Captain's night - Saturday 20th June

Fantasy Cricket week 5

fantasy cricket week 4

Very tight at the top with only 1 point in it...

we have had 1 team pull out of the competition due to complaints (this team was top of the league by 70 points but the manager happened to be in charge of the competition. Latvian)

Kammy is now averaging 114 points a game...

Fantasy cricket - up to week 3

Tongy for The Ashes - 1xi Match Report by Matty D

HWRCC 166-8, 52 overs. Davies 44, Tong 38
Chobham 152, 42 overs. Tong 8-38

Cricket is brilliant. It is simply, undeniably, definately the best thing in the world, ever. Sure you have crap days - and no doubt Chobham are feeling pretty grim this morning - but there are times when Cricket seems absolutely perfect. For the Wick on Saturday it was one of those days, and for one man is particular, it was the day of his cricketing life.

Chobham won the toss and bowled first. The correct call on what looked to be a flat deck, typical for this season. We knew Chobham had a serious gun bat, and that whilst he would obviously stand out, they would have some other players too. It was going to be a tough fixture.

Davies and Goulbourn opened up, with the pitch being instantly easy paced, although there was some evidence of swing. One opener in particular bowling some hoops, but without the necessary control to beat the bat consistently. Goulbourn, fresh from a 2xi league average of 180, was rightfully promoted to the first XI, but dissapointingly failed to trouble the scorers, lopping one straight to gully. Raza, skipper for the day, joined Davies, but put at an to his recent good form by feathering a wide half volley behind.

At 10-2, Rashid and Davies began the repair job. Runs were slow, but the bowling was tight and accurate, and once the wax had left the ball, it was difficult to get away without taking some risks. At 35-2 off 15, both bats accelerated, putting the bowlers under pressure and turning the game back to wards the Wick - Rashid in particular smiting some ugly blows alongside a few wonderful straight hits. 75-2 at drinks, probably advantage Wick.

Rashid fell chancing his arm a little too much. Hibberd then never looked settled with the consistent slow line and length and fell lbw in a typical Hibberd way. Davies, who had hit some lusty blows, then fell to one that kept low, just as he was starting to accelerate. Berrera didnt last long either and the Wick were tottering at 100-6, and off 40 overs. Slow stuff indeed - Chobham shows excellent patience and simply bowled straight.

Tongy then joined Whinney at the crease and turned the heat back on the bowlers, and in particular the fielders. One all ran 5 was typical of how they were turning the game back in our favour. The balconies were filling up, the 3s were in for teas, and the Wick were using the atmosphere to seize the momentum back in our favour. Tong scored 38 excellent runs.

Having no option than to bat the full 52, the Wick ended up on 166. A total we knew we were more than capable of defending, given that Chobham would need to score at 4s to win the game.

Teas - Dave experimented with salmon instead of tuna. Very controversial. Everything else was the same as usual.

Having entertained thoughts of taking the old ball, Raza instead opted to gun with some guns, and took the new cherry, opening with the line and length of Ford, and the wicket-taking pace and shape of Sri. Sri didn't settle and was replaced by Whinney. Both Ford and Whinney bowled well, but Chobham had the gun bat who we knew could win the game on his own in 20 overs. He walloped one huge six straight.

Chobham 40-0 off 12. Only defending 166, Raza was ringing the changes. Enter Tong.

He started finding some shape. Opting to go around the the gun left hander, he quickly induced a wild slash which Raza gobbled up at the second attempt at a wide first slip. Rightly, the Wick celebrated wildly, knowing we were back in the game. Tongy then found some serious hoop and bowled #3 second ball. Awesome.

The runs dried up and the pressure was built. Chris bowled some tight stuff, and although Raza wasn't up to his normal tight standards, there was nothing easy given away. Tongy was settling into an unbelievable rhythm. He proceeded to get 4 more wickets, all bowled. All absolute pearlers. Fordy got the #8 to snick behind and Chobham were 120-7, with about 8 overs to go.

