Concorde doug deep

Last week saw our 4th. successive draw but in a very enjoyable match.

I lost the toss and they asked us to bat. On a sweltering afternoon we opened with Ashley and Rob Symondson who had climbed out of his sick bed to play. Unfortunately, Rob was not quite himself and was soon bowled for 4. Alex joined Ash and together they started to build the total against a useful and youthful attack. But having just started to punish the bowling, Alex was yorked for 27 and when Ash skied one for 35, we were 81-3 with apparently little strong batting to come. We then witnessed a superb stand between Doug Michael (84) and the Mick (21n.o.) who put on 109 in about an hour. It was very nice to see the Chairman feature in a vital partnership, and at tea we reached 190-4.

In reply, Stoke made a bad start when I bowled their opener for 0 in the second over. Rob.S then climbed back into the limelight with two slip catches and the visitors were rocking at 26-3. To their credit they batted very positively and their young numbers 4 and 5 put on over 70 with one reaching 50, before late replacement Jerry.W pegged them back with three wickets. They needed over 8 an over to win for the last 8 overs during which time, Mick and Ash held good catches, and Alex combining with H. and Toby with a direct hit from long distance secured run outs. H. had a very good day conceding no byes again. Stoke finished on 167-8, for an honourable draw. Bowling figs were: Ashley 7-2-23-1, Toby 6-0-38-0, Jerry.W 10-0-53-3, Alex 5-1-22-0, and myself 7-1-26-2.