Apologies for lapsing into verse but far better I did that than vent a hail of expletives and bile directed against "late" drop outs. 't where but nine of us gathered at the pub and we, unsurprisingly, were back there again in good time to enjoy more ale after being soundly defeated. Hold your heads up high, you brave few who ventured onto the field. We did our best, which is all one can ask, and can say we witnessed Jez not only hooking the ball (fending it off his face?) for six but also see the same in "demon bowler" mode cause one of the oppo to retire hurt requiring stitches in his lip (we wish him well...)! 

I won the toss and had no hesitation in batting. Skidders was shocked to be asked to open the batting but opening your account with a six shows the man can adapt to anything! Sadly, both he and Nick departed with the score at 15 leaving Bruce and Barry to rebuild the innings. Barry was enjoying himself but unluckily gloved one that looped up down the legside to the keeper introducing an "out-of luck/touch" Rob to the crease. Maybe dropping down the order did the trick for him as he showed the flair and form of which we all know he is capable. In partnership with the ever dependable Bruce, it looked as if Graveney would recover to post a creditable target but the canny Rowan accounted for Rob and, after brief sojourns for Messrs O'Driscoll and Eveleigh, Bruce departed for a well crafted 57. That left "the Two Daves", Chappell and Moody to slap, tickle and hop a final partnership of 26 before the latter suffered his second LBW in as many weeks. 

The tea was as delightful as ever - would mini Cornish Pasties be to your taste, Bunnie? - and, after some confusion caused by the skipper, Eveleigh and Gray opened the bowling, both finding good rhythm but not much luck. Bazza picked up the opening wicket, courtesy of a sub fielder kindly provided by the opposition. In fact, he had only been on the field for one delivery (the one he caught) as the oppo decided to rotate their "kindly proffered" subs in the continuing heat. The skipper continued to rotate his bowlers in an effort to gain further break throughs but that didn't arrive until Skidders induced the batsman to sweep the ball into his mush. Our only other success arrived through Rob picking up the oppo's skipper courtesy of a tumbling catch by Skidders at point. The end arrived with many overs to spare but at least that meant we could enjoy a lengthy spell in the beer garden. 

Man of the Match vote went unanimously to Bruce Graham for his 57 in our innings and that man Gray is making a late dash for the "Champagne Shield". Forget third umpires, forget stump cams, forget hawk-eye what cricket needs next is "brown-eye" cam. The indomitable Bazza on his knees (again...) facing away from the stumps but still appealing for a run-out!!! Only "brown-eye" cam could have given him the view he required to see whether the batsman was in or out. Or do you have eyes in the back of your head, Barry?