The young #9 joined the Chobham skip and backed his eye. Davies then got a sharp run out, swooping in from cover - direct hit. With 20 needed off 3 overs, Chobham 8 wickets down, but with their skipper still at the crease, on 40-odd. With the field spread, it was clear he was going to back himself at hit the runs. Tongy, with a superb slower ball, deceived him and, yup, you guessed, it, bowled him. The game was up for Chobham - they wern't going to get the runs, it was now whether the Wick could get the last wicket in the 11 balls remaining. Tongy only needed 5 more, hooping the last ball of his 15 over spell back in, nailed the #11 in front - with bat not even close to the ball. LBW. Everyone understandably went ballistic.

Tong. 15-5-38-8.

It was openly acknowledged by all, including the gracious Chobham, that it was a truly remarkable bowling performance.

The Wick's batting was poor - too many bats giving away their wickets. The bowling was good by all, and the fielding was sharp and keen. The team spirit was admirable, and the support was again excellent from the balcony. The oppo were strong and keen and played well enough to win the game. But in all honesty there is one reason the Wick won this game, and that was Graham Tong. He bowled with pace, control, guile and all this for 15 overs withot a break. None of his wickets were gifted to him and 6 of them were bowled.

Outstanding.

[Victorious skipper for the day Kamran celebrates the win - Ed]

3xi vs Kempton (a) - Match Report by Lloydy

HWRCC 3XI lost the toss and were inserted.
HWRCC 191/7 declared from 49 overs.
Kempton 160 All out from 41
Phil “The Finisher” Linter- 6-1-5-3

This week's away trip saw the 3s travel a short distance to the picturesque Kempton CC in the shadow of the famous race track. The ground was very pleasant with a large main square and a second pitch nestled in a tree lined glade beyond. The 3s pitch is apparently a football pitch during the winter and the strip was effectively cut out and rolled from the centre circle. This gave us an oblong shaped ground with extremely short boundaries square on both sides (literally 20M) and mahoosive boundaries for exponents of the on or off drive. Indeed had we been fortunate enough to have brought our travelling Simian friend with us this weekend he would have filled his little monkey boots in a big way. Sadly he was revising for his Ape levels (sorry) or something and to add insult to injury Sayce and Walsh who, between them put on close to 100 runs last weekend were both away. The track itself was in remarkably good nick considering the groundsman had only 4 weeks to prepare it though the rain had turned it squidgy and green but with the wind blowing across created a few dry areas and some un-even bounce to keep it interesting.

Opening the batting in overcast and windy conditions, messers Ewen and Lloyd got us off to a great start though the score line was assisted nicely by the Kempton opener insisting on bowling as fast and short as possible and firing at least 3 balls an over wide of the crease. Both bats looked comfortable against the erratic pace and gentle line and length provided by the opening pair and the score board was ticking over at between 4 and 5 an over. Lloyd smashed a flat 6 through cover followed by a four and looked to be seeing it well before mistiming a pull and edging to slip for 22 and Ewen received the first full straight one from the quicky to join him in the hutch shortly afterwards. Nathan and U16 colt James Maddoc-Jones at the crease and Nathan looked comfortable before mistiming a short one and lobbing the ball gently to midwicket for 1 again narrowl;y avoiding the quack. The Kempton players clearly hadn’t heard about James’ batting prowess as they brought the field in and quickly retreated again as the youngster smashed the quicky for a succession of boundaries.

A brief rain delay afforded us some contemplation and perhaps it was the freezing wind or the wafts of some of Jamaica’s finest but the mood was one of relaxed confidence. Two overs lost to the rain delay and the wick resumed in blazing sunshine on a tacky but drying pitch.

Tommy D stuck about and struck some confident runs though offered up two c&bs before being bowled and replaced by Tony Copeland who along with MJ kept the runs flowing against the burly leg spinner and the lofty offie. Tony eventually fell for 17 bowled though his legs (twas a nice ball to be fair) and Chairman Mao fell shortly afterwards for 1 to be replaced by Graeme who didn’t trouble the scorers (quack!). Incidentally both wickets fell with the score on Nelson… spooky!

MJ and Linter then shared a 40+ partnership which brought our total to 191 and the declaration was called at the half way point. James finished on a magnificent and chanceless 66* and “The Finisher” on 27* most of which were boundaries.

