Clent Cricket Club

MATCH 27: vs Holt & Grimley away on 14th Sept 2008

2008-09-04T13:26:00.008-07:00

Match cance... just getting a head start with the match report...!

Actually, it was cancelled. The weather was fine but the track & outfield was too damp so that snuffed the life out of the 2008 season.

MATCH 26: vs Flyford Flavell away on 7th Sept 2008

2008-09-04T13:26:00.007-07:00

Match cancelled on Thursday 4th due to waterlogged ground. Sometimes to just have to laugh at this weather - it's ridiculous!

MATCH 25: vs Stourbridge Social away on 31st August 2008

2008-09-04T13:26:00.006-07:00

Match cancelled - yes...RAIN again.

MATCH 24: vs Tibberton away on 24th August 2008

2008-09-04T13:26:00.005-07:00

40 over game. Clent won the toss and elected to bat.

Clent 93 for 8 off 40 overs
Griffin 43 not out, Brocklebank 17

Tibberton 94 for 7 off 33.2 overs
Smith 3 for 16, Lee 2 for 12

Tibberton won by 3 wickets.

MATCH 23: vs Fossils away on 17th August 2008

2008-09-04T13:26:00.004-07:00

Match cancelled - RAIN !!!

MATCH 22: vs Sapey at home on 10th August 2008

2008-09-04T13:26:00.003-07:00

Match cancelled - Sapey phoned at 12.30pm (2 hours before start of play) stating they didn't have a team so would not be playing. Bad show - should know better than that.

MATCH 21: vs Avoncroft away on 3rd August 2008

2008-09-04T13:26:00.002-07:00

40 over game. Clent won the toss & elected to field.

Avoncroft 117 all out off 35.3 overs
Whitehouse 4 for 34, Brocklebank 2 for 11

Clent 118 for 6 off 33.4 overs
Lally 43, Harris 17 not out

Clent won by 4 wickets.

MATCH 20: vs Alfrick at home on 27th July 2008

2008-09-04T13:26:00.001-07:00

40 over game. Clent won the toss & elected to bat.

Clent 159 all out off 34.2 overs
Duffy 68, Moore 22

Alfrick 163 for 2 off 24.3 overs
Smith 1 for 23, Glasby 0 for 23

Alfrick won by 8 wickets

MATCH 19: vs Arley Kings at home on 20th July 2008

2008-09-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

40 over game. Arley won the toss & eleceted to field.

Clent 143 all out off 39.5 overs
Griffin 29, Brocklebank 28 not out

Arley K. 144 for 5 off 31.5 overs
Smith 2 for 36, Perry 1 for 17

Arley Kings won by 5 wickets

MATCH 18: vs Neen Sollars at home on 13th July 2008

2008-06-12T14:24:00.012-07:00

40 over game. Neen won the toss and elected to field.

Clent 71 all out off 34.3 overs
Lally 17, Perry 15

Neen 72 for 1 off 21.3 overs
Perry 1 for3, Brocklebank 0 for 3

Neen won by 9 wickets

Horrible. The wicket was a damp, trampolining devil and the ball swung and ping ponged around like a dervish until the late afternoon. This did not excuse Harvey's stupid, suicidal run out in the third over that set the tone for a limp effort by the home side. Credit to Neen for their persistant and accurate bowling.

After tea the pitch had dried into a friendly, comfy armchair of a track and this produced a processional run chase. Nowt else to report except a wicket for Mr R Perry which cheered him up no end as he morphed into a wannabee slow left armer again. Alfrick next week. Things change after Alfrick.

MATCH 17: vs Sportsman at home on 6th July 2008

2008-06-12T14:24:00.011-07:00

40 over game.

Cancelled due to rain. Lord preserve us...

MATCH 16: vs Alfrick at home on 3rd July 2008

2008-06-12T14:24:00.010-07:00

20/20 game.

Cancelled due to rain.

MATCH 15: vs Blakedown at home on 29th June 2008

2008-06-12T14:24:00.009-07:00

Clent won the toss & elected to bat.

Clent 36 for 2 off 9.2 overs
Duffy 27 not out, Lally 7

Rain stopped play. Match abandoned.

MATCH 14: vs Talbot at home on 26th June 2008

2008-06-12T14:24:00.008-07:00

20 over game. Clent won the toss & elected to bat first.

