Stalemate after the rain
I am very pleased to report that our unbeaten record remains intact
after 10 games following a tight draw last week. We mustered 10 men
eventually but then found our opponents had only 8, so we let Mike Stockbridge
guest for them to create an even contest.
We won the toss and elected to bowl which seemed a very good decision
on a damp slow pitch where the odd ball 'popped.' 
Matt H. started where
he left off last week bowling their opener with a great yorker second
ball of the match I then bagged their skipper with one that lifted off
a length and Gus Cragg , making his debut took a smart running catch
at square leg, reducing them to
18-2. After a steady recovery we took the third wicket at 53 but the
visitors then put together a major stand of 87 with young Nick Baker
going on to make 84. We made life more difficult for ourselves by dropping
him 4 times with one 'glaring' miss by yours truly when losing a routine
skier in the sun, although we also had the pleasure of witnessing another
superb catch by Jerry Stockbridge at cover point. At tea Broadbridge
Heath reached 172-6. Bowling figs were: Matt H. 9-0-40-1, Toby C. 9-1-42-0,
Jerry W. 11-0-44-1, Gus Cragg 5-0-20-1, and myself 9-3-18-2.
In reply we knew we were very light on batting so Ed Fernandes set out
as sheet anchor, particularly after debutante opening partner Chris
Selkirk was yorked for 1, but Jerry W. then made a fluent and brisk
40 before finding the hands of mid wicket. Ed battled on to make a very
good 66, with little support and even had a dart at the end when we
needed 9 an over. When he was caught
down the leg side in the penultimate over we settled for the draw finishing
at 151-7.