Bagshot Sat 3rd XI V Kew 4th XI

Kew 115 all out - 44.4 overs
Bagshot 116-2 -19.5 overs

The journey was an improvement on the 3 hours it took us to get to Kew (Barnes) last year......
Chuckles reckoned the company in my car was better than last year as well (sorry Santosh!).

Chuckles felt so good in fact he proceeded to open the bowling and his first 7 overs yielded only 3 runs and he nabbed 3 wickets at the same time! Adam Hendries helped out the other end into the wind. Adam bowled exceptionally well to the left hander, it was just unfortunate all their batsmen were right handed!! He was getting great movement, but as we all know it is impossible to get everything right and he was bowling the tougher end. Matt Alexander took over from Adam and had similar problems. He did produce some unplayable deliveries (some the batsmen could not reach at all and some just too good). One of the very good ones knocked back the stumps and destroyed the bail, the batsman shaking his head as he had to trudge off back to the pavilion.
With Ryan Funnell taking some exceptional catches behind the stumps, Kew struggled to gain any momentum. In the end I think they just gave up against the relentless Chuckles and tried to put a French blockade up. Unfortunately for them, Chuckles was breaking through on a regular basis. Iain Hedley replaced Matt and proved what a great swinger he is without any reward, Gunpreet was not his usual accurate self, but got a wicket as Ryan stumped their number 9 off a wide!
Only the Kew skipper offered any real resistance with the solid 48*, but Chuckles finished things off in the 45th over with the rather fabulous figures of 22.4 overs, 8 maidens, 7 wickets for 39 runs.
Kew finished on 115 all out. 3 catches and a stumping for Ryan Funnell, and a catch each for Ollie and Ryan Blake.
A top effort by everyone, but especially Mr Relentless Chuckles.

A new opening partnership of Rick Medlock and Ryan Blake set off towards the target. Both playing some great shots and getting us going at over 5 an over. All looked good until Rick feathered one to the keeper for 22, and Matt Alexander followed shortly in similar fashion with a slightly thicker edge which the keeper absorbed and then clung on. The vice skipper, Ryan Funnell went in, and the two U17's played a very mature innings. Ryan Blake caressing the ball for fours particularly square of the wicket with seemingly effortless shots. Ryan supported Ryan (F to B) really well and Ryan F finally danced down the wicket to loft a drive for four to win the game. Blake on a fanastic 65* and Funnell on 15* as we won the game in double quick fashion in under 20 overs.
A great mixture of youth and experience winning the game.
MOM: Mark Sutherland (Chuckles), an amazing bowling spell. i would be in traction if I bowled 5 overs, no idea how he does 20 plus overs week after week!
Nearly MOM: Ryan Blake. A great season's debut from young Ryan. Great maturity and patience, with great timing.

Well done guys. Great spirit in the team at the moment.

Can I wish Iain Hedley all the best in his charity 48-50 mile walk in aid of Operation Smile UK and Millie’s Trust to work and back in a day tomorrow. I hope the hamstring injury obtained during the match will not affect his great efforts. If you get lost, I think Uber operate in that area Iain...