Clent 147 for 3 off 20 overs
Griffin 50 retired, Harvey 32

Talbot 148 for 6 off 18 overs
Waterworth 3 for 26, Harris 2 for 34

Talbot won by 4 wickets

MATCH 13: vs Arley Kings away on 22nd June 2008

2008-06-12T14:24:00.007-07:00

40 over game. Arley won the toss & elected to bat.

Arley Kings 107 all out off 35.2 overs
Moore 4 for 19, Smith 2 for 17

Clent 113 for 6 off 33.4 overs
Beddington 24 not out, Perry 23

Clent won by 4 wickets

MATCH 12: vs Belbroughton away on 18th June 2008

2008-06-12T14:24:00.006-07:00

20 over game. Belb' won the toss & elected to bat.

Belbroughton 118 for 5 off 20 overs
Glasby 2 for 18, Beddington 1 for 12

Clent 100 for 5 off 20 overs
Perry 30 retired, Beddington 20 not out

Belbroughton won by 18 runs

MATCH 11: vs Castle Rising away on 15th June 2008

2008-06-12T14:24:00.005-07:00

Declaration game. Clent won the toss & elected to field.

Castle Rising 270 for 7 off 43 overs declared
Moore 2 for 52, Rutter 1 for 26

Clent 154 all out off 48.1 overs
Perry 37, Moore 27

Castle Rising won by 116 runs

MATCH 10: vs Wisbech away on 14th June 2008

2008-06-12T14:24:00.004-07:00

40 over game. Wisbech won the toss & elected to field.

Clent 49 for 0 off 10 overs
Perry 30 not out, Harvey 11 not out

Match abandoned due to rain

MATCH 9: vs Sapey away on 8th June 2008

2008-06-12T14:24:00.003-07:00

40 over game. Sapey won the toss & elected to field.

Clent 83 allout off 25.5 overs
Duffy 17, Glasby 17

Sapey 84 for 8 off 21.2 overs
Smith 2 for 10, Beddington 2 for 13

Sapey won by 2 wickets

Match report to follow...

MATCH 8: vs Trysull at home on 1st June 2008

2008-06-12T14:24:00.002-07:00

Match cancelled due to.... nope, not rain: the bleedin' oppostion failed to turn up!

Weather was OK & we had a good practice match that was devised by Messrs Rutter & Perry.

MATCH 7: vs Flyford Flavell at home on 25th May 2008

2008-06-12T14:24:00.001-07:00

Match cancelled due to, yes, you've guessed it: RAIN...

MATCH 6: vs Holt & Grimley at home on 22nd May 2008

2008-06-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

20 over game. Clent won the toss & elected to field.

Holt & Grimley 148 for 7 off 20 overs
Brocklebank 5 for 18, Moore 1 for 19

Clent 102 all out off 17.2 overs
Waterworth 35, Brocklebank 19 not out

Holt won by 46 runs

This began as a farce with two late player drop-outs & the star batsman failing to attend (hence the decision to bat second). The 1st innings was keenly competed. Holt started well & Brock rattled a few out towards the end & a challenging target was set. Slow bowling held sway & the quicks were punished.

What followed was probably the most tedious innings I have witnessed: Holt's Worcester Nomads 2nd's "ringers" rattled through our top order leaving us punch drunk on 30 odd for 6. Then a succession of veteran pie-chuckers were nudged & noodled around in the long grass until the innings was mercifully brought to an end. A comprehensive defeat.

MATCH 5: vs The Fugitives away on 18th May 2008

2008-04-17T12:53:00.004-07:00

40 over game. Clent won the toss & elected to bat first.

Clent 193 for 5 off 40 overs
Harvey 45, Griffin 40 not out

Fugitives 151 all out off 35.5 overs
Glasby 3 for 27, Brocklebank 3 for 29

Clent won by 42 runs

A bright & breezy day led to a similar start but the shock dismissal of star batsman Duffy choked the innings for a short while. A steady stand was then continually threatened by Harvey's suicidal quick singles & then a wobble on 95 as 3 wickets fell without a run scored. Fine knocks by Griffin & Beddington continued the batting improvement for this season as we set a good target for the home side to chase.

