Detail: 03-07-2011 - Hindhead


Result: W by 4 wickets
Hindhead Sunday 3rd July - Timed Game

With Cullinan, Clarke and Skips making season debuts (to avoid fines on Tour) this fixture had a feel of "Warm up" for the battles that lay ahead in the Channel Islands the following weekend. Skips lost the toss and put into the field, which would not have been a problem except his 2 opening bowlers (Clarke and freeman) were nowhere to be seen, however Berry and Ellen were stellar replacements and both took early wickets and built pressure that the Blues never let drop.

Mr Nick Clarke then arrived 20 mins late and jumping out the car with "you guessed it NO kit" and had to beg steal and borrow around the home and away dressing room for a set of Whites. Needless to say both he and the even later arriving Freeman continued on the slow demolition job of the Hindhead batting line up through the middle of the innings and then came Zubee adding some "spinning" control and take a couple of wickets. It was left to Gazza Cullinan to bowl 5 leg side deliveries (causing the ever youthful, but now with a seriously bruised chested, alan Porter behind the stumps to offer the skipper ?20 to take him off!!!), lure the No. 8 into a false sense of security, and then shatter the timber! At Tea (and end of time allocation) Hindhead were 8 down and leaving the Blues to chase a mediocre 161 on what historically has been a high scoring track.

After the early Loss of Mick Berry, Das (38) and debutante Luke Cousins (16) took the score up to 61 before the Blues had their inevitable wobble and were suddenly 64 for 4. Skips (33) and Rohit (32) steadied the ship and took the Blues to within touching distance of the finish line before Ellen and Zubee saw the Blues home for a 4 wicket win with plenty of time left on the clock.

Skips verdict: Professional, steady, workmanlike ..but no fireworks!!!

[updated 30 07 2011]