Finally the first game of the Saturday season arrived, so typically did the rain. Luckily Waltham was covered and the rain passed and we bowled first, Ed and RK making their offical F irst XI debuts under Nob. Pook and Henge opened up, struggling with the left hand/right hand to begin with before finding their lines, with the right handed opener occasionally just throwing his hands through one, everything else was tight. Pook eventually made the breakthrough, taking the edge and looping to a diving Nob at slip (missed on the cameras!) Followed straight up by an absolute peach through the number 3 and energy up in the field, with a 3rd coming as the other opener finally wafted at one too many to snick to FGA, who's keeping all game was exceptional. Pook finishing with 3-40 from his set, the only blotch being a missed caught and bowled.
JFH and Cheese came on, JFH taking some time to remember how to bowl, Cheese on the money straight away, and getting his mate Mick to put his finger up twice for LBWs, then possible moment of the afternoon arrived. Cheese was driven low and hard towards covers, where Nick was desperate to protect his hands but not quick enough, only allowed for a brilliant one handed take at ankle height, leaving Cheese with great figures of 3-18. JFH finally got one, having also dropped a caught and bowled, a fine take by Henge at slip, and Totham felt a gettable total on the cards. Waltham swung hard and batted cleverly at the end, Ed Vale and RK bowling nicely at a difficult time, RK taking too but no reward for Ed despite his good work and 186 felt chaseable.
Tea Rating: Very gladly returned, Plenty of Sandwiches, Sausage Rolls, Nuggets, Pizzas and cakes, a top effort let down by squirty cream for scones! 9/10
Henge proceeded to game hog as he opened the batting too, Nick joining him as we started steadily, Joe batting sensibly while Nick played a couple of lovely shots off his legs before being dismissed. Tommy went to the crease, and the pair started moving the board along, before the Waltham change bowler slowed us right down. Tommy was dismissed caught at deep square, and frustratingly Joe caught first ball after drinks for a well made 45. Run scoring became harder, Pooky tried to change matters launching a huge 6 down the ground before being adjudged caught and bowled very low down. From here the requited rate slowly crept up on us, Pidge came and went, Nob tried to run Fga out of lungs before being the second man caught at deep square, and suddenly we needed 47 from 5 overs. The bear then became a man possessed, hitting the ball cleanly, and despite losing bunner, kept going to leave just 12 from the final over. Unfortunately it didn't happen for us, Fga eventually departing for a well made 46 but we fell fractionally short, disappointing as plenty of times in the day we were on top, but the energy and effort with the ball and fielding were excellent and should stand us in good confidence for the year.
MoM: Paul Marks