With the cross breeze still playing havoc with the bowling line the Fugitives openers survived the Clent quicks but fell to the Clent Kev's as Glasby & the evergreen & perma-tanned Smith ripped out the top five inside 12 overs. Wickets were then eeked out at important moments & Brock went rabbit catching at the end to seal an impressive win.

Comedy moment was Lally surviving an off stump varnish remover!

MATCH 4: vs Sportsman away on 10th May 2008

2008-04-17T12:53:00.003-07:00

35 over game. Sportsman won the toss and elected to field.

Clent 139 for 9 off 31.5 overs
Beddington 42, Brocklebank 29

Sportsman 110 all out off 33.4 overs
Brocklebank 3 for 11, Glasby 3 for 23

Clent won by 29 runs.

At last a bit of good weather & even a prepared wicket to play on - unusual for this ground. Put into bat with at least 3 or 4 regular batsmen missing the two openers navigated carefully through the first few overs. Lally fell first & debutant Mezzone retired with a dodgy knee & then the first of the "Vietcong balls" arrived to tunnel beneath Harvey's defenses. Brock & Bedds then rallied with a stand of 60 that took the game away from the home side who then skittled out the long tail for 139.

Jungle warfare continued as Bedds clipped a sly leg stump & then the heavens opened with Sportman struggling on 28 for 4. Gleeson applied some welcome pressure after the interruption after the "quicks" had shipped runs on the damp track. McFarlane (42 n.o.) threatened to take his side home but ran out of partners with Glasby & Brock cleaning up the tail nicely in the steaming cauldron of Edgbaston.

Match 3: vs Hagley away on 4th May 2008

2008-04-17T12:53:00.002-07:00

Match cancelled - rain, rain, rain...

Match 2: vs Tibberton at home on 27th April 2008

2008-04-17T12:53:00.001-07:00

40 over game. Clent won the toss and elected to bat first.

Clent 184 for 9 off 35 overs
Duffy 99, Harvey 26

Tibberton 30 for 1 off 6.5 overs
Beddington 1 for 15, Brocklebank 0 for 12

Match abandoned.

Despite the weather trying it's hardest to keep us indoors once again we were all stunned to find ourselves in our whites preparing for a game. The start was delayed for 25 minutes & Clent won the toss on an unprepared track (groundsman presumed we wouldn't bother - ha!) that was damp & green.

Debuts to Vernon Bardsley & Kevin Glasby who will undoubtedly prove to have good contributions to make this season and a 100th appearance for Richard Perry - the 7th player to achieve this milestone for the club. Duffy and Harvey took advantage of the slow track & cruised to 106 before Harvey fell to a top edge to deep square leg. Duffy then continued in imperious fashion to 99 (yes - 99) having played some massive shots and making the bowlers wish they had stayed in bed. The club naturally subsidise counselling and Duffy should pull through before his next game. The innings then hobbled along to its conclusion at a useful 184 for 9.

Sadly, the weather stitched us up again and we all gave up after 7 overs of the Tibberton innings and we all went for a warm at the pub.

MATCH 1: vs Stourbridge Social on 20th April 2008

2008-04-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

Match cancelled - rain, cold & wintery weather.

MATCH 18: vs Holt & Grimley away on 16th Sept.

2007-12-02T10:40:00.000-08:00

40 over game. Holt won the toss & elected to bat first.

Holt & Grimley 200 ish for about 9 off probably 40 overs (scores to be confirmed)
Brocklebank 3 for 25, Whitehouse 3 for 44

Clent 120 odd all out of 30+ overs
Lally 24, Harvey 23

Holt & Grimley won by 81 runs

Having picked up a couple of cheap wickets off their talented openers we had this lot on the ropes at 80 for six. Whitehouse was drifting in his leggies using the gale force north-westerly to great effect whilst Brock nipped out a few with his reliable line and length varieties. Holt then dug in to post a decent total by simply playing straight and scoring off the bad balls as we let our advantage slip away.

As is customary we awarded Holt an early wicket start but this time by only fielding ten players (nine, if you count Smithy's late arrival in the field due to a shooting jolly) as Perry was unable to attend to donate his wicket in the first over. The opening pair of Harvey and the recently arrived Smith put on 47 for the first wicket and all seemed promising on a dossile track until we lost all momentum during the 3rd wicket stand. Then 5 & 6 bailed out for ducks and we meekly surrendered in all too familiar fashion.

