An experimental line up that never needed to get out of first gear. Quentin's prematch description of the ground as cricketing heaven was fairly accurate. Having agreed to a 5 over per bowler limit I proceeded to lose the toss and we were forced to go out into the baking sun. With the oppo's openers edging a couple Bumby agreed most unusually to the tactic of employing both a gully and a first slip. He then switched immediately to bowling nothing but inswingers, which achieved his aim of restricting the scoring rate but not much else. Meanwhile from the other end Martin was bending it like a banana to prove almost unplayable. However, no break through came and their openers managed to put on an opening partnership of 50 without having seemed to score any runs. In a double change Mike and I came into the attack with immediate success as I got another clean bowled with the magic ball. Mike also took a leg before to finish with 1/14 off 5 overs. Lee Barker and croc then had a go with Lee bowling georgeesque spin to conced just 15 from 5 overs. Similary Matt took yet another wicket. Still the score slowly ticked along. Of course I was saving the stars for last as Ashram Batra and Philip Shields showed how good slow bowling can be ripping through the lower order to take three each. All out for 145 off 34.3 overs with 9 bowlers used. A great opening partnership of 119 was ended when Mike retired on 50, followed shortly by Martin also with 50. Then Steve and Ashram saw us safely home in the 25th over without a wicket lost. If that seemed like a boring description of our innings then that's because it was.
SD