
Ivy and I pushed the score past 100 before she was caught: 127-7.I too was caught, by a diving first slip: 136-8.
We were relying on the bowlers to get us up to 150 - they had plenty of overs to play with, but did they have the ability?
Phil was caught by the keeper: 139-9.
Vicus was bowled - but not before he and Rob had taken us past our target: 154-10.
Tea involved various combinations of stuffed emu.With a competitive target we knew their batting line-up would feel under pressure, which intensified when Vicus took a wicket in the first over: 0-1.
Rob took the next wicket: 6-2.
They scored odd singles, but were steadily dropping behind the run-rate - after 10 overs they'd achieved just 18-2, and at 15 overs (the halfway point) they had dried up completely, on 21-2.
Finally they started to try to hit out - but that just gave our fielders more chances, the first being a ball struck firmly off Vicus, straight into Mincat's hands: 24-3.
Next ball Vicus held a sharp caught-and-bowled: 24-4.
Rob took the next wicket: 26-5.
I had a go too: 28-6.
And in my next over I achieved a hat-trick: 32-9.
Rob finished them off: 33-10.
As you will see, we now head the league table. Huzzah!
Next week we are at home to Pakistan.
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