Saturday 2nd XI vs Ewhurst

We won the toss and put them in (I always want to bat first but know I am risking insurrection). It was a sound start by Ewhurst but not much was coming out of the middle. Sujith made the breakthrough, Mead going back to an away swinger that clipped the top of off, breaking the bail in the process. But it was Paul McCann's day, taking six for 40 off 14 overs straight through. He was always on the money and so it was odd that his first six overs were wicket less. But once he got the taste, there was no letting up as his accuracy generated pressure that their young batters could not resist, catches going to Dan behind the stumps and Mike at short cover. The rest were bowled. Rodney took a wicket in his first over replacing Paul and Fents took two for nowt. In truth, they were a weak team and we monstered them.

Mark W plonked the ball over the ropes in the first over to get us on our way to our target of 100, but perished soon after trying to repeat the trick. Chuck Smulian showed some application as we got to 37 but was second to fall. Jack M-S then joined Sujith. They both swished air at some seemingly juicy ones to keep the fielders interested but it could not last, connection was ultimately made and the pair caned them for the final forty off only four overs. Sujith (65*) played with great power, straight down the ground but with some powerful pulls too, hitting 12 fours. Next year, with more crease time, Jack (21*) will be a big handful.

In the bar, as we celebrated victory, Sujith remarked that he was really a bowler. So he and Piers make a great pair: one's got five fifties and is really a bowler, the other's got three five fers at less than two runs per over and says he's really a batter. Devon and I really need to sort that out next year!

We've been in this league and division for two years and I am glad we're up and out. We've had too many games against flimsy opposition and we should relish being challenged more next year.

Doug Shaw

September 3, 2012