Full Fixture Information

Result Descriptiom

Won by 6 wickets

Man of the Match

James Atkinson ? fine batting and bowling

Champagne Moment

Tom?s first wicket for the village

Teddy Bear Moment

Tom?s first drop for the village

Full Match Report

Last year Grayswood made about 190-odd and then bowled us out for 78 ? including 5 ducks ? so it was with some trepidation that I lost the toss and we were asked to field. Would history repeat itself? There were only four of us carrying the scars of last year, (Dave, Josh, Lakh and myself) and we?d only mustered 6 runs between us (of which I scored 5) so as least some of us knew we needed to do better.

But better we did.

First a big nod and a round of applause to the groundsmen ? it?s a near impossible job trying to prepare wickets when it?s not rained since the 6th June and the sun has blatted down consistently every day. But I would say the wicket played pretty well, I don?t think a single wicket was down to the pitch, and whilst the odd one bounced and the odd one kept low ? I don?t want anyone reading this report to assume the pitch played its part in what unfolded.

Will Atkinson opened the bowling and in a near-repeat of last week, had a caught and bowled in his first over. Dave Rees bowling from the other end kept things tidy, Will had a wicket in his second over, an absolute peach that pitched outside before jagging in and clipping the top of off (in fact had he stayed for fines he might have reminded us of this when we were deciding the champagne moment).

Will (6-2-17-2) and Dave (5-0-13-0) bowled well and Dave was certainly unlucky when our debutant at point shelled a pretty catchable chance in his third over.

It should be said, that there was some distraction on the ground as we had witnessed a para-glider crashing into the hill at some speed in the 3rd over of the day, which was followed shortly afterwards by the air ambulance which made us realise how serious it was, in fact over the next 20-odd overs it was clear that it wasn?t good and I hope that whatever the outcome is, the injured person isn?t too messed up and will make a good recovery.

Whether Tom?s mind was distracted by the whomping chopper or not, I think he?d back himself to catch that catch next time. We shall see.

Tom (5-2-17-1) and Tim (6-2-19-3) replaced the openers and soon the squeeze was applied. Tom?s first wicket coming in his second over where Tim showed him how to catch in the covers, and Tim?s wickets coming in overs 2, 3 and 5 ? bowling two and having one trapped LBW.

73-6 for when they both finished their spells and then time for Jimmy (3.2-0-14-2) and Josh (3-0-21-2) to wrap things up and Grayswood were all out for 109 - 50 minutes before tea.

It was generally a good display ? three dropped catches aside ? and a couple of balls helped to the boundary by the generous fielders ? but the bowlers bowled well and Grayswood somehow contrived to keep losing wickets.

An early tea was taken ? and then it was time to see if we could knock off the runs and get home in time to put the children to bed.

We didn?t exactly knock off the runs, Lakh tried, and failed, and fell 99 short of his hundred in the first over skying a ball to mid-off. Wasn?t necessarily the obvious shot to play ? but the 14 yr old opening bowler was fast and bouncy and hit Lakh once on the arm, already, and I think Lakh just decided to get on with it.

Ian, fresh from his man of the match knock of 43 last week at the top of the order was at the other end. But unfortunately played back to their very slow opening bowler at the other end, missed a straight one and was back in the hutch LBW for a duck - 2-2 after two overs.

James and Will, in their rightful positions of 3 and 4, steadied the ship, put on a very nice 52 before James was out for 32 caught behind. Will and Chris Hollis then moved the score to 85 before Will was out, caught at mid-off for 26 and I joined Chris (28no) to knock off the final runs and we?d won by 6 wickets.

Hurrah.

Well played everyone ? good debut Tom ? great bowling generally as a team ? and openers aside, well batted everyone.