Smashly West TON

Ashley Westen finally edges to the keeper after century

At last an opportunity to showcase my cricket writing talent - move over Derek Pringle (Daily Telegraph corespondent for you Sun readers)

Captain for the day in Cudders absence, I decided on a change of plan upon winning the toss and elected to bat. Not content with that departure from the norm, I decided to go the whole hog by asking our trusted wicket keeper and resident no 11, H to open the innings with Ashley. This gamble was splendidly vindicated with a savage assault on the bowling leading to a partnership of 42 for the first wicket (Ashley 32 Howard 10). Thereafter, Ashley compiled a truly splendid and hard hitting century against some quite quick and hostile bowling on a not too easy wicket. Well supported by some lusty hitting by the middle order including a well struck 11no by debutante Dave Bithell, we were able to declare on 215 for 7, slightly short of the 230 I had hoped for.

An uncomfortable period followed while the opposition opening partnership compiled 56 for the first wicket. Dave Bithell had difficulty letting go of the ball and so we were forced to turn to plan B earlier than expected - the 5th over in fact. Edgar immediately troubled the batsmen with extravagant turn and they swiftly began to lose wickets and fall behind the clock. In spite of very aggressive field settings and some encouraging bowling from various others we bagan the final over requiring 4 wickets to win bowled by yours truly. Successive wickets off the 3rd & 4th balls of the over heightened the tension but the inability of the bowler to produce a straight one meant the game finished in a draw. Edgar finished with the superb figures of 17 6 37 5 , his second five wicket haul of the season