Curtain down. No encore. Roll on next season.

And finally, a big thank you to all the players who stepped forward into the arena of this sport for Clent CC this summer and pitted their talents against the various amateurs and journeymen of Sunday friendly cricket.

Cancelled game at Wolverley on 9th Sept. 2007

2007-09-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

Boo's, jeer's, slow handclapping & rotten tomatoes thrown in the direction of Wolverley CC for cancelling our Sunday game. They cried off at 10:30am on the Sunday morning giving us no chance of a "bureau" game at such short notice.

MATCH 17: vs Stourbridge Social on 2nd Sept. 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.018-07:00

40 over game. Stourbridge won the toss & elected to bat.

Stourbridge Social 235 for 6 off 40 overs
Beddington 1 for 20, Aherne 1 for 35

Clent 155 all out off 32.1 overs
Lally 55, Griffin 14

Stourbridge won by 80 runs

Our annual dose of urban cricket provided a game that we threatened all to briefly to take by the scruff of the neck at the start but then sneaked away from us as the boy racer Hatton hit a fine 121 fed by a little too much leg side bowling (this fine track is unforgiving to anything remotely short of a length). Chairman von der Becke excelled himself in the field at backward short leg.

In reply only Lally displayed any intent to win the game with a confident 55 as we collectively failed to muster any challenge to their total. Gleeson avoided his hat-trick of golden ducks and the resulting fine of a full days production of Banks’s bitter!

MATCH 16: vs Tibberton away on 26th August 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.017-07:00

40 over game. Tibberton won the toss & elected to bat.

Tibberton 175 for 9 off 40 overs
Smith 3 for 25, Aherne 2 for 18

Clent 137 all out off 39.5 overs
Harvey 46, Gerald 27

Tibberton won by 38 runs

A couple of Tibbs’ key players were missing & as we set about dismantling their top six I sensed a real chance. However, an unfamiliar opener was dropped four times on his way to an on side 78 (two balls short of carrying his bat) – this cost us the game.

We needed a steady start but despite a restless 46 by Harvey it was a little too steady by Chairman von der Becke who amassed 18 in 23 overs. A couple of ducks in our top six and our failure to find the boundary in the latter stages sealed our fate. Gleeson’s promotion to No.10 now looks folly as he is on a hat-trick of golden ducks for the next game!

MATCH 15: vs Sapey at home on 12th August 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.016-07:00

40 over game. Clent won the toss & elected to bat.

Clent 120 for 9 (all out) off 29.1 overs
Harvey 42, Beddington 32 not out

Sapey 96 for 9 (all out) off 25.5 overs
Gleeson 3 for 26, Aherne 2 for 16

Clent won by 24 runs

Reluctant openers Harvey & Lally both began by desperately trying to avoid the toe crushing bowling of young Yelland but Lally succumbed early on followed by makeshift No.3, Breezy, running himself out & finally Gerald, playing his first game of the season, failing to cover his off stump. Harvey annoyingly then edged an off-spinner to 1st slip (Yelland – who else!) but Beddington steered us to 120 before running out of partners.

Breaking the opening partnership is the key against Sapey & Aherne completed this task and the bowlers then devoured the rest of the line up with the ubiquitous Yelland being last man out on 59.

A tonic for the team and without the shenanigans of the reverse fixture.

MATCH 14: vs Avoncroft away on 5th August 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.015-07:00

40 over game. Avoncroft won the toss & elected to bat.

Avoncroft 203 for 6 off 40 overs
Moore 2 for 25, Whitehouse 2 for 27

Clent 143 all out off 31.5 overs
Harvey 35, Moore 18

Avoncroft won by 60 runs

It will be a watershed when we beat these but once again we shot ourselves in the foot!

Having restricted the home side to 204 with some fine tactical containment bowling on a pitch that offered very little for the bowlers our top order proceeded to bat as though they had a train to catch. Poor Perry finally reached his tipping point and declared himself unavailable for the rest of the season after failing to score and noting the ‘croft captain had swapped the match ball at tea without asking the umpires or myself – Daryl Hair would have awarded us the match if he had noticed this skullduggery! So, we fell short again on a pitch where it was more difficult NOT to score 200.

