Wield vs Lynchmere, Sunday 25th September

Weather – Positively tropical compared to last years game!!!

Match summary – Wield gave it a go...but another draw.

With the 1 O'clock start confusing most people (including tea ladies) we had the usual Wield start....15 min's late!!!

Our skipper Max somehow negotiated the toss and we were fielding .....No change there then!!!!

The usual live wire opening partnership of Aidan and Ken kicked things off.
It was all the same old same old until Lynchmere's opener got a leading edge, the ball raced upwards before dropping to mid on at a rate of knots. As Matt quivered under this bomb we all assumed the inevitable dropped catch would occur!!!!!! To everyone's surprise (including Matt's) and with a last second hands out/eyes closed moment the ball stuck!!!
Even Aidan said nice catch Dad!!!!

Ken claimed his second wicket when the Viv Richards looking No.3 proved to be more Denise Richards!!!!
Aidan then produced his killer ball!!! you know the one that bounces twice, keeps low and the batsmen miss!!!!
3 down became 4 as Ken claimed his 3rd and Lynchmere were 27/4.

On a day of strange captaincy choices and bearing in mind we haven't won since June, Max decided to gift the oppo some runs and brought on the dynamic due of Toby and David G!!!! This cunning plan worked a treat and the score was soon rattling along.

Matt came on to add to the present giving and this madness continued until M H-T got a wicket (caught behind would you believe?)
New boy Josh came on and bowled some reasonable medium pace, not so new boy Robin bowled some tosh but as usual this filth somehow picked up a wicket!!!! The next batsmen had obviously never seen a bat before and amazingly Robin was on a Hat-Trick!!!!
Knowing how much Robin likes buying a jug no one was in the least bit surprised when the Hat-Trick ball was a head high No-Ball!!!!!
Possibly the worst Hat-Trick ball in cricket history and definite jug avoidance!!!!!!

Ken came back on to wrap up the innings and claim his first Wield five wicket haul. Lynchmere finished on 188.

As we ate our last stunning tea for 9 months the quiet was shattered when David G shouted across the table to me "Is there anyone in the club you haven't run out yet" my reply was short and to the point "You"!!!!!

Jack's reward for last weeks top score was a demotion to No.9!!!!! So I opened with Toby!!!!

As the crowd waited with bated breath for the usual Tony/Toby "Fred Carno" impression, I contemplated David's remarks!!!!

The reply got off to a blistering start with runs flying off the bat....(well flying off Toby's bat). This impression of real cricket was shattered when Toby tamely tapped one back to the bowler!!!

David G arrived at the crease wielding the magic bat (see first match report) and played a cover drive!!! (granted it did go to square leg but he tried) I hit a few 4's and the partnership grew.
Alas as all good movie aficionado's know when the script has been written there is no turning back!!!! The inevitable had to happen and it duly did as David hit one to square leg, he thought it had beaten him (it had not), he called, I yelled, he yelled, I called and then after a brief moment as we shook hands in the middle David was run out!!!!!!!

This lunacy brought Josh to the crease and our chase began, needing 100 off the last 20 overs we still had a chance. Josh hit some sixes (I did not!!) Josh hit some fours (I hit a couple!!) and we still had a chance!!

The dictionary defines "Poetic Justice" as "an ironic twist of fate intimately related to the character's own conduct".
With this in mind Josh hit one to point, he thought it had beaten him (it had not), he called, I yelled, he yelled, I called and then after a brief moment as we shook hands in the middle I was run out!!!!!!!
There may have been a brief dropping of my bat in a downwards motion after the incident but I was too sad to miss out on buying a jug to fully remember!!!!

David smiled knowingly as I walked up the hill as Matt joined Josh and scored his first runs since May!!!
We still had a chance until Matt fell foul of Max's finger!!! for 20.

Ken and Aidan showed the faith Max had put in them by getting out for not many and it was left to our No.9 to face the opening bowler and secure the draw!!!

Josh finished on 40 not out and our run chase stalled at 154/7

Tony