After the controversy of the last match report this weeks report reverts to the detached and less antagonistic prose of your quietly hard working Vice-Captain. Some might say 'boring' , but then that's the way to take lots of wickets lads. After losing his calm in the last couple of match reports I believe Quentin also lost the toss again on Sunday. Thankfully the opposition made the error of putting us into bat when past experience has shown that fielding first on hot days is never a good idea. Another fine opening partnership between Matt and Quentin put on 63 runs in 14 overs to sap the energy from the oppositions excellent opening bowlers. I'm not sure how they managed to score so many runs while looking like they weren't doing anything at all. A mini collapse followed, however, with 4 wickets falling in the space of 16 runs to leave the score at 79/4 off 21 overs. Sensing the finely balanced position of the innings Watto and I ignored the cries of 'boring' from the boundary to put on an unusually reserved partnership of 54 off 9 overs. As we had planned all along I then sacrificed my wicket with deliberately poor execution of 'that shot' to allow Deb (the man touted by Q as the next to join Matt Benson in the specialist batting ranks) to come to the crease and blaze a glorious 47. By the time he and Watto had departed (for a fine 60) the score was 210 in the 38th over. We ended up with 215/9 off 40 overs.
The standard of our teas rose yet again with the introduction of Brie and Aubergine sandwiches. Pity about the mouldy cups and no brownies. On a track offering a bit of assistance Martin bowled with sublime control to offer a couple of outside edges to our unusually short but numerous slips. Q took a screamer at first slip to remove their left handed opener and give Martin the figures of 17/2 off 8 overs. The mercurial McNally came on at first change and bowled with all the control and guile of yesteryear to finish with 0/20 off six overs. More dibly dobly bowling from myself then picked up four quick wickets. However, on a low bouncing track it was not a day for quick bowling as Watto and Deb leaked runs nearly as fast as a New Zealand bowling attack playing England. The oppos good batsman remained in throughout the innings and they were still in with a chance needing 55 off six overs. Of course Q then turned to our big secret weapon, Matt Benson , who bowled sublimely to take 5/2 off three overs at the finish and ensure that we won with 12 runs to spare. A most enjoyable match. I don't know what happenned at the pub but I'm sure that Watto mentioned his plan to abolish statistics a lot.
SD