BACKReport by Mr Ed
"This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." - Winston Churchill 1942
Possibly something of an over reaction, but after a month of trying it was certainly gratifying to play in a winning side. The league rescheduled this game after the first match had been curtailed by rain when we were in a very strong position.
The first ball of the match, which pitched and rolled, indicated that this was going to be a difficult batting wicket. Wickets fell regularly, although we were unfortunate in a couple of the dismissals. Steve Pyke selflessly ran out Tim Sant to avoid Tim having to play any further part in the game (Tim was lying on the ground at this time) which as it happened turned out to be a quite severe achilles injury. Tim was beginning to time the ball well, but I thought it was a little over the top that he got carried off the field after scoring nineteen. Dennis Robertson, managed the unusual feat of be out first ball for one.
At 69-7 even on a difficult pitch, we were in some trouble, but an excellent unbeaten eight-wicket partnership of fifty-eight between Chris Lemm and Steve Pyke based on great running between the wickets moved our score up to a very defendable 127 at the end of the sixteen overs.
We quickly knocked the stuffing out of Broadmoor's reply with Chris complimenting his 32 runs with the bat with four cheap wickets in an a performance which wholeheartedly proved the link between serious lunchtime drinking and sporting prowess. Even at 12-4, with the hard-hitting Victor Clark at the wicket, victory was by no means assured, and we were fortunate to have him bowled by one that kept low. We maintained the pressure throughout the rest of the innings; skipper Brian Cooper taking four wickets, and comfortably secured victory by 51 runs.
So at last I can write about a winning side, which makes a pleasant change, although in this shortened format of cricket we are a useful outfit so victory today was always a strong possibility. The tried and tested formula of bat first, bowl them out, beers worked again and the status quo that evening was maintained by the Germans winning on penalties again.