Saturday 28th June 2008

After last week’s shambles, I must admit I was concerned to learn that we were playing South Africa this week. My worries deepened when they won the toss and decided to bat.

The match started quietly enough; a gentle accumulation of runs until the 8^th 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

Pakistan won the toss, and elected to bat, on a hard, dry wicket – presumably expecting it to break up by the time they bowled. For the same reason, I reserved spin for the second half of the innings, hoping we might have some cracks, or at least dusty patches, to aim for.

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 Pakistan fast bowlers.

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. Possibly not the strongest opposition we will ever face. I won the toss, and on what looked like a good batting wicket, with short boundaries, I decided we’d bat. I also felt fitter than I have for some time (I’ve been dieting hard for a couple of weeks now, and am starting to lose some weight) and so decided I would open the batting myself.

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 Sri Lanka this time, and just for a change I won the toss, and decided we’d bat. Defensive play against strong bowling saw us reach 27 before CB’s wicket fell.

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; Sri Lanka finished on just 54-7 and so we won by 28 runs!!

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 last week, some bright spark thought it would be a good idea to play 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 France, so it’s a good thing ILTV had baked some fairy cakes, which went down a treat. I think the Aussies got the point.

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

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!!!

Test Match. Day 4.

There were some very tired faces this morning, and wilting bodies. Three days of sport has taken its toll. I decided, therefore, that we would change bowlers very regularly, so that no-one got too tired. We could, potentially, be in the field for two whole days, as Sri Lanka battled to score six hundred runs.

In fact, though, it seems that they were rather daunted by the target we had set.

After our openers had failed to worry the batsmen, our first change, to spin, resulted in a breakthrough, as I deceived Joyewordine with my looping flighted ball, and clean bowled him: 35-2.

Carol took the next wicket: 43-3.

The batting side had completely gone into their shells. Instead of aggressively trying to score the runs they needed, they seemed to be trying to bat out the whole two days, in the hope of a draw. At lunch they had reached just 72-3.

Phil finally got a wicket, when the score had reached 98-4.

After that they lost all hope of saving the match, as wickets steadily fell:

Tom took one in the next over: 99-5 .

Vicus got the next: 108-6.

Tom took another two: 110-8.

I took the last two wickets: 117-10.

We won the match by a magnificent 504 runs!!

Now we’re off for a party.

Test Match. Day 3

We started the day with a stern team talk from our skipper. We stood just one run behind them, with nine wickets in hand, and three whole days still available. Clearly, sensible, defensive batting must be the order of the day, with runs being taken when available, but no rash shots played.

We opened well, Jona achieving her half-century in the first over, but then sadly Lisa, in an overenthusiastic attempt to make a second run, ran herself out.

I arrived at the crease with the score only standing at 88-2. My scores of the world tour meant nothing now, as I have started again as a club player, so I did not realistically expect to do much. I was determined, however, to stand my ground for as long as I could, whilst better players score the runs.

Sadly, Jona was out for 63 soon after, with the score now on 93-3.

Then our own particular Christmas miracle happened. Our batsperson of the year, Frangelita, and I came together, and we were able to play sensibly, on a wicket which appeared to have slowed a bit. At lunch our fourth wicket partnership stood at an amazing unbeaten 180, with me on 95 and Frangelita on 74.

My century came up in the first over after lunch. In the following over, our partnership passed 200. The next over saw Fran get her century too.

Despite being a mere club player, this wicket, and their bowling attack (which was tiring fast) really suited my style of play.

Frangelita was finally out for 106, our partnership having put on a very useful 265 runs. 358-4.

Steg came out very aggressively, and immediately started knocking the old ball around – including a magnificent six. We took our stand to over one hundred, but I was tiring, and eventually edged a catch to the slips, having scored 192. 482-5.

That brought Richard on, and the prospect of another century had brought a glint to his eyes. Sadly he tamely knocked his first ball straight back, and was out caught-and-bowled. Steg was out shortly after, caught going for another six, having scored a very fast 84. I was heard to ask, plaintively, ‘whatever happened to my “let’s bat all day and part of tomorrow” plan?’

Ivy was caught behind, having made 30.

We went in for tea at 546-8, with just our three tail-end bowlers to try to extend our lead further.

