Obviously the most important game of the day, Totham took on a young Witham side in the 3rd game of the winter. With most of us arriving with the football at 2-0 and seemingly done, we were clearly missing out on something! However, cricket to be played.
Pook lost the toss but somehow we were batting, Phipps making his Colchester debut headed out with Henge and got off to a quick start, finding walls regularly and running well. 33 from the first 3 without a boundary, Henge changed that at the start of the 4th hitting a 6, and both carried on well until retiring in successive balls. Yeatsey and Pook to the crease, Yeatsey finding scoring a touch more difficult, while Pook knew it was important to keep the board moving, his 25 from just 9 balls seeing him become the third retiree of the innings.
At this point the score sat on 100 with 21 balls to go, we knew a record score was on the cards. Ed and Jonny did their jobs, get out the way quickly, allowing the retired batsmen back, starting with Nick. He and Yeates pushed the running, knowing risks could be taken, and between the 2, and Henge having to face the last ball after Sam's retirement, we finished on the league highest of 145-2.
Despite the excitement of the penalty shootout outside the hall, there was still a job to do inside. Ed took the first over, before JFH got into the game, clearly practicing in the garden as he finally learnt to hold onto a caught and bowled. A tight over from Henge followed and realistically the target was never in danger, Yeatsey and Pook overs followed, with Pook going for the first 6 of the innings as the young Witham batsmen looked to shift on. A 4 of Ed took him to retire, and the new pair batted well, with no wicket falling until the 8th over, Phipps with a sharp bit of work behind the stumps twice in a row, the second given of Yeatsey. Finally the wickets now came, 3 in 5 balls as Pook enticed a drive to Yeates, followed by a Henge run out and Ed following in JFHs example left just 1 wicket needed. That fell in the last over, Pook getting a simple run out to give us a 59 run win.
In truth, not much pressure on us as a fielding and bowling unit, but catches held and run outs executed, and a chance to enjoy Christmas.
