As I was getting changed and talking to Martin about the Angolan tribal music he was listening to on his phone an excited Chris appeared at the door. He'd actually won the toss and couldn't wait to tell everyone. He'd elected to bat and out went Dave Seymour and Andy P. 2 came from the first over then Dave square cut for 4. The bowler responded with a demon killer full toss. Dave missed and was bowled. I joined Andy and we initially struggled a tad with the pace of the pitch but soon got the boundaries flowing. We added 71 in 8 overs before I called Andy for a sharp single and he didn't make it. 79-2 at the halfway stage and perfectly placed...to stutter and collapse.
57-7 came from the second half of the innings against accurate but hardly terrifying bowling. I got the ball rolling by holing out to long on. Martin was also caught in the deep. Debutant Arqum showed his intent by hammering his first ball. Unfortunately he was also caught at long on but was generously applauded off by his team mates for showing the right spirit. Andy G was then bowled, Greg sliced a demon killer full toss to mid off, Guy was bowled first ball then Aymon had his bails trimmed. Most of the damage was inflicted by the Buxton father and son combo as they took a combined 5-26 in 5 overs.
Greg and Joe opened the bowling for us. Joe struck in his first and second overs (Dixon caught at mid on by Andy P and Dan bowled) to leave Beamers 16-2 after 4, but then their Joe got stuck in. He had played against us on Sunday and made 78*. On a considerably better wicket he eschewed the helmet and just smashed us everywhere. He and J Pittman added 71 in no time before Pittman skewed a drive off Martin to be well caught by Guy running round from point. I then mugged Joe, a long hop being hooked out to Martin. Joe out for 62 but the damage done. There was one further success. Mack drove to Joe at cover, set off anyway and kept going. Joe shaped to hurl the ball at Chris - the tease - but instead gently threw the ball back for the run out. But the end came soon after with a brace of sixes onto the next pitch as Beamers got home with 5 overs to spare.
It got worse though. It turned out that the corporate mob on the next pitch had drunk all the Kronenbourg. I wouldn't have bothered buying a drink but I needed change for the match fee. Eventually the barmaid got off the phone and started serving. I handed over £3.50 for a Fosters - never the best of drinks but on this occasion positively rancid - took 2 sips, made my excuses and left.
DT
