www.northholmwood.com

Again I apologise for this report. I drew the short straw as I'm not here next week.
Saturday 17th May 2008 bought the turn of Westcott to attend Inholms Lane. We have had three weeks of the North Downs League season and this week bought the third different weather condition. So we had cold vs Claygate, blistering hot vs Ockham and today was raining. Don't know why but my preference was Ockham.
 Cheesy strode to the wicket and surprisingly won the toss again. Now he is getting good at this, as they say practice makes perfect!! I think he must be on a bit of a roll. As he had won the toss and it was horrible weather, there was the fear that we would probably not get 90 overs in, and as a result perhaps we could dictate the game more chasing.
So the scene was set, we had a capacity crowd in attendance, although it was suggested that maybe they were present for the cup final - never!! Daryl started the bowling up the hill and with an amount of zip and movement, bowled a nagging length to the opening batsmen. I do believe he could be classed as the new Andy Anderson as he constantly digs vast canyons upon arrival at the bowling crease!! As Daryl was plugging away up the hill, Cheesy was getting the same amount of movement from down. Again I want stray a little and add that Welly fielded in the slips, which was nice as I looked exceptionally slim next to him, then he went to Cover and filled it all himself. (Malc told me to put that!!)
With both bowlers bowling excellent wicket taking deliveries, it wasn't long before the visitors were one down, although it could have been sooner….Welly!!! Cheesy bowled a lovely away swinger, caught the edge of the bat, Welly dived from second slip (my god it was just like test cricket) and then.. well Welly shelled a dolly. But all was not lost as only 12 runs later again Cheesy caught the same edge, I'd just like to say everyone thought 'Oh no not again', but they were saved when the ball went high to the safe hands of Goffer - an excellent catch. So this bought the No.3 to the wicket. First ball Cheesy hit him on the pad plum in front of the stumps and the Umpire unbelievably gave it not out. I won't tell you what the skipper said.
Cheesy wrapped the batsman on his pads a few overs later, and I think fear meant the umpire raised his finger. He was out too!
The fielding within this side was excellent. Many shots were fired to within diving rage of our fielders only for them to dive full length and save runs. A few examples were;
1) Adam who chased the ball all the way to the boundry only to slip and kick it over for four.
2) Adam again who swooped from square leg to field the ball, only to slip again on the astro-turf.
3) Morgs who fielded the ball excellently from mid-on and when trying to throw it whilst laying on the floor, looked like a man with a prostethic arm… he will now be known as Roy Munson.
4) Wally who had a simple ball hit gently to him, and I mean directly to him, only for him to dive and parry it saying he saw it late. (It’s the eyes you know!!)
Seriously though the fielding was of the best standard and a joy to watch. There was excellent diving stops from most of out field which must have saved 20-30 runs.
Cheesy continued and bowled another batsman, although he was only seven and a half. And then the bowling change of Morgs up the hill. He bowled one, had one caught behind by Robin and then proceeded to clump Robin square in the plums. 'Ding-Dong' I heard, just as if Leslie Phillips was by my side. The excitement didn't finish there from Morgs who had a ball gently hit back at him only for him to spill another. He was not happy at the ribbing he got, although next ball he did bowl the same batsman, so perhaps it didn't cost us too much.
Then Cheesy replaced himself with debutant Matt Jordan. Although he did bowl a number of full bungers he did catch a ball hit back at him. Innings over, Morgs please take note with the technique side of things. So with Westcott only making 59, Cheesy had 4-22 and Andy Morgan 3-12.
North Holmwood turned straight round, as there was immense fear about the rain which was still falling steadily.The comment in the dressing room was from Nobby "So were batting as usual and re-assess when the rain gets harder". This was agreed by Cheesy, so when the first ball was slapped over mid-off, 3rd ball swept to square leg and 11 in total from the first over, I think it's fair to say I forgot what Cheesy had said by the time I got to the wicket.
2nd ball of the next over I tried to pull to the leg side, top edged into my own head (ouch!!) and this looped up to the keeper. The next over Robin was bowled by a leg stump yorker and all of a sudden things weren't to merry. Welly made seven before he left a straight one, silly boy, and Andy Guest was again bowled for 16. It’s a good job we were only chasing 59. The result was never in doubt though, as we had the youth and experience of two hitters to come. Wally (obviously the experience) biffed a couple of balls to the boundary like he was slapping a steak and kidney pie, and Daryl cut a few lovely boundaries.

It was the eleventh over when we got the runs required, and thankfully the game was over before the rain ruined us all. Another excellent win for North Holmwood, keep going like this and we'll have a better home record than Chelsea.