Defeat at Hampton & Solihull

Skipper for the day (and never again?) Brad, lost the toss and so we went out in the unseasonal sun. Brad had manged to persuade Tyler's dad Carl to play, so we were 9, (albeit including 2 under 13s, 2 non cricketing parents and 2 over 60s), augmented by one lent fielder from the opposition. Tyler opened from the scoreboard end and started tidily. Chairman Ace opened from the other and was so incensed by being called for an unwide wide, he promptly bowled one opener. The other one only lasted until the 4th over, when he was adjudged LBW, presumably on the back of my loud plaintive appeal; at 13-2 we had hopes of an unlikely victory. Fozzie and Abbas took over bowling duties and again bowled tidily but our hopes slowly evaporated, as the next partnership was 84, broken only by Lewis bowling the no 3 just after he had got to 50. Haz had also taken over from his son and only went for a run a ball and Carl bowled steadily. The game then turned as Brad, after threatening not to bowl, broke his promise and went for 11 in one over of 5 wayward quicks and one wide slow ball. The 2 youngsters batting- late teens- then started to open up and put on 108 until they tried to go for a dodgy run and Abbas collected and threw in to Tim who ran out the no 4 for 61. The other was not out 62 in the end and the innings closed at 217 for 4. After a pleasant tea, we needed a good start but Brad put Paulo Oneshot in with the Butcher and Fozzie lived up to his name, miscuing a skier to mid off. Dave followed soon after, caught at extra cover for another duck to leave us at 4 for 2 in the 3rd over. I had been trying to move the score along by, justifiably, calling wides on the one opener and now called the other - a Jack Grealish look a like Villa fan - ( he was never going to do well was he! ) for justifiable no balls. Just after telling Lewis that if he and Brad could stay together, we could get close, he skied one to mid off again. Brad had one life before also holing out, leaving Tyler, who was given run out by his dad but reprieved by their point fielder. After sticking around for some time and looking secure, he was then bowled by Grealish off his pads and then caught using his other life - Brad had negotiated that both Under 13s could have 2 innings, as we were only 9. Haz was then joined by his son and they looked comfortable until Haz was caught and Carl chipped one back to the bowler; 69 for 6 had quickly become 78 for 9 as Abbas had used one of his lives by edging to slip and then chipped one to extra cover to end the innings at 80. Freed from the burden of captaincy, I put in my best bowling spell - Fozzie's words - and ended with 2 for 39 off 8 including a maiden! Brad top scored with 30 and the youngsters learnt the virtue of staying around, with some nice shots and good calling. Everyone left quickly - now they know how far I travel for each home game - some to get back for ice baths, I think. It will be interesting to see who is available for the next game at home and who is then going to be captain!