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The North Holmwood band wagon moved on to Ockham on Saturday 12th July in the hope of another win to send us back to the promise land, that being division II.
The previous evenings rain left doubt in our minds whether the game would actually be played or whether the promised showers would arrive and cause an abandonment. Lines Jr advised the skipper to call tails at the toss but unfortunately heads prevailed. The oppo's skipper wanted to ask his teams opinion of what to do, on the green damp strip next to the wet outfield !!! Eventually we were told that we were to bat, surprise!! Wet Weather Tyers and Lines Jr started proceedings off in dull, overcast conditions and struggled to get the ball away early on. Robin eventually went airborne on occasions that full tosses were offered up but generally it was hard to find any fluency.
The scorebook looked odd as the bowlers names were given as "Andi, you won't be able spell his last name" and later "Ravi, you'll not be able to spell his last name either". Anyway us thickies who can't spell managed to keep the book up to date especially as we were going at just about 2 an over. Robin was first to go whacking the ball in to his own eyebrow and being caught behind for 30. The chairman lasted 5 minutes for a pitiful 2 before edging to gully's midriff. Daryl then upped the tempo hitting any poor delivers to where they should go before playing around a straight one for 31. Wally 'Diego-Pele' Hammond then joined the dogged Wet Weather at the crease and tucked in to the many offerings available to him after a heavy shower had made the ball hard to control for the bowlers. The old war wound slowed 'Diego-Pele' down so much so that he needed a runner in the form of Daryl. Unfortunately Wet Weather helped run 'Diego-Pele' out whilst he was in full flow for an excellent 46. Matt Jordan and Adam Russill (Yes RUSSILL) got big fat ducks leaving the Skipper to shout to WW that he needed 4 for his fifty and then we were to declare. Unfortunately WW decided to miss a straight full bunger and Jr, squinting through his black eye with his umpires coat on, had to give him LBW. 182 - 7 off 42 overs declared.
And so the reply started in the same old fashion, Captain Cheesy bowling tightly at one end and Morgs the other, each with no luck. The openers hitting to their strong areas put on 39, chipping in front of fielders or just over their heads on many occasions. The changes were rung with Daryl and Robin introduced and success was immediate, Dazza getting the opener caught behind. Soon after with the clouds gathering a ball just short of a length found the edge and Matt in the gully did well to move 8 or 9 inches to make the catch. Wickets began to fall, therefore the runs dried up as a consequence. Morgs took a couple of catches, the timbers were rattled a couple of times and Jr took his usual blinder at short square leg, 8 down with 12 overs left and the darkness closing in. Would we fall just short again, Claygate revisited?? The next passage of play took me back to my youth when I was football mad and lived for world Cup's when Pele, Diego Maradona and Johan Cruff enthralled the crowds with their dazzling array of skills which took your breath away (You see why now eh ?!?!?). Graham Hammond stood at slip, hamstring strung (again!) and eyesight failing especially with the poor light around, crouched for Daryl's next delivery. In pounded the heavyweight bowler, fielders walking in slowly, the edge was found and as if in slow motion our hero 'Diego-Pele' fell backwards, as if chopped by an uncompromising Italian centre half, but still alert enough and more importantly skilful enough to cushion trap the ball with the ankle so it gently lofted upwards where he parried it first and whilst laying on his back, and according to slipper Savo and the ever green Jonesy he had a big smile on his face, as he clasped the ball to dismiss the batter.
I'm still not sure my words have done it justice but I am only a mere mortal, perhaps this weeks report should have been scribed by his good self. Whilst we all congratulated Wally for the catch and Daryl for his 7th wicket we had a hunch the end was in sight. A couple of balls later the keeper shouldered arms and let the ball pound in to his pads for his team mate to give an easy LBW decision for Daryl's 8th wicket of the innings. Well bowled young man 8-15! Holmwood collect 40 points and a 9th win from 11 games