With an average age of 12, shoe size of 6 ½ and merely a handful of GCSEs between us; the new look 1st XI set sail – two from two the destination. Under captain Copeland they seem to have stolen some confidence and appear, I must stress for very short periods of time, unbeatable.
With the new skippers only contribution of both games so far (the toss) out the way, previously also landing tails, Old Pauline were put in to bat against a youthful Wick attack and Sashi.
Browning, having clearly saved his best for this week, hit the spot hard from the off. He soon had his reward, a “nick” behind was plucked like a fine Somerset apple from a tree by the brother in law Lewis Gregory never talks about. From the other end, Sammy featured and bowled a 900% increase on last week’s overs. The highlight of his early overs being the first in which the ‘opener’ lobbed up a simple catch to the well-rested Michael Wood.
Cue the Captains’ last positive influence on the game… Ball thrown to Blobz.
0 W 0 W 0 0
Scenes.
Within the space of an over, Blobz had changed the game again forcing even Monte to jump from his seat and run to the middle in order to celebrate with the boys. These celebrations were not short lived as the wickets steadily went leaving OPCC in trouble at 109-7. Spin from one end, backed up by some efficient left arm ‘on the monies’ from the more senior Sashi at the other. Mik Hucknall picking up a sneaky one with a questionable LBW. Great stuff.
Despite a gamble, forcing the openers out of retirement to use their overs up before the eventual end of the innings, The Wick finished the 50 overs with minimal damage. 185-9. As we gorged on Sandwiches, Pizza slices and unbelievable brownies, (Ken always scores an 8.5) the batsman set their mind on the task at hand.
A New look opening partnership of Blobz / Bonay walked out to the middle with one thought runs. It couldn’t have started better as Blobz got off the mark for the season first ball and backed up with a four soon after. Unfortunately, the fairy-tale wasn’t to be and he was soon dismissed (triggered, if you ask him, fairly if you ask anyone else) for a breezy five from 15.
Enter Rob. With the uncertainty surrounding his recent contract negotiations (1 pint per 15 runs) signed and settled, Rob walked to the crease, mind free of any troubles. Unfortunately, so free was his mind that he forgot use his bat on a straight one; only offering a pad. 14 from 33, narrowly missing out on the aforementioned ‘free pint’. I’m well informed that he did make up for this through self-purchase method.
Big Mike spent most of the morning reassuring those around him that his wrists had been redundant and therefore well rested; one would assume that this would reflect positively in his batting. Never assume – after squirting one through the slips for a well-timed 3, Mike nailed one through to the keeper but stuck around, only to watch the umpire reassure him that he had hit the ball.
It was this wicket, unbeknown to us at the time, that wrapped up the game and saw the Wick home. At 60 odd for 3, we required a knock of real maturity from both Bonay and Caleb. Both timed the ball well and made a decent bowling attack look particularly average at times. Well Batted.
On to next week, I love winning.
