Bagshot 3's V Reading 4's

Reading 4's 121 all out
Bagshot 3's 125-5

Toss won, and although we have never won batting second at Windlesham, I elected to put Reading in as they have not yet won a game this season. Jack R & Chuckles opened up once more, and we got off to a great start as Chuckles bowled the opener for 1 and then Jack had the other opener caught soon after for 3. We could see the whites of his scary eyes as the ball raced off the bat straight to Adam who took it text book style. The look of relief (well mild surprise... OK shock...) as it stuck produced the broadest of smiles from him and definitely the rest of the team. Things got better as the skipper moved himself directly into the next catch at forward short leg, and Jack (mini G) got another well caught by Matthew Funnell. 25-4 and the skipper is a genius for putting them in! However the next pair decided aggression was the best form of defence, as they tried to dig themselves out of the hole. James White (mini spud) took over from Jack, and he got the next wicket which that man Scary Carey, letting us know that the belly can absorb a cricket ball if you fall back onto your backside and cradle it, held on to the catch and double his last years total catches in one game...
Chuckles had been working hard the other end and took the danger man Singh's wicket with yet another catch for Adam Carey (YES, tripling his last year's total!!). This time he took it rather well and looked self assured too. He has volunteered to give advice to the Wall when he next sees him. Paul Kelly took over from mini spud and once he found his range and decided seam up was better than spin, had them in trouble. With a wicket that rarely lends itself to bounce above knee height, he managed to get two to go over the stumps,one of which took ACAI Rice (that's not the old stereo company, that was AKAI, and it's not the Brazilian rainforest fruit ((available to buy from me in tonne lots and it tastes horrible)) by surprise behind the stumps and go for four byes. Then another change of field placing and the skipper took his second catch (methinks the oppo fancied their chances against me but they stuck for a change and I luckily did not have to move for any of them) with PK getting his first wicket. Deadly Hedley took over from Chuckles without much luck, PK nabbed another one, and then it was the introduction of young debutante, Keith Wheeler who came on the the pavilion end, bowled beautifully, getting one player stumped (although the scorecard says caught), and finished them off with another catch from the skipper. Young Keith Wheeler 2 overs, 2 wickets for 2 runs. Some debut. Well done young man. 121 all out after just over 30 overs.
An early tea which had been lovingly prepared by Adam and the future Mrs C that morning. Punching above his weight came to mind when I had the pleasure to meet the bride to be. Maybe she needed to move out of Norfolk and saw our home counties boy as a way out? Sorry, I digress as normal... A Carey tea. Beautifully prepared, good choice of sandwiches, fruit, crisps and cakes. Went down well with everyone. Great job.
PK opened with Matthew, and obviously fancied getting back to the the remaining sandwiches, as he launched the young spinner (having kept with the old ball) high to cover. 9-1 turned into 12-2 as Matthew F played completely down the wrong line and got bowled middle stump behind his legs. I am still wondering how he did that (although his dad let him know what he thought..), and mini spud and I repaired the damage until quite inexplicably, the irresponsible captain (or idiot as I like to think of him) tried to launch the young spinner over his head and skied it to the Reading skipper at mid on for 26. 49-3. Mini spud and mini G had a useful partnership until James got caught as well as the little maestro got yet another wicket 61-4. Jack and Monty Lynch then came together and eased us towards the target. Their young spinner still had something left though as he took his 5th wicket (108-5) as Jack went for 26 caught behind. Could we have another Bagshot middle order collapse?
Out strolled ACAI Rice, and with Nick now producing the full Monty of shots. They both calmly got passed the total and see us home and 25 points. Congrats to their young bowler who got 5-60 of 15 straight overs and kept them in the game.

OK... ACAI Rice. As Cold As Ice Rice. Cool, calm and collected,an elegant and smooth operator and gentleman who got us to the target with the help of the Full Monty.

An early finish, and back to the club to have a couple of jugs.

MOM: Oddly goes to Scary Carey, who took 3 great catches, produced an excellent tea nearly on a par to a Hedley, Balcombe or Funnell tea and I am willing to let him practice and improve in future. Ii can recommend Chorizo and Cheese sandwiches! He also has a lovely future bride and no doubt counts himself very lucky! Great team player too.
My thanks to Chuckles for his 3 wickets and scoring plus Barrie for umpiring. Well done and a big thanks to Nick Monty Lynch for getting us to the target (28*).
My final thanks to the Reading team, who congratulated us on our victory and said young and old played really well.

We also had about 3 or 4 supporters (one of whom had travelled all the way from Bracknell!) He has promised he might pop back next season. Thanks to you all!

Second half of the season looms with Windsor coming to the Memorial ground with us comfortably in 5th and if we can turn around some of the results, we can climb further up the table.

Thanks
Growler.