Week 17 of the year, still dry and back at Bull Meadow. Nobby dutifully did what he has done well all year and won the toss, choosing to bat.
Nobby headed out with Henge and batted like man who was slightly wrangled by Pooks 'scratchy' comment, this innings was anything but. From ball one Nobby hit the ball hard, true and in the gaps that Stock had kindly left to get us off to a blistering start. Henge had the best view from the other end, rotated strike to get Nobby back to hitting and the opening pair went well. This was ended with the downfall of Henge who was caught, and in came FGA. It was FGAs bad luck that a change of bowling and a bowler who seemed to know what they were doing came on, tied up FGA, slowed us slightly and eventually dismissed the big bear. This brought Liam with Nobby, the true hitting continued and a big, big score looked on the cards.
The unusually good start actually brought conversations in the pavilion rather than the rush for pads, getting to hear about Wilburs peaceful week at work, and Pooky querying 'where the leaves had come from?' On a ground surrounded by 20 trees. Such great topics were short lived though as Nobby fell short of three figures getting to 88 from just 55 balls, and allowed this years Groom and best man to bat together, something we hadn't seen for a while. The two carried on the fine work from the skipper, hitting to all parts, Cooper racing to try and catch Liam up and get to 50 first. Liam won the race, reaching his 50 by smashing one onto the village green, but was removed caught and bowled later in the over. Tommy, relegated to 6, joined Cooper, but once Cooper fell (46), our innings began to fall apart. Despite Tommy's best efforts (35) for the second week running a tail end collapse occurred, Tim, Baron, JFH and RK all falling cheap and leaving Cheese stranded, and somehow we were all out with another 3 overs left, although with our highest score of the year at 305 on the board.
Tea Rating: Henge on duty, although majority of the work was apparently done by Bull John and GD, good quality, a special Oreo cake, just lacked a bit of quantity. 7.5/10
Baron back in the side took the new ball along with Henge, both starting well. Baron should have had the opener early on but JFH couldn't pick the ball up or get off the ground to leave the chance begging. Stocks senior openers soon started upping the rate, taking on anything loose and a few risks, RK missing the next chance, a hard one at third man that he did well to get hands to. Bowling changes, JFH came on to replace Henge down the Hill, turning yet another one early to surprise the batsman and eventually getting the breakthrough bowling the other. However here Stock were near the required rate, and with poor bits of fielding creeping in, and a tight LBW turned down, Totham were struggling for necessary wickets. Cheesey had come on up the Hill and did what Cheesey does, occasional beating of the bat, but the odd risky shot seemed to go, and a hard moment for Henge who, having taken the catch, stood on the boundary line to miss the wicket and cost us 6.
The second wicket did fall to Cheese, Baron catching well at mid wicket, but from here Stock took the game on and away from us. Cooper had been bowling from the top end had an over disappear, the fielding slackened, JFH dropping 2 and Baron missing 1, and generally heads dropping and a long season getting to us. RK and a returning Henge grabbed a wicket a piece, in amongst a FGA over experiment which didn't work, but finally Stock cruised home with 4 overs to spare.
A day that summed up many of our problems this year, spurning chances for wickets, not getting both sides of the game linking up together and generally making basic mistakes, disappointing in relegation but hopefully we can bounce back next year.
Man of Match: Nobby, his innings was truly exceptional and carried his good form, and was also one in the field who led by example and got it right.