Tea was served in the delightful Kempton Club house and was actually very good. Plenty of fresh cheese and cucumber/ tomato and Tuna mayo sarnies, with a MYO ploughmans scenario o fFrench bread, cheese, ham, turkey + pickle. Scotch eggs, pork pies and cakes a plenty and most crucially gallon buckets of hot tea. No drinks interval though and some did wonder about mild salsa with Dorito’s but to mark down on this would be very critical of a good tea effort- 7

With an impressive array of bowling talent at his disposal the skipper eventually settled on the opening paring of Lown and Smith and they were unfortunate to go for a few too many runs without reward as the Kempton bats looked to use the short boundaries to every ball. Graeme did get the breakthrough with the oppo on 41 taking a sharp C&B to dismiss the #1 who played across the line and caught a leading edge. The #2 continued to frustrate the wick fielders with multiple edges flying over the slip corden to the boundary leading to a run rate of 5/over. The number 3 continued to hit powerfully across the line however and pushed the run rate along well. Tommy D entered the fray replacing Graeme and was unlucky not to gain a wicket having caught the #3 low on the shin whilst trapped in front but it wasn’t to be. At the other end Hill replaced Lown for his first spell of 09 and looked like he hadn’t been away, producing some beautiful movement and took a wicket with a text book out swinger. Tommy was replaced by Dick in an attempt to stem the runs and change the pace and he was rewarded for his patience as the free scoring opening bat was bowled attempting a sweep shot but only managing a gentle top edge onto his helmet and onto the leg stump with just enough force to dislodge the bail.

Tails up with 4 wickets down and runs to play with the wick upped a gear and Hilly took his second wicket with another full straight one. Next over Dick was unfortunate not to gain his second as an arcing shot was fumbled by Nathan at cover… you can imagine how pleased he was about that!. Fortunately he only had to wait another 6 balls before he did the job him self off his own bowling.

The back of the Kempton batting was seemingly broken by now and they still needed 40+ runs so the skipper turned to his finisher to blast the tail out. By now a partisan crowd was gathering on the sidelines for what was to be a tense finish and they were to be disappointed with the result. The oppo needed 40(ish) runs, we needed 4 wickets and there were 12 overs left in the game. I’m not sure they were expecting us to have such a stable of bowlers that our 4th change would be the most potent but the skipper was glad he did.

Lints bowled some fantastic lines and proved very difficult to score from. He was rewarded in his third over with a double wicked maiden with an exquisite in-swinging leg stump yorker and an LBW and then two overs later with a further yorker that knocked back the middle peg. In the mean time Graeme replaced Dick and with 31 needed took the last wicket LBW in his second over.

A great game all round played in good spirit that provided highs and lows in equal measure for both sides at 111 for 6 we were in a bit of trouble but saw it through nicely and then with bats available and so few runs to get, Kempton looked to have it in the bag and we were all but out of the game but 13 points to the men from the Wick is all that matters.

Next weekend we take on fellow promotees Thames Ditton at home, one of only a hand full of teams who have also won their first two games.

MOM- tricky to award really as Maddoc-Jones scored a fantastic maiden 66* an achievement for anyone let alone an U16 and then kept wicket on a tricky wicket. His partnership with Phil coupled with the latter’s 3 wickets for 5 runs in 6 overs won us the game so I’m going to cop out and award a joint MOM this week.

Well done lads!

Natwest one day series

Big news coming from the world of cricket!

Not that KP is out injured...

Not that Symonds is out of the Australian squad..

not the Chris "fruity" Lewis now has poor availability for future games..

But during the ad breaks for todays one day match and all games sponsored by Natwest, the club will feature heavily in adverts featuring such stars as Chairman Nicolls on a roller, Derek Soppitt painting and skipper Joe Ewen pushing a sight screen.

all 3 will be at the club this weekend for a meet and greet and your opportunity to get a photo with them.

Behind bars

Readers of this blog will no doubt react with a "tinge" of sadness to the news that former England wunderkind Chris Lewis is to spend the next 13 years behind bars, after being found guilty for drug trafficking. It is a sad day when anyone gets locked away (i assume), but in Chris's case this seems doubly true. Not so long ago he was bowling pies on the cricket pitch and scoring very few runs, and now he's..... not doing that.

