Win v Redbourn Thurs 20 October 2000

Team: John Call, Don, Andy, Mike, Graeme and Simon

We had a comfortable win against the old rivals last night that was far easier than I was expecting, given my original availability problems. We won the toss and thinking we were a little short of bowling I decided to let them set us a total. We had new boy Graeme in the team last night (HCC first team keeper), so I initially threw him the gloves and between Andy and Don let them volunteer for the other three overs. However, having seen Don's first few practice deliveries, I quickly asked Graeme to show me what he could do: one delivery was enough to offer the gloves to Don.

However, whilst we had an excellent steady start with John and Graeme opening the bowling, it was our fielding that cut Redbourn off at the knees. We ran out there first 4 batsman, 3 of these with direct hits (Andy, Graeme and Simon), leaving them at 39 for 4 after 4 overs. From this point the final pair dared only run 3 singles in the last 6 overs, duing which time Mike and I gifted them more runs in wides than they scored off the bat. Mike finally cleared up the tail with two wickets bowling them out for 98 of the penultimate delivery.

Graeme and Andy opened the innings and started rather slowly and, like Redbourn, seemed somewhat afraid of running between the wickets. Graeme, who was clearly trying to dredge his memory for what he could remember of the indoor game, struck the ball rather too well scoring of nearly all deliveries but the ball reached the fielders too quickly. So after the third over when Andy perished trying to run only our 2nd single, we had only 11 on the board. However, from the 5th over Don rather hogged the strike and within three overs was back in the pen retired on 27. Graeme and I then pushed on with Graeme unfurling two great shots for 8 and 6 to retire on 26. I was out trying to force a 6 to win the game and left Mike and John to complete the game at the beginning of the 11th over.

Win - Tues 18 October 2100 v Bamville

Team: John Cwn, Neil, Tim S, Kevin, Andy & myself

We finally got our season back on the right track last night with an easy win over Bamville. It was a first class batting performance (for the majority) but our bowling again had room for improvement.

We lost the toss and were asked to bat. Andy and Tim opened and set off at a tremendous pace with 21 coming off the first over and 19 off the second. By the fourth over Tim had already retired, followed quickly by Andy. We then had a minor wobble in mid order as first I was run our first ball, neatly dissecting the on-side wall and presenting the ball straight back to the bowlers stumps. Neil then played on for 9. There was then another quick tempo partnership between Kevin and John Cwn both of whom made 25. Tim and Andy return and carried on where they left off and I think for the first time we had a situation where Andy had to retire for the second time having made another 25, totalling a chanceless 50. Kevin returned for the last over and was in inches of scoring an 8, when he was pouched one handed against the back wall by a fantastic diving catch. Our final total of 189 for 3 was I believe our second highest to date.

Bamville, whilst batting well, were never really in the hunt and we were perhaps a little too relaxed. However wickets fell regularly for them, with several good run outs and one good catch at gully from Kevin off Neil (having dropped one earlier in the same position). We finally bowled them out in the last over of their innings for around 140 to complete the win.

Lost!: Tues 11 October 2000 v Long M: Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna

Deliver me, O Lord, from eternal death......................

Team: Tim S, John Cwn John Cal, And, Kevin and Simon

Well, I thought a requiem mass (Faure's if you are interested) would be an appropriate response to our game last night. We lost in the first round of the cup to Long Marsden, a newcomer to the league.

They score 136 for 3 to which we must have contributed 50 in extras with some very 'first-game-of-the-season' bowling. We then started poorly losing Andy early on but Tim S started striking the ball well partnered by me and we took the score up to 80 odd and were back on target. Tim then retired on 25. Then we lost three quick wickets all going for big hits down the ground. That left Tim and I again to try and complete the job which we were still on target to do. However we pushed too hard and I was run out, leaving Tim on his own. We got to 120 with 2 overs still to go and it still looked on. Then Tim sadly played on, to put an end to our sorry performance.