Bagshot 3's v Reading 4's

Bagshot 3's - 300-3 dec - 44.2 overs
Reading 4's - 143 ao - 31.3 overs

Losing the toss and being put in to bat turned out to be a blessing! With Reading needing to win in order to give them a fighting chance of catching us and the other sides in a relegation battle, we opened up with last weeks young duo of Matthew Funnell and Ollie Blake.
Both looked secure as the put on an opening stand of 30, but a full toss from the young opening bowler had Ollie in two minds whether to smash it or defend it and ended up gifting a catch to extra cover.
Senior Growler joined Matthew and we worked on a "let's get two points at a time" on a very nice looking Reading track.
Matthew batted very sensibly yet again and we got to 92 without any traumas, but unfortunately got caught for 32.
Mini G (aka Mini Growler, aka Jack Rowlett) joined his dad at the crease, and following instruction from me to play himself in and take his time, smashed his first ball for 4 through mid wicket.... Anyhow, SG and MG kept adding the adding points as they put on 93 for the next wicket with a very happy dad watching from the other end. It was the introduction of a "Bomberesque" left arm round that must have scared Jack as he struggled against the left arm "spinner" and unfortunately fell 6 short of his 50, but the team total well on target to reach their minimum target of 200. Richard Nash joined the skipper at the middle and promptly showed some classic strokes around the ground (making mine look even more thuggish), as we both started to enjoy the situation. Thinking 250 would be par on a wicket like that, we decided to take the game away from them, and with Nashy reaching a beautiful 50* in the 45th over, I decided to call a halt to proceedings as we reach the heady target of 300, the skipper getting his first ton of the season.
After a splendid tea (I avoided the chips and only chomped through a few onion rings unlike some of my bowlers), we set about winning the game.
Using the old ball, we opened up with Chuckles and SuperGun"preet". Both applied the pressure and it was not long before both got their rewards as the home side got off to the worst possible start and were 9-3, and then about 20-4 with both taking two wickets apiece (Gun was even on a hatrick!). With the game meandering for a few overs, I decided to change to the new ball, and their number 5 who had not looked like hitting a ball off the square suddenly smashed it all over the ground. Mini G took over from Gunpreet, and I was just about to call a halt to Chuckles great efforts and he nabbed the key wicket clean bowling the free flowing no.5 for 61 and thus call any real hope of victory for the home side. We made steady progress thereafter with Chuckles deciding to get a wicket every time I threatened to take him off! Mini G got in on the action, and Ollie Blake also came on at the end to finish things off.
Great catches from Adam Carey, Chuckles (2), Jack Rowlett, Nigel Rice, Gunpreet and and fantastic one from Matthew Funnell, the game was over with the home side down and relegated on 143 all out. Chuckles yet again with match winning figures of 6-66 also with a chance of a hatrick)!

Everything went right for a change!!
Many thanks for Barrie umpiring the whole game, and Mike White for umpiring part of the game.

MOM: Chuckles for his bowling and his day job of scoring!
Shot of the day: Pick any one of Nashy's class drives.
Thanks to all the players. Not everyone got as much of a game as I would have liked, but you all helped in getting our revenge over Reading, made sure we stay in 6th place in the division. A win over Ascot in the last game needed to ensure we stay 6th.

Cheers to you all
Growler