Theale & Tilehurst 2nd XI vs Ruislip Victoria 2nd September 2006

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Report by PK

Once upon a time ......................there was, in a dusty attic of an abode in Reading, an old tattered deerstalker which was found by one of the (and there are many) T&T2's pie-eaters. Now this deerstalker was reputed to have magical qualities but the secret of when to unleash the magic was only stumbled upon by accident 3 years ago (more of the deerstalker otherwise known as an Elmer Fudd cap later).

So it was T&T2's set off on their annual tour of Ruislip well at least Rags and Spike did..the rest of us turning up on time with the tourists turning up just as the opening pair went out to bat on a really really really really really windy day. Pk started off well to get us to 20 of 4 overs before a couple or three maidens had him playing a silly shot to get himself caught by the wicketkeeper.Mr Pres soon followed and this left Nehal (we are going to have to think of a suitable nickname for him for next year) and Desperate Dan to at first consolidate and then build an innings. DD went rather to quickly which brought out Hamad (nickname needed here as well) who then proceeded to build said innings with both batting very well. Now Hamad I think its fair to say started off the season filling in the numbers but after several decent performances has earned his place and is quite rightly a 2's player. After Hamad fell Lbw Rags came in with a quickfire 15 before a minor hiccup saw two more wickets fall for ducks before Mo steady the ship to compile an unbeaten 17. Nehal meanwhile had continued his fine run of form this season and got bowled near the end after he had pressed the accelerator for a very well batted 84. Tim joined Mo at the end also ending up unbeaten. Final score after 45 overs for T&T2's was 210 for 8.

Back to the deerstalker. Now Chef was quite miffed at having to miss this game (due to going on holiday) as it was he that stumbled upon the secret of the magic deerstalker and had made the RV 2's his personal bunny hunting ground. Now Rags is a good chap but knowing that the old, battered deerstalker was stored away at Chefs place, he must have broekn in during the night and stolen it, although I would not be at all surprised if Chef found it completely as he had left it upon his return.

Rv's walked out to bat and with Mo opening the bowling it took only till the 3rd ball before Mo bowled a cracker that left the opener listening to the death rattle behind him. The next over saw Arsalan join the fun with an equally good ball taking out the number 3 also bowled. Although the two youngsters did not take any more wickets their spells of 7 overs each was littered with many close calls and some very very good bowling. The change was made at both ends with Pawan and Rags coming on. Upon taking the ball in his first over Rags donned the magic deerstalker and lo and behold took a wicket with his first ball and then another a couple of balls later. It seems the deerstalker works only from one end at Ruislip and Rags knew the secret. Pawan also joined in the action as wickets tumbled one after the other fairly quickly until the final wicket was caught of Rags by Pk - Rags getting a five fer (aided by the magic deerstalker and Pawan bagging 3) - game set and match, RV's all out for 96 and another win for T&T2's as well as getting 35 points for their trouble.

Now is it just me or am I wrong in thinking that whenever Chef goes on his hols, T&T2's invariably win ???!!!!!!! Desperate Dan maybe saving up over the winter to pay for Chefs hols next year no doubt.

Two wins on the trot saw an end to the league season and if other results go our way could see a huge jump up the table to finish in fourth position.