Hurrah, another cricket report

After all the difficulty in getting a side out for the tour and the wonderful time all the boys had whilst on tour it was clear that no difficulty could possible be had for getting a side out for this match.

Sorry, scratch that, he had 3 (including himself) players available yesterday. After some very aggressive recruiting, including rustling up the Maitre’d from Aqua (he threatened to stop eating there – a threat almost as terrifying to the place as it would be terrifying to the management of Totos if he stopped drinking) he managed to cobble a side of 9 together including 2 debutantes of a female persuasion.

Fortunately despite the grief getting a side out the weather was fantastic and a great evening of cricket beckoned.

The toss was won and, oh what a surprise, they decided to bat. The experiment of opening with Webb alongside the Chairman continued and at last bore some fruit. The Chairman went on the rampage pulling and cover-driving for all he was worth and quickly retired followed shortly by Webb.

Earl coming in at 3 had a lot to make up after his golden on tour and he didn’t disappointed quickly racing to a retirement.

The ringer then played some fine strokes whilst Burton sought to recreate his form from the Bill Owen match and with 4 overs to spare with the score on 145 and no wickets down the Chairman began to hope that they could get through without losing any wickets. Burton let him down followed swiftly by Thomas.

Holt failed to impress but did he really need a head high beamer to get him out? Beaumont on debut survived the last ball and so Phillips will have to wait for her maiden knock.

Defending 173 was probably within their capabilities even with Thomas skippering the side and if you readers will forgive us ruining the suspense they managed it.

Burton opened with a maiden and Webb whipped out a wicket in his first over. A wicket for Burton in his second over followed by a fabulous planned stumping off Thomas’s first ball left them reeling with 3 down early doors. They weren’t helped by Thomas picking up a wicket with his 6th ball either.

Their number 3 threatened to be a bit of a handful but after clipping some lovely runs he smashed one high in the air, Earl sprinted round to get in position but then overran it, somehow he threw out his right paw and pouched a brilliant catch.

With them in trouble Thomas felt willing to risk Holt who frankly got carted into the road. The ball that smashed into the side of the car driving past was a particular shocker, the ball after that landed in the garden on the other side of the road was not a whole lot better. Phillips and Beaumont were also trusted. The best that should be recorded is that fortunately one of the playing conditions for the night was that any wide was 2 runs but not an extra ball.

Most sides batting against us have learnt that there is always an extra run to be had on the Holt throw…or so they thought, clearly “dead-eye” has been in training as he swooped with grace and poise at mid-on before throwing down the stumps with a flat hard thrown at the non-strikers end for a fine run-out (in other words he got lucky).

Earl dropped one and had an over spinning it square before Burton was brought back to clean up. The only real excitement at the end was whether the Chairman could get through the innings without conceding a Bye. By some miracle he managed it. A first for the firm after 9 long (very long) seasons.

A comprehensive victory and an excellent game of cricket. With particular thanks to our debutantes and our ringer.

Batting

Webb Not Out 25
Williams Not Out 26
Earl Not Out 26
Ringer Not Out 18
Burton Bwld. Killick 23
Thomas Bwld. Thompson 6
Holt Bwld. Thompson 2
Beaumont Not Out 2

Extras (18 W, 1 NB, 18 B) 37

Total 173 for 3

Bowling

O M R W
Burton 2.1 1 11 2
Webb 3 0 25 1
Thomas 2 0 11 3
Holt 2 0 18 0
Ringer 3 0 17 2
Phillips 1 0 10 0
Beaumont 1 0 6 0
Earl 1 0 3 0