Perhaps a spell behind bars might help him with sorting out his line and length, and finding how to play the "corridor of uncertainty"? Hopefully he's got a copy of the Wisden almanak to work through.... it could be a good read. Max Walker's "Aligators and arseholes" is also a good read - i'm sure Chris would appreciate the humour. Right up his alley.

Can I suggest that this whole episode is evidence that you should never carry any of your mate's kit?

See you in 13 years Chris.

Wickman Junior

Match Report - 2xi vs Crainleigh - by Wickman

HWRCC 2xi vs Cranleigh 2xi (a)
Toss: Cranleigh
HWRCC 218-6 Goldplate 101*, Cole 55
Cranleigh 125 ao Cole 3-10, Shinda 2-10
HWRCC win by 93 runs

Goulborn, Cole, Fudge*, Crowther, Soppitt (quack), Clark+, Cameron, Powell, Webster, O’Donnell, Shinda

The Case of the Missing Catches

A magnificent innings from Matthew Goulborn, a fine all round performance from Richard “Kes” Cole and a much improved bowling performance typified by Shri Shinda’s opening spell dominated this match. In inclement weather some of which reminded the HWRCC close fielders of skiing holidays they had been on, the Wick ran this game for much of the contest only coming second best for small periods in both innings. A young and enthusiastic Cranleigh side played no small part in this game but never quite got themselves into a position to win.

Cranleigh play on a village green style triangle bordered on one side by the house where PHB May lived and played his cricket from, pretty houses on the other and a busy b-road running from somewhere to Guildford. The sense of idyll is somewhat ruined by the traffic along the main road. For much of the game a local type on a trials bike motorfarted his way up and down the accompanying roads. Some wag also drove passed and employed a very musical horn to signal this size of his brain. Why DO people in cars have musical horns and what possesses them to use them alongside cricket grounds? It may have belonged to the family of the publican that named the pub opposite “The Cranley”. Spelling issues…

The outfield looked pretty good – but turned out to have slightly too much grass on it for a really free flowing boundary fest. And the wicket flattered to deceive. It looked like a true, hard, deck but turned out to be quite two paced, perhaps as a result of rain the day before (despite Cranleigh having covers). The very occasional ball really pinged through but mostly it was slowish and lowish. This impression of slowness was not helped by a bitter South Westerly wind which came from so far down the Atlantic that it smelled of Albatross and Galapagos turtle dung. It was not a track to suit the slogger or the dasher.

Inserted by a toss winning Cranleigh Goulborn and Cole soon ascertained the details Wickman has drawn your attention to. Golby, continuing in the vein of form he mined last week, was soon outscoring Cole, mostly playing in an arc between cover and third man. The cut and the drive were employed a great deal but Cranleigh continued to feed these strokes until Golby arrived at his 50 from 66 balls. Cole was both more circumspect but also unable to beat mid off. Despite looking in good touch this inability held him back until having become, like the Ancient Mariner, becalmed, he decided to take a more brutal approach and hit himself out of trouble mostly through and over mid on. A big six from a left arm off spinner who used the wind to some effect all afternoon brought up his fifty from 87 balls. He was out soon after looking to move the score along when he miscued to cover.

And here Cranleigh had their best spell of the game. Skipper Henderson and left arm spinner Harms managed to peg the Wick back. Having reached 50 it took Goulborn 20 or more balls to re-start his innings. Fudge played well but never quite mastered the two paced nature of the pitch and the wind holding back the spinner, perishing stumped off a floater for 20. Crowther and Soppitt both went quickly, Soppitt going so quickly that he forgot to score any runs and made a contribution to Duck Tax. All of a sudden a huge opening partnership was in danger of being squandered.

At 160 for 4 with only 7.2 overs to go Cranleigh were right back in it. But a brisk 39 run partnership between Goulborn and Clark took the Wick to the brink of 200 before Clark was bowled by a slower ball looking to play incorrectly for the first time with four overs to go. Cameron quickly sacrificed himself to get Golbourn back on strike, Webster subsided to the same delivery that did for Clark from the impressive Hill and as we entered the last over there remained the question of whether Golby would reach 100.

