Telling Tails — Sunday vs Chaddleworth
Chaddleworth are a team we have not played for several years due to various reasons, so some of us were not sure what to expect. However, after a great start, winning last Sunday and Thursday, we were all buzzing and couldn't wait to get underway. A glorious warm day - the type of day you dream off in those cold January days and longing for the sound of leather on willow ...
We welcomed Gray, Leo, Pete and Rich in to the fold - wonderful to have the numbers to field a full side with almost half the team being different from Wilcot.
We batted first with Nick and myself facing some proper sharp bowling - accurate, on line and difficult to score runs off. An absolute jaffa got Nick, Gray came in blocked well and then got caught, I then nicked one behind and all of a sudden we were 7-3. Crikey! Rich and Pete steadied the tide and batted beautifully with Pete retiring on 53 - top stuff some great shots showing us how to do it. Charlie got a few crucial runs, Leo was really unlucky playing it on (quite a few of these today), Malc ‘Robocop’ Pryce blocked admirably and continues to progress with the bat and Jeremy ‘Lithe’ Lithgow hit some wonderful shots. Our spirits lifted that we were now past 100 with a few overs left to go.
Jeremy and Al (a partnership we all know is filled with love) finished the innings. Boom-Boom living up to his name smashing a 4 to get off the mark and finished 10 not out. Jeremy hit a majestic 6 off the last ball of the innings - to add a crucial 37 runs not out, taking us to 142. We were all delighted knowing it was total we could play with.
A delicious smorgasbord of a Tea with all of us bringing something - a great idea and going down well with everyone.
We took to the field sun blazing and already dreaming of cold refreshing beer. The partnership filled with love got us started - Al first ball ... wicket yes get in!!! Ahhh what, a no ball - damn Al never bowls no balls. Hmm a sceptical decision ...
Jeremy followed up his fine batting with a class spell causing problems and taking 3 wickets. It feels like justice this season so far, after many a spell last year beating the bat and not having wickets to show for it. Leo bowling left arm speedy gonzalez, deserved more as he regularly beat the bat. Sean and myself had a pop down the crease and I grabbed a few wickets, for me personally, it was probably my most accurate spell in years.
Chaddleworth got to 142-5 just inside 20 overs. Very fine bowling line up and some quality batting make them one of the best teams we have faced in a while. We stuck at it and plenty of positives in our performance. Bring on the next game!
East Garston, T20, Thursday!
[Cheers to Warwick for the write up!]