Phil fell shortly after tea (the extra portion of curry may not have been a good idea) leaving the score on 558-9, with Tom and Vicus in the middle. I’d told them they had two options – get out, and they would have to open the bowling, and get Sri Lanka out for less than our current lead. Alternatively, they could try to stay in, and give us a better cushion.

They tried for the latter option – and Vicus played a beautiful, graceful cameo innings. Our tail-enders completely frustrated their slower bowlers, and when they took the new ball and brought on the quicker men, with four slips, the ball just shot through the big gaps in the field to the boundary instead.

Vicus managed to score a century, but was then caught and bowled, leaving us all out for a magnificent 693, giving us a lead of 621 runs.

Here is our score-sheet.

Sri Lanka had a tricky four overs to face. Tom managed to take a wicket in the penultimate over, and play ended with them on 17-1, needing another 605 runs to win.

Test Match. Day 2.

Dawn saw a few bleary eyes, but also a magnificent team of athletes, raring for another day’s play.

Unfortunately, they were the Sri Lankan team. BMCC players looked a little more woebegone.

We knew that today could be the crunch part of the match. We must make that early breakthrough, and ideally get the opposition out for less than the 329 we’d scored – or else our second innings was likely to be very hard work indeed.

Unfortunately, our fast bowlers just couldn’t get a wicket, so eventually I asked Jona to try an over of slow bowling – and one kept very low and achieved our first wicket of the day – by which time, though, the score had moved on to 201-3.

The old ball was doing nothing for us at all; in an effort to get through it without tiring out our main bowlers, I allowed the more junior players to make use of it – entirely unsuccessfully - so just before lunch I brought Tom back, and he broke through, with two wickets in two balls, leaving them on 271-5 at the interval.

We took the new ball straight after lunch, but went through the entire next session without a single wicket. They went in for tea on 355-5, 26 runs ahead of us, and with five wickets in hand. There were some very glum faces over the tea table. Many of us couldn’t face eating anything. Even Phil only managed four pies.

And some sandwiches.

And a couple of cakes.

Oh, and some trifle.

We came out after tea determined to break this stand. Eventually I did it, with a tricky, flighted ball, which dipped at the last minute and took his off-stump. My next ball also took a wicket, and suddenly at 396-7 things looked a little more hopeful.

Tom and I wrapped the innings up between us, bowling them out for 401 – a first innings lead to Sri Lanka of 72. Tom achieved a five-fer, as the scoreboard shows.

That left us a tricky nine overs to get through before the close of play. I ordered our batsmen to block as much as possible, and only to play at loose balls. With three more days to get through, a result is certain (weather permitting) and we must use up as many of those hours as we can, in batting.

First, though, we had that deficit of 72 runs to clear up.

By the time the final over came round, we had scored 70 of those runs, without losing a wicket. Sadly in that last over, Merithitheran managed to get Carol to play on.

We ended the day on 71-1, with Jona poised at 49, likely to spend a restless night, wondering whether she would make her half-century in the morning.

Test Match. Day 1.

Well, we got here safely, and with a strictly enforced policy of early to bed and early to rise, the whole team, scorers and supporters were at the ground by 6.30 for a quick nets session before play started. I should explain that I wiped all the experience gained on the world tour, so I start from scratch again as a basic club player – so expect no great things from me this match. The rest of you, however are still all England players (albeit from a couple of years ago).

Our one-off Test Match against Sri Lanka started well, with me winning the toss. I decided we should bat.

The next hour saw us going downhill rapidly, and our number seven (and last of the recognised batsmen) Richard came in with the score on a mere 77-5.

Things changed after that. Richard has obviously been putting in quality time with our new batting coach, Annette Practice, since the summer season ended, and they do say that Practice makes perfect – it certain does in Richard’s case, for he drove and cut magnificently.

Richard and Lisa’s stand took us to 233-5 at lunch, with Richard on 98 and Lisa on 50.

Richards’ century came up shortly after lunch.

Sadly he was run out shortly after that, bringing Phil in to bat opposite Lisa. The newly-engaged couple’s egging each other on to run faster didn’t pay dividends, with Lisa being run out, having reached a splendid 72.