When Goulborn twice gave the strike away, the second time on the fourth ball of the over it looked unlikely, but Shinda managed to manufacture a single and amidst the tension Golborn jabbed a late cut between short third man and keeper to run a three which took him to 101*. Remarkably this innings began with him facing the first ball and ended on the last. A testament to him that he scored 46% per cent of our runs demonstrating that the innings was perfectly paced. Nicely anchored…

For Cranleigh the skipper Henderson conceding only 36 from a miserly spell and young left armer Harms who took 4 for 40 using the conditions well were the pick of the bowlers. But they were well supported by Hill’s slower balls and Trawber’s opening spell which conceded only 19 runs from 7. On balance at tea no one on the Wick side was entirely clear whether 218 was enough but it certainly had a lot going for it. Like the girl from University Challenge this year it was pulchritudinally challenged but what it lacked in the beauty stakes it made up for with cleverness. You could tell it was well educated enough to get a lucrative job in banking or the law, make a mint and retire early.

Tea was splendid. All sorts of dangerous numbers were being bandied around mostly because cold tuna pasta salad was on offer. There were big plates. Here there were also scones, jam and cream. Good sandwiches. Fruit salad inc. strawberries. The tea itself was served in PROPER mugs and was stronger than Lou Ferrigno who played The Hulk in the TV series of the same name and came fourth in the inaugural 1977 World’s Strongest Man Tournament (FACT!). However Wickman is in love momentarily with Dave’s wares again so felt moved to offer this no more than a 7.5. This tea lady clearly knows her business but the truly exceptional, the 9 or more, is not within her grasp while she refuses to bake anything from scratch. Harsh? Yes. Fair? ‘Fraid so.

Back out in amongst the action the opening attack this week comprised Shinda and Webster. Webster manfully chose to bowl into the wind and in two spells conceded only 26 runs and maintained discipline amongst the Cranleigh ranks. At the other end though Shinda was simply too potent for the Cranes’ top order. First of all he brewed up such a delicious cocktail of away swing that he left Trawber quite intoxicated. So much so that he first had him slashing into the slip region before trying to dance down the pitch and yorking himself. Top class stuff. He then produced the concoction of the day to remove Cranleigh’s experienced bat Preece pitching middle and leg, swinging and kissing the outside edge. Clark did not have to do a great deal and the dismissal was completed. Preece wandered back to the pavilion like a man heading home after an evening in a Hotel bar. The Cranes were not very many for two.

Readers of these reports will know that occasionally detectives turn up to help readers negotiate the inner mysteries in 2s games. This time imagine Columbo turning up in that dirty brown Mac to find out why the Wick did not completely roll Cranleigh. His discreet and conversational style of investigation would winkle out from the red faced slips a complete inability to hang onto the many and several opportunities presented off the bowling of Shinda, Webster and O’Donnell. He would also prise from those in the covers utterances about the changeable wind conditions and the presence of red trees and Windies supporters in the background.

There were 7 or more chances put down and against a more confident side they would have mattered. The fielding certainly needs some work. It was typified by one moment of total hilarity when a nameless individual swooped down for a run out at mid off, wound up for a big throw and succeeded only in misfiring the ball behind cover to turn a nervy single into a comfortable two. It was a legs in the air moment. Perhaps the moment which turned was the sad injury to Pinball. Having looked so electric at point that he had set the oppo to thinking they shouldn’t take a run if the ball was anywhere near him he destroyed his shoulder diving for one in the covers. He had to retire to the pavilion and could play no further part in the game. This could have been the moment Columbo turned round and said “just one more thing…”

In the event only Greaves and Brash prospered for Cranleigh, Greaves in particular looking the part and having the game to bring our total within reach. However Jimmy C, pitching the ball up and bowling as straight as he dared defeated an on drive to have him LBW on the back foot to a low full toss. Unsworth about whose excellently fair umpiring Ebenezer Scrooge would have glowed with praise, was left with no alternative but to give the decision.

