1st XI vs Old Brentwoods CC, 1st XI

This was a game that was neither entertaining or enjoyable as both sides battled each other with bat, ball and jawbone. More players seemed to be more interested in goading each other than concentrating on the cricket as the umpires seemed to have several "conversations" with players, helping the game drag on to an 8:05 finish. The fact that BOTH sides took over three and a half hours to bowl their allocated overs didn't help either.

Old Brentwoods won the toss and surprisingly decided to put us in to bat, no doubt buoyed by their ability to chase down a large total comfortably the previous week. Tom Arnold falling in the third over wasn't the start we were hoping for, but the brothers Plom settled the innings down and put on a partnership of 61 before Jack was given out LBW (32) with the score on 70 in the 18th over. Boundaries were at a premium, but the boys were picking their gaps to keep the fielders chasing leather.

Ryan got to his first 50 of the season from 61 balls (6 x 4's, 2 x 6's). He was the sixth wicket to fall with the score on 139, having got to 79 of those runs and it was looking like we would struggle to 170. It didn't help that Sam Bear was out in the next over. However, sensible batting and shot selections from Jamie Walton and skipper Dave Hickey saw us past that score and beyond as they put on a vital 59-run partnership before both fell in the 48th over. For the first time this season we failed to see out our overs and reached 202in the final over.

Tom Arnold took the first opposing wicket in the ninth ball of their innings, but we had to wait until the 17th over for the second to fall, courtesy of Jack. Caleb Seleka bowled his 16 overs almost consecutively, only stopping to change ends and took the next two wickets to fall. With the score on 128-4, it was still anyone's game; but the fall of the fifth wicket seemed to change their mindset. With ex-pro Merv Westfield still at the crease, they didn't play aggressively enough to chance their arm and looked more determined to avoid defeat than chase the win that they might have got with Westfield scoring the bulk of the runs. A second five over spell from Sam saw him take two wickets whilst only conceding six runs, helping to put them on the back foot.

Caleb also took two more wickets as the home side decided that the draw was the best result for them as they crawled to 184-8. This was best summarised by the fact that they only scored two runs from their last 14 balls, and that included a no-ball! Players and officials slumped off the pitch, relieved the game was over, whilst my eardrums were pleased that their day's battering had finally reached its conclusion.

We still remain the division's only unbeaten side, but our lead at the top has been cut to 10 points. Our next two games see us play the two teams immediately below us, starting with third-placed Oakfield Parkonians coming to The Shen. That will take us to the halfway mark of the season with a realistic idea of how the rest of the season should pan out.