Best wishes to Rich Perry as he undergoes his rehab with his new kitchen and mortice jig.

MATCH 13: vs Belbroughton away on 18th July 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.014-07:00

20/20 game. Belbroughton won the toss & elected to bat.

Belbroughton 102 for 8 off 20 overs
Harris 3 for 6, Beddington 2 for 18

Clent provisionally 100 for 9 off 20 overs
Double checked as 103 for 9 !!!
Beddington 33 retired, Griffin 16

No result due to the incompetence of the two innumerate Belb’ scorers

...and then it rained some more...

2007-08-27T08:27:00.013-07:00

...& so it came to pass, the rain fell from the heavens incessantly in Biblical proportions, especially at the weekends, & grown men sat mournfully in their homes on wet Sunday afternoons gazing out the patio windows. "When will this bloody rain stop?", they wondered as they deleted another text message proclaiming "Game off - u available next week?"...

MATCH 12: vs Fossils at home on 8th July 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.012-07:00

40 over game. Clent won the toss & elected to bat.

Clent 105 all out off 35.2 overs
Aherne 36, Smith 15

Fossils 20 for 2 of 9.4 overs
Brocklebank 1 for 4, Aherne 1 for 9

Match abandoned as a draw

An oasis of a cricket match in a desert of wet weather (is that the worst analogy ever?) but it was a relief to start a game even if we couldn’t finish it!

The demons were still in this wicket and scoring runs was tortuous and compounded by an outfield that resembled the winter coat of Flossy the sheep. We posted an unremarkable 105 without using up our overs with Nos.9 & 10 getting us out of jail.

The bowlers started well restricting them to 2 an over with a couple of scalps “to boot” but the rain paid us another visit so we packed up & went for a drink.

MATCH 11: vs Talbot at home on 28th June 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.011-07:00

20/20 game. Clent won the toss & elected to bat.

Clent 150 for 7 off 20 overs
Bentley 35, Griffin 19

Talbot 151 for 5 off 17.2 overs
Moore 2 for 26, Bentley 1 for 12

Talbot won by 5 wickets

Match report to follow...

...and then it rained...

2007-08-27T08:27:00.010-07:00

MATCH 10: vs Uplyme away on 17th June 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.009-07:00

40 over game. Uplyme won the toss & elected to bat.

Uplyme 209 for 9 off 40 overs
Brocklebank 3 for 30, Aherne 2 for 45

Clent 175 all out off 38.1 overs
Perry 64, Beddington 30

Uplyme won by 34 runs

Match report to follow...

MATCH 9: vs Tipton St. John away on 16th June 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.008-07:00

40 over game. Tipton won the toss & elected to field.

Clent 130 all out off 37.5 overs
Aherne 44 not out, Smith 15

Tipton St. John 98 all out off 34 overs
Aherne 5 for 8,Whitehouse 2 for 26

Clent won by 32 runs

Match report to follow...

MATCH 8: vs Sapey away on 10th June 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.007-07:00

40 over game. Sapey won the toss & elected to bat.

Sapey 352 for 6 off 40 overs
Duffy 4 for 52, Brocklebank 1 for 57

Clent 270 for 5 off 40 overs
Duffy 153 not out, Moore 30

Sapey won by 82 runs

Match report to follow...

MATCH 7: vs Flyfor Flavell away on 3rd June 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.006-07:00

40 over game. Clent won the toss & elected to bat.

Clent 129 all out off 34.3 overs
Smith 30, Moore 20

Flyford Flavell 132 for 4 off 27 overs
Brocklebank 2 for 26, Smith 2 for 41

Flyford Flavell won by 6 wickets

Match report to follow...

MATCH 6: vs Holt & Grimley on 24th May 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.005-07:00

20/20 game. Clent won the toss & elected to bat.

Clent 131 for 4 off 20 overs
Moore 50 retired, Lally 32 not out

Holt & Grimley 132 for 3 off 17.1 overs
Waterworth 3 for 13, Smith 1 for 25

Holt & Grimley won by 6 wickets

Perry was out first ball of the match for his customary duck against Holt. Griffin & Bentley then propelled us forward all too briefly before the fishmonger (with his new bat) & Bentley’s oppo' (Lally) guided us into three figures. However, we did get bogged down against some dibbly dobblies & ultimately failed to smash another 30 runs that would have won us the game.

