Find below the most recently received match report : -

Match Report

After another exiting league game I overheard one of the old codgers in the Sunday 2's grumble, "why weren't we playing league cricket years ago" how times change!

After finishing our 1st league game with a tie, we travelled for game number 2 to Byfleet to find a grassy and damp wicket...I had no hesitation in putting them in, and this proved to be justified when the 2nd ball of the game flew off a length and rattled the batsman's helmet.

A big hats off to all of the boys, in a young looking attack, and all of them went for less than 25 runs from their 9, by bowling some excellent lines. Bettinson was the pick with 3 fer, whilst Murphy must be still scratching his head as to how he ended up wicket less, Connor also caused problems for all the batsmen, whilst Harrison all grey and experienced was under bowled he would say, in mopping most of the tail for his 3 - 15, 9 down for 70 an early tea beckoned.

Now Byfleets best bat by a mile, arrived late ( from the cancelled 1st team game) and came in at number 9, and credit must go to him and the number 11 as they batted sensibly, and despite numerous bowling combinations we couldn't shift them, he passed his 50 , and when out in the final over  ( I am still coming to terms with this limited overs stuff, and have ballsed up the overs and bowlers for 2 games in a row) they had  taken Byfleet to a respectable 131

The bowling had been good, the fielding saw a wide spectrum of efforts and abilities, some good catches and some open the ground up and swallow me moments, mentioning no names....oh all right, step forward Mr Hall, 131 wouldn't be easy I felt.

And so it proved, we got off to a good start, with Bob Cooks mix of sublime and slap, and Tom Knowles also looked good with 1 huge 6 before he perished.  Another couple of wickets went and we were 47-5, and with Dicks starting to search for his batting gear  things looked grim.....it was time for the skipper to stand up and be counted, and lead from the front.

It wasn't pretty, but it was effective, as Eustace and Bryan Knowles steadied the ship and began rebuilding. we wheezed  the 1's, tip toed the 2's and nearly had heart failure as we ran a 3!
We took our time , have a few bruises as medals but we edged towards our target, with Knowles Boycott like showing the full bat face. Sadly ( for his average ) and with just 5 needed Eustace slapped one to cover for a determined 38,  but the wise old head of Knowles took us to victory, and his gritty 28* would have been worth a ton on a home pitch.

Played 2 and still unbeaten....all the team are enjoying this league stuff, whether young or old!