Rusty start on practice pitch
The Captain's Knock
An
ultimately slightly disappointing game last Sunday but a good work out
for the new season.
Your Captain won the toss (a good omen?) and nervous of a weakened batting
order on an artificial wicket, elected to field. Matt Hallam bowled straight
and quick but with a tight line outside off stump, the batsmen were not
good enough to touch one. Toby opening the other end was economical but
our first success of the day came from debutant Steve Reece who swooped
from midwicket to run out the opening batsman. Thereafter it was attrition
as runs were snatched through some fairly ordinary batting and some tight
if not particularly penetrative bowling. Finally, Edgar broke the stalemate
with his leg breaks bamboozling the batsmen and aided by a splendid, if
slightly unorthodox, slip catch from Ian,reduced them to 71 for 5. Then
no's 7 & 8 laid about them and assisted by dreadful catching reached
153 for 6. Your Captain was not amused to have 3 catches dropped off his
bowling in the same over.
Our reply against some tight bowling made their start seem positively
reckless with Edgar & Steve struggling to give us a solid start. Upon
Steve's demise, I found the going equally difficult until Ed started to
hit out but was stumped for 22 with the score on 30 after 19 overs. In
company with Jerry Stockers, Brian Hallam and Mick Reeve, we set about
chasing the opposition total but could never catch up and ultimately ended
on 116 for 5 with yours truly completing a not out 50 off the last ball.