Having prized out Greaves, Fudge picked the perfect moment to bring on Cole and Soppitt. The scorebook isn’t entirely clear on the details but together they took 5-36 from 14 with the scorebook suggesting that Cole leaked only 10 runs for his three wickets. Whatever the details Cole was accurate and difficult to get away, Delboy unafraid to vary the style of attack, his best wicket the removal of Brash who looked to be Cranleigh’s last hope. The last 7 bats made only 25 between them in the face of this all spin demolition and Fudge brought Powell and Webster into the attack to mop up the tail which they duly did without alarms.

Congratulations to the Wick boys for a winning performance by a bonus-point-securing margin. Huge congratulations to Golby for a wonderful innings full of delicate touches and confident driving and cutting. It’s a tribute to him that he outscored those employed down the order to slap the ball about a bit in the slapping the ball about a bit bit. If you know what Wickman means. Congratulations also to Richard Cole for a great all round performance and to Shri for that super opening spell. All three made MOM a tough call this week but Golby deserves it for setting up the win.

Up the Wick!

Team News 9th May

1ST XI (HOME) v's RIPLEY C.C

MEET 12:00 START 13:30

1) Davies, Hibberd(paid) Raza Stephens Rashid Berera Maddoc-Jones Holland +(paid) Whinney Ewen J (c) (paid) Ford

UMPIRE: K. Doherty SCORER: A.Whicher

2ND XI (AWAY) v's CRANLEIGH C.C

MEET 11:00 START 13:00

1) Goulborn Cole Fudge (c) (paid) Crowther Soppitt Clark + (paid)Cameron Webster O'Donnell Powell Shinda

UMPIRE: TBC SCORER: N/A

3RD XI (AWAY) v's KEMPTON C.C

MEET 12:00 START 13:00

1) Lloyd (c) Ewen R Singh (paid) TBC Maddoc-Jones + Donnelley Nicholls (paid) Linter Smith (paid) Lown (paid) Hill

Please note that SUBS are now due. Please ensure you pay yours this weekend.

Please be aware that any player that has not paid their Annual Subs by Sun 31st May will not be eligible for selection for league games after that date.

Sunday team news to follow. If you are available for this Sun and would like a game please email greg.unsworth@googlemail.com and let the skipper know!

WICK

Chris Gayle Loses It

Andrew Strauss has become the Sir Alex Ferguson of cricket and Chris Gayle the Kevin Keegan in an extraordinary spat which threatens to overshadow absolutely nothing.

Gayle has reacted angrily to Strauss saying that tipping up two days before a Test Match in a miserable and damp England after your team has been dicked on a series of county grounds by England's B and C teams is not good for Test Cricket.

Gayle, who didn't say "I'd bloody luv it if we beat them, I'd bloody luv it" did however say that Andrew Strauss is spending too much time thinking about him, Chris. While Gayle was in India he scored very few runs, didn't make much of an impact and pissed off his team colleagues who were sent out to some God forsaken corners of England to sat on by people like Rob Key.

Strauss, who up until now has not been regarded as a strategic genius in the pre-match verbals has clearly got under Keegayle's skin as the West Indies skipper has all but announced his imminent retirement, decided he can't stand Test Cricket and obviously given a rousing morale boost to his countrymen back at home, never mind his colleagues who are coming into the second test having been totally hammered in the first test.

As Wickman writes he is now furiously back tracking and claiming he has been misinterpreted after a no doubt serious verbal roasting from West Indies Tour Management...

3xi vs Warlingham - Match Report by Lloydy

Warlingham 3xi - 157 all out on 45 overs (Linter 3-45, Smith 3-32
Hwrcc 3rd XI- 158-4 (Sayce- 75*, Walsh 37)

Risman, Sayce, Lloyd (c), Singh, Copeland +, Ewen, Nicholls, Linter, Smith, Walsh, Rodgers

When you start out in a new league you never quite know what to expect, especially from an early season fixture where the availability for a lot of clubs is somewhat erratic. So it was encouraging that the Wick were able to field 3 strong sides on the first league weekend of the season…. Long may it continue!

