Victory versus Bredon

On a glorious day at the home of cricket I won the toss and elected to bat. I had managed to secure the services of Russel through shameless pleading and he opened with Alfie. They accumulated steadily until the 10th over when Alfie was caught behind. With the score on 33 out strode in-form Fossie. After a dozen dots form Tim, the fireworks started and 101 runs later Russ, who had looked untroubled supporting his bludgeoning partner, was bowled, in the first example of jug avoidance, for 49. Lewis entered the fray looking confident and he was looking good until he too was bowled; 171 for 4. Ollie came and went before the skipper dropped anchor and allowed the increasingly violent Tim to proceed towards his hundred. That he didn't achieve it was due to a lapse in judgement, playing around a straight one. Alan was tied down until he unleashed a massive 6 and was then promptly bowled; The panther survived his one ball to close the innings at 216 for 5.

Tea included some healthy vegetables and lovely fruit pies and we confidently approached the task of defending our good total. As they hadn't yet participated, I opened with Pete and Bryn and after some initial waywardness, they settled into a rhythm and Pete even had a wicket as Tim once again took a good catch. J Lo and Ollie tightened the screw with Ollie removing the other opener with one that swung in and seamed away (or it could have been another straight one) enough to find the edge and then Lewis's gloves. The younger Bredon players then stared to come to the crease but after a couple of run outs, one by Bravo 2 Zero Bryn, hiding at square leg behind the umpire in his grey camouflage outfit, which prompted an outburst by the dismissed older batsman- more of this later. Dave Moulson than came on from the road end, dropped as the sun into the eyeline of the batters and Pet took a good catch, after a little juggling. They were well behind the run rate and even 3 overs from Tim could not get them back on track. I came on and picked up two quick wickets, through Pete's second (stunning, low down) catch and a regulation one from Ollie off the penultimate ball; the last was bottom edged off middle stump. Alan, who had asked for an over if they were more than 37 adrift, bowled the last but one for only 4 runs.

An unusually comprehensive victory against younger than normal opponents. Bryn even received a present from his victim, by way of white trousers, that looked clean but a little tight. MOM was Tim but shout outs for Russ and catcher Pete, the latter persevering to get his own wicket.