A plethora of e-mails in the days leading up to a fixture usually means only 1 thing - a struggle to find 11. Not this week. This week was a struggle to find cars, leading to an RTCC version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Without the planes. Simon, Matthias and myself caught the train to Hadley Wood where we were collected by Greg. Shaun was on the same train but carried on to Potters Bar. AndyP was meant to be on the same train but missed it. He got the next one to Potters Bar from whence they shared a cab. Tony drove, as did Aymon who had the kit and 2 out of 3 of Hugh, Ken and Martin. Though he had to park outside as he couldn't get the van under the height restriction gate. I've no idea how the third out of Hugh, Ken and Martin got there. Perhaps they caught a plane.
Despite such transport larks we were all present and correct with only 1 member of the opposition present. Jones went out to toss with Andy as a second opponent arrived. With an assurance that the rest were en route Andy won the toss and elected to field. Almost immediately a string of cars arrived. I swear one of the stereos was playing Scott Joplin's The Entertainer.
Greg got National Start Your Spell With a Wide Day underway with a wide. Followed by a second. And a third. Then a four flashed over gully. 7-0. At the other end Ken observed National Start Your Spell With a Wide Day by starting with a wide. His second ball swung late to beat outside edge and off stump by a whisker to collective 'oohs'. The 3rd set off down leg. Batsman Dylan essayed the famous Tony O'Connor leave, where you bend your knees in an attempt to get inside the line but only succeed in hanging your bum out. Tony might have suffered many an arse ball, but none of that today as the ball swung late and struck a bemused Dylan on the boot bang in front. 8-1. Then Greg got in on the act. Chetan fell to a tumbling catch behind by Hugh. There was a noise and a deflection. I thought it might've been off the pad flap. Others thought it was glove. I guess that's why there's an umpire. He gave it out. Anile then introduced himself with a couple of big straight drives. Greg pulled his length back (oo-er), pinned him down for a couple of overs and then fired a fuller one that rattled the stumps. M Hubbard came in and played some classy drives, but straight to fielders. He looked taken aback at being reminded by Aymon that he was still on nought. So much so that his only answer to Ken's demon killer full toss was to lob it in the air to short fine leg. Greg didn't have to move, though he did have to wait an awfully long time for the ball to come down.
With the bowling contest at 2-2 and Greg bowled out Ken had 6 balls to find a winner. He was bowling to Jones who had opened and was still there on 7. Ken's gun barrel straight bowling had been met by a willow wall so he tried a wider one. He'd done so earlier and Jones' bunt had almost been snaffled but Shaun hadn't been able to cling on after a dive in the covers. This time Jones bunted a shoulder height catch to me at point. Ken 3 Greg 2. With the pair bowled out Aymon and Tony took over. Aymon started with a wide but Tony broke protocol by keeping us waiting 4 balls. Nevertheless the pair were soon into their stride and drinks were taken with the home side 34-5 after 20. What could go wrong? Well, I'll tell you. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...
Ellis and Larry came out after drinks showing some intent. It was almost tip and run. There were a few close calls both in the running and some drives that flirted with the field but the partnership was nipped in the bud when Larry chipped to Shaun at mid-wicket off Tony. At this point things started to go a bit wrong. The number 8 cut his 3rd ball for 6 then started creaming fours. Another 6 bought up a rapid 50, at which point Hugh explained that the batsman had made a game of it and didn't he fancy a nice sit down now? I'm not sure he really listened, but the next ball was nicked and Hugh took a sharp catch. Then Tony bowled Ellis with a lovely slower ball and we were back in charge. But not for long. Were the numbers 9 and 10 really numbers 9 and 10? Were they heck as like. Sharma smashed his first delivery for 6. Then O. Hubbard took over, hitting 7 sixes on his way to 60 odd. He had a couple of lives - I didn't so much drop him at point as watch the ball burst through my fingers. Then Tony couldn't cling on running in from long on. We got him eventually - caught by Tony at mid-wicket. Then next over we thought we had finished things as Tony caught another missile at long on, but tragically he had stepped over the rope in the act of taking it. AndyP and I ended up with combined figures of 8 overs 1-97. At least we didn't bowl any wides. Perhaps we should've done. But the gulf between league cricketers and pub cricketers was once again ruthlessly exposed. I guess we must be grateful that they were 8,9 and 10 rather than 1,2 and 3.
Simon and Martin opened for us and we had the pleasure of watching a large opening stand. It wasn't all plain sailing - Martin was dropped a total of 4 times, including before he had scored - but runs were coming at around the 4 an over mark. The odd full toss wasn't capitalised upon and the odd single was missed, leading Andy to offer some words of encouragement - 'we're chasing 244' he barked tersely. But it always looks easier from the boundary and it was very pleasurable watching Martin smash it around. They put on 112 in about 25 overs before Simon lost his off stump to Zeb. Next over Shaun was stumped charging at the bowler. Then Hugh went lbw. Martin crashed ever onwards but could anyone stay with him? Well I couldn't as I chipped tamely to long off. Then AndyP didn't get the chance to as Martin was bowled next ball. We still had batting to come, but asking guys to score at 10 an over from the word go against accurate bowling is asking quite a lot.
The innings became a procession of a big shot or two followed by getting out. Greg also chipped to long off. Then with Zeb bowled out Jones came on at the far end. He's something of a hand grenade merchant. The pin was pulled, Andy waited an age for the ball to arrive, was still miles early on the shot and was bowled. Next over M Hubbard bowled Matthias then Jones did it again, Tony the playing too early victim this time. Incredibly Jones took a 3rd to finish the game as Aymon gave long off yet another catch.
Well beaten by a side who just had too much depth for us.
Never mind. There's always next week. Who are we playing again?
Bohemians?
Oh. Well. We beat them last year...
DT
