To everyone's surprise, the first match of the season actually went ahead this year. Unusually the pitch was actually dry resembling a strip from July rather than the normal puddings used at this time of year. Alas, the new skipper inflicted by injury was not able to take up the honour of leadership and was confined to the role of critical spectator whilst Lewis grasped the poisoned chalice of captaincy. Eynsham won the toss and decided to bat.
Stanton and James, both fresh from their tour of South Africa, opened the bowling. James was economical whilst Stanton at times bowled a length he must have learnt on the pacier pitches of SA, which resulted in the wicket of the opener who top edged a short ball to the new-boy keeper Quentin. Another batsman fell to the same bowler/keeper combination. Chalky turned up a politely late four overs into the game. Bumby came on to bowl a sequence of loopy wides before remembering to bowl a but faster and aim at the stumps. The comedy moment of the match followed when Nigel, who throughout the match seemed more than willing to throw himself into a position of danger, went forward for a low catch only to have the ball fall short and slap into his forehead. He was led off for primitive treatment which involved dabbing the egg shaped protrusion with what looked like an old pair of Y-fronts. Rhodri overbowled himself, although that only became obvious after his last over went for about 18 runs. Benson and Nigel bowled a few overs each before Tony Mac came on to take two wickets for 12 runs. Ed made a short appearance near the end bowling their number 7 and two c. Lewis b. Bumby occured in identical fashion off consecutive balls. In the end Eynsham made 168-9 off their 40 overs.
Quentin and James opened the batting, scoring at a healthy rate until Quentin edged one to slip. Benson continued for a few overs before lofting one, perhaps unfortunately, to the tallest man in Eynsham. It was then the tactics changed and we decided to lose wickets at a steady rate whilst not scoring many runs. Rhodri fell lbw (naturally it was a dodgy decision - never heard that from an aggrieved batsman before). The run rate was assisted somewhat by Eynsham's first change bowler Akers who managed to bowl two overs of no balls within his four legal overs. Chalky went, Ed went, Chris went, Jez went, then Tony Mac entered at number nine. Assisted by a foolishly placed 6-3 offside field he pulled and hoiked 15 runs off 12 balls before missing one. Nigel fell next ball. Grand total 127 from 33.3 overs.
Martin