Theale & Tilehurst 2nd XI vs Knowl Hill 2nd July 2005

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Report by PK

"Thievin Rotten Gits" was my first thoughts upon finding that the 1st team had nicked our best bowler for this game - 20 wickets in 6 games played says it all. 5 games actually PK but who's counting? - Chef

Mickey went out to the middle and again demonstrated his useless ability as a tosser and we were promptly put into bat. PK and Ed walked out to the middle and it was game on. Unfortunately Pk went rather quickly off a pretty poor ball, a poor shot but a really cracking catch - looking at the amount of ground the guy made to get to it I suspect that there's some Linford in there but without the family lunchbox.

This brought the skipper out and to say he played extravagantly is a slight understatement but as often happens Mickey got the rub of the green on more than one occasion. Ed was resolutely refusing to give his wicket away playing an anchor role quite superbly whilst Mickey got on with it. Mickey decided on 49 to take a stroll down the wicket and got himself bowled just after Ed got out and all of a sudden there were two relatively new batsman at the crease.. There were some cracking shots played by Mickey, one memorable extra cover drive that was just sublime.

It was good to see Mike T back from his travels and along with Eddie C put on a good stand of 41 with Eddie being quite unfortunate insomuch as mullering one particular delivery straight down a fielders throat - 2ft either side and it was a four no doubt. Mike on the other hand was chancing his arm somewhat - when he was on single figures he gifted a catch to the guy in black trainers - well known in cricketing circles as the non cricket player. It was promptly put down and Mike knew then his luck was in and so it proved. 60 runs from only 37 balls was a great return to playing from Mike and we expect more of the same - best get that S/Rate to 200 for the next game son.

Batsman from then onwards came and went with the exception of Nehal, who in his first game for the 2XI smashed 39 of only 25 balls including taking 20 of one poor guy in one over.

All in All it was a good batting performance on a track that was slightly holding the ball up and we walked in to tea quite satisfied with 242.

After tea, Oz and Mickey took the new ball, the first wicket coming relatively early in the 4th over. After that it was hard work and I will be quite honest when somewhere around 10 or 11 overs I was thinking this was a boring game as the oppo did not seem to be making any attempt whatsoever to go for the win. Not for the first time I was proved wrong. Mickey did all the right things in changing the bowling around but it was soon apparent how much we missed Chef (we've got the pot cleaned and ready for your return and we all look forward to some good helping of your very very special bunny stew). Also, quite noticeable was the lack of variation in bowling available for this game.

As it was, the next wicket did not fall until the Knowlies had got to 138 and even then they did not seem to be making much of a go for the score. The introduction of Pyle to join Duffy at the crease began to change things, the score started to increase much more rapidly than we had wanted and quite rightly we had to forego the relatively attacking field and put some effort into defending the runs on the board. So far Oz had taken a couple of wickets but it was hard work. Mickey was quite unlucky in not getting some success but he should be quite happy with the amount of runs from his spell of 11 overs as in the context of the game it was a good spell. PK got the remaining wickets in the last few overs, two good catches and one LBW saw the game peter out into a winning draw for T & T and keeps us in the running for promotion. That's the first half of the season done and if we can keep the same focus and effort throughout the second half we should be in a good position come the end of the season.