Deerest team mates.
Once again we had a rain affected game on Saturday, with weather in Sevenoaks meaning a delayed start to the fixture at home to Weald, and the game reduced to 30 overs as a result. It was a fantastic toss to win, as I did for the third weekend in a row, and the Weald skipper knew what was coming by the fact he said that he would get his pads on before I’d even got the words “we’ll have a bowl” out.
So we took to the field, with Ross and Phil C opening the bowling from swapped ends this time – a masterplan put into practice in an effort to get Ross some wickets and Phil, well, just get something that resembled bowling. One of these elements was successful, and unfortunately for Ross it was not his. Every week I write notes on the match for this report, and I have now started leaving the note “Ross – bowled very well, unlucky to get no wickets” in there because it is metronomic in its regularity. The fact that Phil C has more wickets in less games really does hammer it home that shit get wickets. That said, Phil improved on his prior performances drastically from the road end, bowling 2 maidens in 6 overs on the bounce, and clean bowling their opening batsman – a legitimate delivery getting a wicket, something to remember for Phil. The other Phil and I came on from our usual ends and continued the tidy work started by our opening pair, before Deadeye Dan struck with a direct hit run out of their skipper, who I had run out in the first match of the season. If somehow we end up in the same league next year, I’m sure he will be picking some safer singles in his next innings. Both Phil and I grabbed two scalps each as we pressed the advantage the low scoring gave us, before Brian came on to do his thing. With only 4 overs of his spell, and he’d snaffled 4 wickets for only 9 runs, tearing out the remaining batsmen and bringing to an end the innings fairly swiftly, closing on 73 all out. ‘Just’ the 3 dropped catches this week, although Ross’ c&b opportunity was a very sharp chance. All 3 caught wickets were at the hands of Dan, so if he could give the rest of us his secrets, that might be a good help.
A quick turnaround to the batting innings, and our top opening partnership of the year got us going in classic style. First ball of the innings to Dan was short of a length and on leg stump, so was promptly deposited into the long wet grass behind deep midwicket. 4th ball was sent through the covers for another boundary as we got off to a flying start and the tempo was raised even higher when Arthur got his turn. Backward cuts, drives down the ground, clearing the cow corner boundary – there were glorious shots all around the ground as he led the charge in getting us over the line in double quick time. Striking at 166.67, Arthur wasn’t hanging about (Dan was more subdued at 75.86), and the lads knocked it off in exactly 10 overs. Done by 5pm, having started at 2.30pm – so there was only one thing to do… have a net in the middle, then get the chairs out and have some beers.
Awards time – special mention to Brian for his outstanding return of 4-9 from 4 overs (and for putting up with my nervous nagging without blowing his top). The MVP award goes to Arthur for his stellar knock, making very light work of the chase and the bowling attack to bring the victory home for us. Well done Arthur!
With such a resounding victory and no obvious howlers, the TFC award is rolled over for a bumper version this weekend – on your toes everyone.
On that note, we are off on our holidays to wherever Outwood is. I heard it’s one days ride from Mordor – safe travels all. Finally it looks like we are getting some summer weather, so looking forward to getting sunburnt with you all on Saturday. See you there and in the meantime – swing true Sennocke.