The chances of getting a game in looked slim when we arrived at Stoke D'Abernon. A light but persistent rain was falling and although there was a cover on the wicket, it looked as though it would rain all afternoon. The opposition captain, however, suggested we just get on with it and see what happened and rolled back the covers to reveal a very dry wicket. No sooner had we taken the field than the rain stopped and within an hour or so, glorious sunshine shone down.
Toby opened our attack and after a first over bowled superbly without reward. On occasions, he was unplayable but nothing went to hand. Jacob was less consistent and took a bit of stick but, as is often the way, picked up two wickets when an outside edge was picked up at square cover by Jordy diving to his right and a mistimed drive was caught and bowled.
Two very dangerous batsmen disposed of and with Ian coming on and bowling tight, this was the pattern of the afternoon. Some quick runs interspersed with a wicket now and then and Ian finishing a fine spell with 4 in total. I picked up 2 wickets and George took a caught and bowled (1 of three for the innings) and the opposition declared their innings closed on a very reasonable 180 for 9.
Their bowling was opened by a very rapid 16 year old. Both Jordy and Stockers coped well with it in differing ways and although I feared for Jerry's safety after one short one nearly pinged him between the eyes, he seemed to have weathered the storm before chipping one to cover off the last ball of the young lad's spell.
Our middle order subsided pathetically and but for a typically determined innings from Jordy, we would have been humiliated. However, he batted with admirable calm before being bowled by a ball which I was informed by their captain pitched on leg stump and hit the top of off. He had made 67. The only other real resistance was offered by Jacob who batted nearly an hour in making 20* and showed the application not seen from the top order.
With 10 overs to go we were clinging on to a draw and were seen home over the last 4 overs by Jacob and no 10, Cudders who showed commendable grit in dealing with the returning quickie and seeing us to safety.