www.northholmwood.com

North Holmwood 226 a/o - Shepperton 80 a/o

On a beautiful, hot day at North Holmwood the opposition asked their hosts to bat first. Graham Hammond and Darren Jordan started brightly with Wally happy to have his favourite bat back as two powerful boundaries looked like the start of an onslaught until he played on to a fuller delivery. Darren was making hay at the other end creaming the ball to the boundary early on. Ollie Wall came in at 3 and scratched around for a couple. The Chairman joined the opener and a solid partnership started, Elliott yielding his new blade started cautiously but eventually got back in to the hitting mode. Jordan by now donning his floppy hat even managed a six, 1 more than Steve Edwards it was noted, on the way to 76 before being caught well on the deep square leg boundary (all 35 yards of it!). Elliott had reached his fifty before walking past a straight one. Ghilas Lounis (aka Ghoulash) offered up an easy return catch with his new bat for the first duck of the day. Richard Cairnes took 7 off the only over he was at the wicket and must learn the art of patience to go with his very good hand to eye coordination, then I'm sure more runs will come. Ian Page using his 'new' bat got under one and skied to deep mid on for the 2nd duck of the day. Alex Wyatt then used his Savo like technique to smite 19 runs at a run a minute.

Andy Morgan on a pair after the day before's vigil looked nervous and rode his luck before THE run he wanted came, after that 20 more came in quick succession. Captain Mike Cleal then made a costly error, stumped for 2. Costly in fines I hear you thinking, NO costly in the damage done to his trusty blade that was the vent for his frustration! Photo to follow. Daryl Goff finished the innings off with a brisk 15. Top bowling efforts came from the opener Jas Kooner and later Fraser Jones who's deceptive pace deceived a few of us (apologies if I've miss spelled names!)!

Tea, lovely as always.

In reply the brothers Mike and Alex opened and bowled good tidy lines. Alex Wyatt finishing with 1-17 from 6 and Mike Cleal 3-16 off his 8.

Morgs replaced junior and bowled with venom before tiredness forced his removal only to be replaced by Dazza. From the other end Elliott was bowling very slow hoping to tease the batsmen in to giving their wickets away. Luckily they did as he returned figures of 4-21 from 7.4 overs. The Jordan/Wall combo caused a run out probably because the umpire was blinded by the brightness of Ollie's new keeping kit. All out 80 in 30 overs meant an early finish to watch England beat India in the Twenty20.