After last week, you must have thought I was done with you, well im not done, this is just the second round and we happen to be scheduled for 16.

We lost the toss and ended up bowling, probably not the worst thing that could have happened on an overcast day and plenty of bowling options.
Kidmore End Innings
Indy and Rog opened on what? Looked like a good surface. Indy enjoyed some early success as he got two early wickets. After a frustrating few overs Rog then joined in the fun and took his first wicket. It soon looked like the fairly young opposition would be dismissed cheaply. Imran came on to make an immediate impact as he also took some early wickets. It was all smooth sailing until Rizmy came to the crease and built a steady partnership with Frost. They survived a good spell of bowling from Rob who started off wayward but soon settled in to a grove. His first 3 overs went for 30 but to his credit he bowled well to finish with the figures and important wickets he managed in the end. Jordan was introduced into the attack and worked away with Scot Stroud who also bowled a consistent line and length on a difficult pitch for bowling coupled with a quick outfield and short boundaries. Rizmy provided the runs as he finished on 156, unfortunately for him he was out done by a lifting delivery from Scot and a well held catch from Rob. We managed to get them all out but it was a handsome total as they reached 245 all out. A sizable total the size of which we had not chased down in recent years and we all knew it would be challenging but probably no match for the awesome firepower of the Third XI batting line up!

Kidmore End were no doubt the happier of the two teams at team and quite rightly. But it’s not over until the fat lady sings and at tea there was no fat lady or singer let alone a fat lady who sings. Luckily there was still half the game left to play. It was an eventful tea, with the usual banter and many questions being asked, mostly all starting with WHAT?

It was myself and Ben who got the innings underway but just before I walked out into the middle I was greeted by a few of the youngsters in the opposition. They had a few words for me. I didn’t really pick up what they said, so I said What?..... they mumbled something again so I said What? And then they thought better of it. Ben looked in really good touch and played some of the best pull shots of the day. Between us we managed to rotate the strike and keep the opposition on their toes. We managed to push the score along at a rapid rate and I picked up a 50. The score was on 77 when I was out bowled to Rizmy, it must have been his lucky day! This brought Rog to the crease needing one run to bring his career runs to 6000. No doubt he was able to and then some. Ben was next to go but he batted very well for his 32. Imran and Rog went along nicely and found the boundary at regular intervals. Rog was next departing for 41. This brought Alan to the middle who formed a unique partnership with Imran as they have their own method of running between the wickets, a method which involves minimum running and alot of boundary hitting. Imran cleared an almighty 6 and finished the innings with 49 with Alan also on 41 not out with plenty of boundaries and some good straight drives.

More points in the bag and back to back wins, possible the best start to a season in 3rds history. So give yourselves a pat on the back, we did it. 5 batters getting scores is better than 1 and 5, bowlers getting wickets is good too. Great all round team performance now let’s keep it going.
That’s it that’s all, I’ll keep it short and sweet, I haven’t got time to sit here and talk to you all day, what are you paying me again,,,, what?? OH right, I thought as much.

Till next time.

A Ahmed