The ones made their first appearance at bull meadow, not quite looking at is best with the outfield not being able to be cut, but at least the forecast was dry for a change and the prospects of play good! Two changes to the side, coming in Henge and Baron, replacing an unavailable Mutton, as well as DK.
Jonny won the toss and decided to have a bowl, using Baron and RK upfront, although it quickly became clear that the Terling opener wouldn't distinguish between bowlers and try to send most things out of the village. RK got the first wicket however of the other opener, one keeping low from the top end. Barons early punishment ended early with JFH coming on, and for a couple of overs at least keeping things calm, before a long hop accounted for the number 3, pulling towards Henge at deep square leg to take a good catch. Henge himself replaced RK, and soon found himself in the firing line, however did sneak out the number 4, a hoik too many found RK in the deep. The opener however was still going, had found some luck with little half chances just not sticking, or somehow finding gaps in the field. His innings ended immediately after his 100 was up, Henge getting through with his second, and with the score 153-4 just before drinks we hoped the second half would be a tad easier. Pook became the third to try his luck from the bottom end without reward, a couple of edges not quite being grabbed, and the new Terling pair still going hard, to be broken from young Tommy Wheeler at the top end. While still taking a little damage on our small ground, his flight and skill accounted for Terlings 5 and 6, both caught smartly by Henge and FGA. Baron came to try his luck again, with the Terling tail having time to bat the run rate slowed before Baron got rewards, despite the hands of Nobby. An LBW, inside nick grabbed very well by Timbo and a smart catch by Lumpy left him with figures of 3-50 from his 9, and a very good comeback. With RK returning at the top, got his Yorker in, we bowled out Terling for 283, under a total it looked like we may have been looking at, but realistically 40/50 too many. But credit to the bowlers to keep coming, and bowling a side out which we struggled to do last season.
Tea Rating: A Timbo effort, Sandwiches, crisps, nugs, pizzas and potato salad with some cakes, a very good effort 8/10
Nobby and Henge took to the field to start the innings, slowly at first, the accuracy of the Terling bowlers was difficult to get away. Henge started to manage, a couple of fine shots over cover, before Nobby fell, a top edge being safely grabbed. Liam joined Henge, but Henge soon departed, a victim of a brilliant caught and bowled left us in a bit of bother at 35-2. Tommy Hawkridge came in and got the board moving with a couple of sweetly struck boundaries, as well as a 6 over long on, before he became the next to depart, low bounce accounting for him and trapped in front. FGA came in and carried on in Tommy's method, even with the opposition chat getting louder, and carried us through to drinks requiring 170 from 23, a tall order, but definitely possible on a ground like Totham. It wasn't to be though, shortly after FGA got a leading edge to be caught and bowled, Pook too early on a pull shot and finding ourselves 5 down. Timbo and RK were both bowled without troubling the scorers too greatly, and when lumpy finally succumbed giving a catch at cover, and Baron stumped from a wide, we were 9 down and simply batting for points and to try and stop Terling getting theirs. Tommy W and Jonny H dragged us past 175, but we fell 4 overs short of batting the overs.
A tough day, 100 run defeat and really we gave away 40/50 runs with the ball, and were about the same short with the bat, much to work on, but the bowling of Tommy W, Baron on return and RK was a positive, some good catches taken and Liam, Tommy H and FGA showed better signs with the bat, good things to come at Galleywood next week.