The fabled Bobby Waterworth returned with the ball & impressed by taking 3 early wickets with some lively deliveries. Then Holt dug in as we failed to make enough inroads into their batting & they comfortably passed their target.

The chip butties at the Talbot were a consolation though.

MATCH 5: vs Fugitives at home on 20th May 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.004-07:00

Fugitives won the toss & elected to bat.

Fugitives 76 all out off 33.2 overs
Smith 4 for 3, Beddington 2 for 11

Clent 77 for 2 off 18 overs
Lally 21 not out, Griffin 20 not out

Clent won by 8 wickets

Match report to follow...

MATCH 3: vs Hagley away on Sunday 6th May 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.003-07:00

Hagley won the toss & elected to bat.

Hagley 239 for 5 off 40 overs
Smith 2 for 57, Brocklebank 1 for 26

Clent 158 all out off 39 overs
Lally 22, Harvey 17

Hagley won by 81 runs

A bit of a mis-match this one. Hagley has half a side of 1st & 2nd team players & although we bowled well on the whole they were able to put us to the sword at will. Our ground fielding & catching (or dropping!) was an embarrassment!

Batting, when we actually managed to hit the ball was tortuous. Their bowlers were far too quick & accurate for us & we coasted to an inevitable defeat.

Nice ground, though, & a great track with big buzzards wheeling about…Sportsman next week – revenge is a dish best served cold.

MATCH 4: vs Sportsman away on 12th May 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.002-07:00

40 over game. Sportsman won the toss & elected to bat.

Sportsman 45 all out off 23 overs
Aherne 3 for 3, Beddington 3 for 6

Clent 49 for 3 off 19 overs
Gardiner 19 not out, Perry 14

Clent won by 7 wickets

Mission: to ‘put one over’ the opposition to avenge recent years' close defeats.

Sportsman elected to bat on this traditionally unprepared pudding of a track – it was simply awful. We took advantage of their generosity taking regular wickets & cleaning them out for a paltry 45 runs (they scored 130 on it the previous week). Aherne, Bedds & Gleeson were deadly taking 3 wickets each.

Ever cautious, all batsmen were reminded that they may be required for duty but we steadily knocked off the target. Gardiner putting the home side out of their misery with some uncharacteristic leg side clubs. Mission accomplished in clinical fashion.

Comedy for the day was provided by Perry for managing to create an argument when batting by admitting he gloved one which they failed to appeal for & they said he should have walked…

MATCH 2: vs Tibberton at home on 29th May 2007

2007-08-27T08:27:00.001-07:00

Clent won the toss & elected to bat.

Clent 214 for 8 off 40 overs
Lally 82 not out, Duffy 36

Tibberton 164 all out off 37.2 overs
Brocklebank 2 for 15, Beddington 2 for 23

Clent won by 50 runs

Always a challenging fixture. We chose to bat first & again the ball was around your ankles & up your nose off identical length balls. However, Lally showed the way with a 39 over 82 not out of immense levels of application. Duffy, on debut, offered fine support with a measured 36 as we posted a useful 214 total.

Tibb saw off the opening bowlers but then lost their way with some timely dismissals & disciplined bowling. A much improved performance in the field & a morale boosting victory to perk us all up.

Comedy moment was provided by Andy Lally running out his best mate Mark Rutter for a duck. Mark didn't speak to him after the game!

MATCH 1: vs Stourbridge Social CC on 22nd April 2007

2007-05-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

Clent won the toss and elected to field

Stourbridge 234 for 8 off 40 overs
Aherne 3-39, Brocklebank 2-19

Clent 192 for 9 off 40 overs
Beddington 36, Brocklebank 32

Stourbridge won by 42 runs

We won the toss on a dodgy looking track (the groundsman turned up at tea to apologise) and SS raced away feeding off our generous bowling. Dennis fell flat on his face bowling the first ball of the season with the ball going directly to mid off. He was then excused to put his studs on. The farce continued with a rash of dropped catches and hopeless mis-fields. Aherne, though, was a demon with 3 wickets in the top order.

Our reply to the challenge was disappointing as SS were under-manned in the bowling department. We conceded a couple of sloppy wickets and failed to find the boundary often enough. The runs dried up and we ran out of time and we were left to rue our poor start.