Theale & Tilehurst vs Eversley 18th April 2004

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Report by Fingers

Less than a week after the end of the indoor season the season outdoors began. T&T won the toss and being a front line batsman less than would have been preferred decided to field first. This decision was taken full in the knowledge that the obvious opening bowler was still absent. Having taken to the field in his final game of the season last year against Eversley in black trainers it appeared that Doc had completely forgotten his complete lack of boots and at the time the toss was in Nigel Cross Sports trying on his new pair. As it was Doc had to settle for first change.

Many of the T&T players took to the field wearing the new club clothing. One of the exceptions was Micky Mehta despite the fact that he had been one of the first to buy one of the new shirts. It appeared that Micky had picked up the wrong bag when recently attending a christening and given his new shirt as a present to the young child, the finely woven robe he chose to wear whilst being a bit small was not out of place on the field though.

The Eversley innings started well. Os was soon into line and length but at the other end Bob was struggling unless there is a new definition of line and length which is six inches wide of leg stump and a foot in the air. The decision was soon taken to replace Bob with the recently arrived Doc and this decision was instantly rewarded with a five wides down the leg side. However, a change of ends worked with Bob taking the first wicket, a fine half tracker that took off stump as Mission attempted to play a rash cross batted shot.

An opening partnership of 62 was a fine effort though and the next wicket to fall was the other opener, skipper Mike Briscoe, who having played very well attempted a big drive at Rags and was bowled. This was not before Rags had joined the "shite opening delivery of the season" club. Following Bob's full toss and Doc's five wides Rags had started with the longest of long hops which was deservedly pulled for four.

All of the Eversley middle order got starts but all of them also failed to go on and play a defining innings. When Walter was out the score was 137-6 and a decent early season total looked in the offing. Little, though, did anyone realise that the last run of the innings had been scored. Amongst these was the Eversley skipped who informed those preparing the tea that he was anticipating declaring in about half an hour.

Barely a moment later the message was passed that the final batsman was going out to the middle. Jamil had joined the attack and with the final ball of his first over had dismissed Morgan-Giles caught by Bob at mid-off. With the first ball of his next over he had M Ward caught behind leaving him on a hat-trick and the number ten batsman to come to the crease. Of the two batsman to still bat one was the thirteen year old T Cummings and the other the experienced wicket keeper A Trapani. Mr Trapani had previously announced that he didn't like keeping wicket straight after eating and had asked if he could take his tea early, this request was granted and he had last been seen eating his way through half a dozen rolls and a good slab of cake. As it was, it was the young Cummings who came to the crease at no.10. Showing experience beyond his years he decided to reduce the number of modes of dismissal with which Jamil could complete his hat-trick, the chances of him being out lbw whilst at square leg seemed slim. As it was the hat-trick ball passed inside the batter whilst narrowly missing leg stump, the next ball on off stump though soon did the trick.

The innings finished in the next over leaving T&T 138 to win. On a pitch that was playing truly but slowly this had the potential to be hard work.

Micky and Jamil got the innings off to a decent start before Micky was bowled by the third ball of the sixth over to leave the score on 32-1. What followed was something of a one man show and unsurprisingly it was Jamil in the lead role. What was more he decided to play a couple of shots from remarkable positions. On one shot he pushed forward early, slipped and before the ball arrived was sat on his backside. How the ball ended up clearing long on by fifteen yards remains a mystery to all who saw it. As if to prove it wasn't a fluke he followed it up soon after by a drive through extra cover for four whilst on his rear end. When he was finally dismissed for 71 a further 26 were required off a potential 25 overs. As it was James and Raj saw us home with no further alarms for a win by eight wickets.