As I stomped out of Lord's on Thursday with Kent 70-7 chasing 205 it's fair to say that cricket and I weren't on speaking terms. At least Friday offered a double chance of a reconciliation with a test match to watch and a friendly four game to play. Weather permitting.
Thankfully the lunchtime rain sodded off. I arrived at North Mid to find I was the first one there so went and had a bowl in the new 3 lane super nets. They really are lovely.
Onto the game, my first in this format. Discussion pre-match inevitably centred on how to score bonus points and it was generally agreed the key was to bat first to maximise bonus point opportunities. But to do that you need to win the toss. Chris 'lost the toss' Brooks did not win the toss and so we took the field.
Amongst our number was the long lost Mr Jagan, making his season debut following a double hernia op. We were also Bi-Edded, with Mr Bartram sporting a fetching new beard. He informed us that he had become a hipster. We pointed out that he was wearing socks and had lenses in his glasses so still had some way to go.
Not amongst our number was Mr James, so Simon - as 12th man and on the verge of becoming Soho's 11th man became our 11th man. Confused? You will be...
Ed Bailey opened the bowling and egged on by cries of YORKSHIRE! started with a point scoring maiden. Chris offered AndyP the chance to open from the pavilion end 'otherwise it will be Dave Terry'. AndyP opened from the pavilion end and extracted some bounce from back of a length. 30 came from the first 5 overs. Neither side unhappy.
I then replaced Andy and struck second ball, Vlad driving to Aymon at point. T then bowled Tom before Atif was lbw. A run out followed as Soho tried and failed to take two to Andy Rose before opener James reached the retirement mark of 50. Woodhouse struck some lusty blows before being bowled in the last over by Andy R, who then had Jonty caught next ball by Andy P.
The Rose / Pacey combo strode out to open the reply. The tournament rules state that points will be docked for flirting with the opposition and we could've been minus 3 after 3 balls. Andy P pulled the first ball through square leg's hands for 4. Next ball was helped round the corner where fine leg dropped a sitter. Then the next ball was driven airily into the covers but landed safely. And that was pretty much as close as Soho came.
The 2 Andys simply took them apart. The 50 was posted in the 5th over. They both scored a bonus point by hitting a six.The hundred came in the 11th over. Suddenly it was all about manipulating the strike so both batmen could score fifties for extra points. Frequent wides were threatening to scupper things but on 49 Andy P steered a single and retired to be replaced by AJ. Andy R on strike on 46 with 2 to win. No worries. He clubbed a four over long on to reach 50 and win the game with 8 overs to spare.
After the game Chris awarded the Captain's Tankard to Andy P, a decision made easy by the fact that Andy R had gone home.
DT
Batting:
Pacey 50 retired
Rose 50*
Jagan 0*
Terry
Alveranga
Spee
Pirongs
Brooks
Bartram
Bailey
Bowling:
Pacey 2-0-13-0
Rose 2-0-14-2
Terry 3-0-6-2
Alveranga 3-0-24-1
Spee 3-0-9-0
Pirongs 2-0-18-0
Bartram 2-0-9-0
Bailey 3-1-20-0
Catches: Pacey, Spee
Captain's Tankard: Andy P
