Theale and Tilehurst Friendly XI vs Farley Hill 23rd September 2007

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Report by Derek Pringle

This was a game that originally started in memory of Gordon Munro who was one of the all time leading wicket takers in the Berkshire League.

The start time has always been 11.00am and as it was at Farley the T & T boys were all keen to get their early. Having met PK going the wrong way down a country lane we were duly the last there at quarter to 11. Not to worry as Farley thought it was an 11.30 start and only 2 of their players there as the majority of their team were lapdancing in Weymouth for their club captain's stag weekend. There were a few rushed phone calls and by the start Farley had managed to get a team together. Dopey used this time well in the nets with Andy "Goose" Rutter's bat nicknamed "Fatso" or were they talking about me.

The toss was made and Farley decided to bat first (this may have been due to their lack of numbers). Blake and skipper Potts opened the batting for Farley whilst Arsalan and Bob opening the bowling for us. After a spell of Arsalan doing a very good impersonation of Steve Harmisons dodgy radar our bowling was very tight. This brought about the first wicket when Potts took on Ager's arm and was run out by a good 15 yards. This brought to the wicket young Master Bash who was very sure of himself as most people would be when wearing a Berkshire County jumper. Thus brought about an over from Arsalan where he beat Mr Bash's outside edge 3 times before bowling him with a perfect straight ball that Mr Bash played all around.

Whilst at the other end Bob worked his guts out at the end for no avail. At the end of Bob's spell even Henry Lee the Farley umpire (who has 50 years of playing) stood and applauded Bob's spell.

Ali and Mike Blake started to forge a partnership and Ali was looking very comfortable and was playing in the style of Pietersen. Goose accounted for Blake as he bowled him with one that moved back and took middle stump. Ali looked certain to make a fifty before he thought he could launch Raj into the trees and was bowled. The Farley order rallied and even with the late arrival of Victor Cheung managed 142 all out.

Credit for the low score has to go to the fielding of some of our veteran fielders including Rags who seemed that every time he moved or touched the ball the horses in the neighbouring field cheered and in the distance you could be mistaken to hear the theme tune of Black Beauty and even Champion the Wonder Horse.

Raj and Dave opened the batting for T&T and had got us to 28 before Raj was adjudged LBW to Potts. As with many of Raj's dismissals he claimed he wasn't out. Dave went to a catch by Blake in the slips that looked not to have carried but the fielding side was given the benefit of the doubt?!!

Dopey soon went when finding the middle of the edge of Fatso and giving Blake a routine catch in the slips. Rags and Spike put on a good partnership and by the time Brian went the score was 116 for 7 the game was in the balance. Arsalan was getting some true Pakistan sledging from Bash who was sporting his Berkshire jumper whilst wearing the keepers gloves. All of a sudden there were 4 players sledging Arsalan's batting. Dopey thought he would try and even it out as umpire and point out that in order to catch Arsalan he would need to catch the ball in the first place. On inquiring it aspired that Bash was wearing his Berkshire jumper as a bet and people knew it was really Henry Lee's.

The climax of the game came when Brian was out and the chairman came in, took guard, looked at Bob with his pads on and heave Potts through mid wicket for 4 to win the game. He duly put his bat under his arm and wonder what all the bother was.

A good end to a good game and hope next year there'll be no stag weekend