Unfortunately, Ingatestone could not manage to raise a team for the final game before Christmas. So, Gt.Waltham & Willingale kindly offered to merge to play a friendly. This would be good practice for next season, if we continue our current form & get promotion. John lost the toss & we were put into bat. Nick & Josh found the standard of bowling more accurate & challenging than previous games this season & before too long Nick was caught out. Drew went in to bat & was bowled from a speedy delivery. John & Josh had a good few overs, with both hitting 6s off various parts of the bat, but, not including the middle!
John retired & Pooky came in, trying a variety of shots from the cricket manual that he has got for Christmas, but opened early. Josh retired & Cheesey came in to join Pooky. The run rate was still going well & we were pleased with the total. Pooky retired to bring together the lethal running partners. But, for the first time this season there wasn't a run out. John departed, Josh departed & Cheesey & Pooky finished off well, score was 126.
John saved the top bowler till last, which may have been a mistake & Josh & John both got smacked for a few 6s. John ran out the opening bat, then took a catch off Cheesey's bowling. Drew missed a caught & bowled & the umpire missed a run out following a great peice of fielding by Pooky. The oppostion were always on top of the run rate & another catch by John, off Cheesey, brought groans of despair as this allowed the retired batsman to come back in!!!!! Game over in the 11th over.
However, despite a loss, it was good to play against Division 1 opposition & to do ourselves credit. Many thanks to the oppostion for playing against us. Next game is in January. 3 more league games to go, currently we are 5 wins from 5 games.
