Bagshot 3s V Royal Ascot 4s

Bagshot 183 all out 47 overs
Royal Ascot somewhere between 70 and 82-2 off 10 or so overs... (website confusion)

With the forecast set for rain at four pm, I decided we would be better served batting first, as I remembered the Ascot bowling attack was not all that in the first game....
At 17-4, with Mini Growler, Matthew Funnell, Santosh and Nigel Rice already back under the gazebo, I was perhaps ruing my decision. Their opening pair of bowlers, the County U14 and someone who had not played much cricket clearly bamboozled the top order and was perhaps one of the best attacks we had faced. Even the normally placid VE pitch gave them a helping hand. Matthew and Jack R gave easy catches to mid off. Santosh and I tried to repair the early damage, but Santosh then confused the umpires, players and the fans ( plus my mate who had turned up to watch), by playing the ball defensive stylie. It stopped dead and was heading back towards the wicket... Santosh watched the ball but it luckily stopped before hitting the stumps, so Santosh then gave them a helping hand but knocking the bail of with his pad...... Given out he slowly trudged off back towards the pavillion (gazebo) while the umpires decided if it was bowled, played on, or hit wicket. Santosh returned to the wicket himself to see which option they were going for. With hit wicket decided, Santosh marched off yet again clearly satisfied that justice had been served, but leaving the team on 17-4! Telling Monty Nick Lynch, he had to stick around until the rain arrived, this clearly worked until he had his eye in, as he promptly smashed a couple of fours over extra cover and mid off. in fact Nick and Growler Major, managed to put on 59 very valuable runs. It was the introduction of the spinner that eventually proved Nick's downfall. Having hit him for a couple of fours, he tried one more as the ball span in and he was clean bowled. Monty Junior (Patrick Lynch) then got one of the best deliveries of the innings to remove the top off the off stump, and Ben Haslam going shorty afterwards for 2, and we were reeling yet again at 95-7.
Mighty Mike White, in only his 4th appearance for the 3's, came out in determined mood. We had a chat and decided we would try and get some points (hurrah I hear you say). Mike kept a resolute straight bat (less a couple of slaps across the line through square leg for 4), and the total crept past 100, then 125, then 150, and all was looking a lot better in the world, until I decided to slap a half tracker, playing it fractionally early (it hit the toe of the bat) onto the wicket thus avoiding a second jug on 94. Mike then took on the run scoring responsibility, spanking (it's acceptable to use the word in cricket now following 50 shades release) a couple of huge sixes still over square leg. Deadly Hedley and Chuckles added great supporting acting roles as we were eventually all out for 183 on the last ball of the innings, with Might White 26 not out.

The last Costco Tea of the season (I also got cocktail sausages, mini scotch eggs, and chicken goujons as a treat, plus more expensive wraps), and I think the sheer scale of my generosity affected Chuckles and Mini Growler in their opening spell, as they were carted to all parts of the ground. The seemingly funny bounce from earlier had disappeared as well as the Ascot openers looked to get a quick start in the run chase before the rain arrived. Deadly Hedley (he of tour de sonning fame), replaced mini growler and started to slow things down a bit, but it was Monty Senior Nick Lynch whose special 'kangaroo' ball which got the first breakthrough having come on for the luckless Chuckles. We are not sure how many bounces it made before clean bowling the opener, but very grateful we were as had had scored 42 in less than 10 overs. Iain Hedley then got in the act as I managed to
winch myself down to take a low catch to get the other opener soon after.
The game was turning in our favour now, and I could see things moving in our direction. Actually they were very nasty grey clouds with a lot of rain in them. It duly started raining in earnest and the game and the league season came to wet end.

MOM: Nigel Rice. He may be surprised by this as he got nought and not much to do behind the stumps, but he is just such a gentleman, plus he bought me and Mrs Growler a couple of bottles of wine and bought me yet another beer at the club.
Memorable Moment: Santosh yet again. He never ceases to amaze, and makes me want to keep playing just for the next moment.

My thanks to Barrie for umpiring once again, all the players who have turned out for me during the season, the committee for their assistance and everyone else who knows me...
Please come to the Dinner and Awards on 24th September, bring yourselves and as many other people who have enough money to buy me a drink.
Lots of Love
Growler
PS. Well done to Bagshot 1st team wining to become CHAMPIONS of Div 3b, and also Bagshot 2nd team CHAMPIONS Div 5b. We finished a solid 6th.