We were well into our tail by this time, but Phil at least made amends for having got Lisa run out, by playing some powerful shots. He was the last man out, by which time, as the score-board shows, we had reached a respectable 329-10.

Vicus and Tom opened our attack, and looked very mean with the new ball – Vicus taking the first wicket, after hitting the batsman on the helmet with a vicious bouncer, and then yorking him next ball.

After that the opposition dug in, and as the shine went from the ball we found it harder and harder to trouble them. I tried out every bowler, just in case the conditions suited someone unusual – but no surprises came our way. Eventually Tom made a breakthrough, once again by hitting his man with one fast ball, and then bowling him with the next.

Sadly that just brought another competent batsman in, and we tolled away without success, as the light faded. At the end of day one, then, Sri Lanka stand at 172-2: 157 runs behind, with eight wickets in hand.

We must hope for an early breakthrough tomorrow.

Now we’re all off for a minor banquet, to celebrate Phil and Lisa’s engagement, and another early night.

Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony.

Bowler of the Year: Tom, who thundered in as opening bowler at most matches, achieving two five-fers and 27 wickets on the tour.

Batsperson of the Year: Frangelita, who is turning into a very stylish player, scoring 361 runs on tour, including a century.

Fielder of the Year: Richard, for his poised professionalism behind the stumps.

Best supporting player: Ivy, for supporting the rest of the team in both batting and bowling.

Winner of the Golden Pencil, Scorer of the Year: I,LTV.

The award for Services to Tea-making was shared this year, by Ziggi and Jona.

The Ginsters Award, for having eaten the most pies, went to Phil.

Supporter of the Year: for vigorous use of her pom-poms - the Cornish Rambler.

The Ian Botham Memorial Trophy, for All-Rounder of the Year: Dave, for his 1,043 runs and 83 wickets on tour.

World Tour 2007 - Results

Played: 18.

Won: 15

Lost: 3

Highest Score: 743-10

Lowest Score: 18-4

And here are the batting and bowling tables:

WORLD TOUR – Match 18

We arrived in the Netherlands for the last match in our world tour.

Complacent, I have to say, seemed to be your attitude. Having won the toss, and elected to bat, I heard several of you boasting (last week seems to have gone to a few people’s heads) that you would be achieving your best scores of the series here.

Well, their bowling attack wasn’t bad. Only Richard and I managed to get into double figures.

All out for 81 really didn’t impress anyone.

Tea (cheese sandwiches and glasses of beer) seemed to go to some of your heads too. I heard all sorts of claims about your bowling ability – so decided to let each of you have one over, starting with the recognised bowlers, while I plodded in at the other end, tying them up with my spin.

That seemed to work. They could bowl OK, but they certainly aren’t batsmen. All out for 12 was, I suppose I would have to say, not a bad result.

The full result of our tour, batting averages etc will be posted here and at my own site, tomorrow.

WORLD TOUR – Match 17

Well, that was an interesting match. Canada aren’t renowned as world-leaders in the field of cricket, so we expected a fairly easy game. When we arrived at the ground, though, and saw how small it was, I could see several of you practising extravagant strokes – obviously with sixes in mind.

We weren’t disappointed. Most of us who managed to make a start (and didn’t just swing away at the first ball they saw) were well rewarded. The runs certainly flowed. I’d like to pay particular respect to Richard for his long-overdue half-century, and our vice-captain, Frangelita for her century. Both of them scored entirely in boundaries – look at the score-sheet: 124 runs off just 30 balls!

We were all guilty, though, of greediness – in looking for too many sixes. Even I (I’ve only ever hit a six once in real life – my normal selection of shots keeps the ball low) was tempted into the odd aired shot. Seven of us caught out tells its own story. Who knows how much we could have gone on to score, had we just been a little more cautious.

Even so, I believe our total of 743 all out is a club record.

Tea was pleasant. If you like moose fritters, that is.

I think our score completely demoralised the Canadian team – and Tom bowling their opener with the first ball of their innings didn’t help them either.

We fairly quickly ran through them – as usual, I found that tail-end batsmen just don’t know how to play spin, and so Phil and I picked up a few wickets between us.

So, we win again.

Next week we’re off to the Netherlands, for the last match in our world tour.