The rain of Thursday and Friday relented to allow the firsts to make their merry way to Noak Hill, Pook leading the way this week in the absence of Nob, Baron, Henge, Tommy coming in to replace Nick, Cooper and the absent captain.
The presence of sand on certain areas of the pitch persuaded Pook to bowl first, opening up with Baron and Big time sharing the new ball. However, the pitch didn't matter to the Noak Hill opener, who stood where he pleased, played shots in no coaching manual but scored frustratingly quickly. Fga up to the stumps, and Sam gaining control slowed the rate slightly before the wicket came, Henge catching at cover. Henge himself then came on for a short but effective stint bowling the other opener, but runs still coming quickly. The usual pair of JFH and Cheese were introduced, Cheese bowling with good control, except for one injuring the bears paw, got a wicket LBW, but JFH wasn't so good and runs flowed.
Half way through the innings, Tommy replaced FGA behind the stumps, but whatever combination of bowlers runs couldn't be stopped. RK and Pidge grabbed a wicket, both loose balls outside off stump caught by Jonny at deep cover, but eventually we were left with a mammoth 358 chase.
Tea Rating: Opposite of Nobs the previous week, not a sausage roll or nugget in sight! Very veggie friendly tea but not great quantity, although cakes were OK 5/10
A little rejig to the batting order saw Melman (who had watched the bowling carnage while grazing far away from anyone on the pavilion boundary) open with Henge, but the pair, plus RK and Tommy all fell cheaply caught off the Noak Hill spinner. Pook offered good resistance, his knock while injured was extremely measured, and had brief support from Pidge. Pidge and Sam fell, JFH to the crease as Pook passed 50, responding to the openers jibes telling him he wasn't very good by planting him for 3 sixes in an over, before departing at the other end. Job of the tail to once again try and gain some bonus points, 1 was gained but we fell short of a second by 2 runs.
A day that started badly and never really recovered, Pooks 50 definitely a highlight but much more needed.
