Detail: 01-09-2013 - Tilford
Result: Won by 2 wicket
Mighty Blues power to victory! Tilford 218 all out Blues 220-8
The Blues juggernaut got back to winning ways yesterday at the picturesque Tilford CC. Clark snr ably stood in for 'tossing' duty and promptly lost it after Metson took a wrong turning to the ground! The Blues took to the field at a typically slow pace but everybody's enthusiasm was soon lifted at the incessant chirping of Rich Clark who managed to appeal unsuccessfully every time the batsman missed the ball. Clark and Tinky opened the bowling well, skilfully allowing the ball to be hit regularly for six onto the adjacent road in order to scuff and soften it up for the spin duo of Zubee and Appleton. Despite having an awful blister on his foot the brave Appleton bowled a tight spell with some prodigious leg spin. Zubair and Aqib though were arguably the pick of the bowlers taking 3 and 4 wickets apiece. Tink, Sam and Appleton each took a wicket apiece. A special mention must go the premier Blues fieldsmen of Ronnie and Cormac who both snaffled catches. Cormac has all but secured the Fielding trophy this year for taking an excellent diving catch just inside the rope. * However he was also reprimanded for rolling up a fag on the hallowed Tilford Green ( A recent parish council ruling outlaws such activity)
An excellent tea (when is it not?) was enhanced with the following fascinating topics: Are there Barracudas in Woolacombe bay? (Cormac) Why did Steve turn down a ticket for the fifth day of the Ashes? (Steve)What was the analyst Simon Hughes playing at when trying it on with Nick Clark's missus? (Nick)
The Blues began the run chase with aplomb, Al going for a duck (guarantees he'll play for the Blues again) and Tinky following soon after to show some solidarity with the batting woes of his compatriots this summer. Nick Clark steadied the good ship Blues and reached a typically classy 50. The bespectacled Appleton promised much but was hampered by that aforementioned blister. Metson did a good job of jug avoidance to reach 80 ably assisted by Zubair and then Aqib who hit the winning boundary to complete a lovely day of Cricket in the sunshine!
*The dive was to stop a certain boundary going one bounce over the long on boundary. The catch was a comedy of errors- as someone said: ?you did not instil confidence?. I was fielding in the same position, under a ball lofted in my direction, but my gyroscope was out, because the field has a 5% slope in the direction of the ?Barley Row?-on- Wey ? where Tinkster went looking for one of the boundaries, having spotted an attractive barmaid serving inside. Anyway, bereft of my homing senses, I decided to wait for the ball to reach me i.e. Mohamed will come the mountain. After a seeming eternity, as the ball began its descent, the pit of stomach told me I had made a serious error, and I began to advance on what I foresaw would a certain gravesite for my future selection for ?Blues CC?. Miraculously the ball logged in two hands just above my shoe laces! Luck of the Irish, I call it! Sadly this has not been the case with my batting of late. It should also be recorded I did manage to evade the Parish Council ruling by moving my rolling activities onto the one of the two roadways ? which form boundaries of the Tilford ?Oval?.
[updated 02 09 2013]