First up we played Warlingham who were relegated from the league above last season and after a last minute venue change we arrived at Old Walcountians [careful with the spelling there - Ed] Rugby club full of energy and thankful that we had been spared a tour of the perennial mess that is Purley way/ Ikea’s carpark. Playing at a Rugby ground you are never quite sure what king of track you are going to get, but we were pleasantly surprised to be greeted with an absolute road, though be it a green one but certainly no stud marks or lost teeth on a length and a sloping though flat outfield. It was a perfect day for a certain left arm seamer to fill his boots though unfortunately he was called up last minute as a result of a freak testicular injury in the 2’s… get well soon mate! Toss won, bowl first, ATS! Graeme and Linter opened up for us and with a light to brisk down hill breeze blowing across the strip, provided some early entertainment for the expectant wick fielders. The opening bats looked comparatively comfortable though, punishing the short ball and happy to score at 2-3 an over. Frustration began to set in eventually and it wasn’t long before some more expansive shots were played and the edges began to flow. Once Phil found his length he had one opener caught at fly slip by Graeme only to have it wiped off due to a no ball but persevered and had him out the next over in identical fashion. In between Graeme bowled their other more threatening opener with a textbook leg cutter down the slope.

With 3 and 4 at the crease the wick turned the screws with Ewen Snr encouraging the bowlers, the number 4 was cleaned up by the milkybar kid caught behind by Harry and a few overs later Lints struck again bowled this time. Graeme’s consistent line and length encouraged the number 6 to play round a straight one and the wick were on a bit of a roll.

Chairman Nicholls then joined the attack and kept things tight and even took a wicket with his second ball of the season much to Graeme's chagrin. He was ably supported by young Tom Rodgers who also picked up the sticky number 3 thanks to a sharp catch at point by Nathan in his first over. Tom struggled a little with his lines though after this and was replaced by Ewen Snr who bowled his trademark line and length darts and kept the runs down but without the reward of a wicket.

Warlingham then had a bit of a tail wag and realising they were looking like being all out for little over 100 began to chance their hand and throw the bat. Dick and Nipples requested to swap ends so Tom came back on for an over and again took a wicket. The innings was eventually mopped up by Dick and Graeme bowling their last two bats in consecutive overs to leave us needing 157 from our 50 overs plus 5 of theirs.

Tea - Difficult really as it wasn’t their ground. Some said the bread was a bit stale and I’m not sure about the sanity of roast beef and onion as a filler as it recurred on your scribe for the rest of the afternoon. Plenty of it though which is always a plus when Harry is in the side and ginger cake was a nice touch. Tea ran out twice and was served from paper cups which is always a bit galling. – 4

The pairing of Risman and Sayce got us off to a great start punishing anything short or wide and a few that were just lose. Risman walked in the 20’s with a top edge to the keeper and brought the in form Nathan Singh to the crease. Sayce carried on as before and held up his end, frustrating the Warlingham openers. Nathan was unfortunate to fall LBW, narrowly missing out on duck tax to one that kept low and he was replaced by Lloyd who, ignoring Sayce’s suggestion to play himself in creamed the first ball over the bowler for a one bounce 4. It was in the slot apparently. The score board ticked over nicely as the pair (read Sayce) scored at around 4 an over. Lloyd was given out caught behind having struck the ground and brought Will Walsh to the crease.

Will and Paul put on a fantastic partnership with the latter reaching a fine 50 to steer us within touching distance of the win. Will was eventually out to a great one handed catch at midwicket on a well deserved 37 and Harry came in to see us through the final overs to win by 6 wickets with overs to spare. The highlight of his innings being 2 consecutive drives to long off and an attempted third being missed entirely. Indeed the Warlingham keeper was so surprised he made a mess of the stumps without ball in hand much to the amusement of the square leg umpire. It was all over the 4 balls later though as Paul flicked a rank full toss off his legs for four to win the game.

Red ink and a fine 75* for Sayce and 13 points in our first outing in the new league. Early days they maybe but a good start none the less.

Bring on Kempton next week.

MOM Sayce.

[MOM Sayce waves goodbye before disappearing into an Old Walcountian back garden]