The 3s welcomed league toppers Hornchurch to Gt.Braxted, hoping to better their poor efforts last week at Rainham. Hornchurch up to bat first & Tim tried the same tactics as last week, open up with a spinner. James had first, then Olly took the second over. After 4 balls he was in pain, but it didn't prevent him from bagging 2 wickets, Tim stumping the opener & number 3 was bowled behind his legs. However, despite these successes, Olly's body had given up, especially after he was hit by the ball whilst fielding. He then manfully stayed on, but fielded on his knees due to protect himself. At drinks, Paul (the quickest Wheeler) showed, again, that he is in contention for Clubman of the Season by fielding for Olly.
There was cricket going on as well, but the number 4 batsman looked like he meant business & he began to take a liking to the bowling. Another comedy moment was given to us by Max W, throwing the ball into the very large tree to turn a single into a 4.
We managed to take a few wickets, well Tim did, by taking 3 catches to add to his stumping. But, whilst some Hornchurch batsmen got out, the number 4 just kept on hitting boundaries. James & Max C took 2 wickets each due to their persistence. How could we get the number 4 out? We couldn't catch him nor bowl him & an even bigger score looked on the cards. Whilst at the non-striker's end, he spotted that the ball had gone towards PQ, who was looking at the horses, or the clouds, or thinking about last week's day out with his girlfriend. It was an easy 2 runs, especally after PQ impersonated a Scottish goalkeepr & dived over the ball. PQ chased the ball, as number 4 turned & came back for the second run. PQ coiled his arm & unleashed a throw that belongs in an Avengers movie. The ball flew like an exocet & hit the stumps without bouncing, leaving number 4 a long way short. Cue celebrations from PQ that had never been seen before. We were back in the game, until the final few batsmen continued to smack the ball around. Hornchurch finished on 219, only 5.5 per over for victory.
Nick's tea was enjoyed by all, as the sun stayed out during the break.
John C & John D opened. John C tried to get out in the first over, then succeded in the 2nd over, caught deep on the boundary, under the tree. FGA came in, determined to prove the selectors wrong, after being dropped staright to the 3s. FGA & John D stayed in, but the run rate was low, due to tight bowling. John D then pulled a muscle, allowing John C to make his best contribution to the game - running for someone else!
FGA & John D both reached the 20s, but were both caught out trying to move the score along. Captain Tim then showed everyone how to do it, reaching 47 with some support from James. Tim fell just short of his 50 & Hornchurch finished us off quite quickly after that.
Our poorest performance in terms of bowling & ground fielding (PQ's run out aside) gave us too big a total to chase. Once again, Tim led the way but others are not yet inspired enough to match his performances.
