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.