After the disappointment of a wash out of the first scheduled match of 2023, this was an opportunity to blow away the winter cobwebs and get a first taste of competition for the year.

The weather had held well during the week and it was a dry day with a few high clouds. Rankins won the toss and chose to bat – no doubt with one eye on the looming dark clouds and short evening. It was decided to reduce
the match to 18 overs.

Luke and Steve opened the bowling on a pitch that was keeping low, with scoring tricky. The outfield grass was long and so runs were mainly in quick singles, which we didn’t really stop effectively. Steve picked up the first wicket bowling out one of the openers in the 6th over. Rash & Jerin took over the bowling, the second wicket was a triumph for Jerin, who in spite of having a dose of the flu managed a quick pick up and shy down of the stumps at the bowlers end for a well-earned run out. Not that I wish you to be ill Jerin but If this is how sharp you are when you are unwelll, then maybe your state of health might influence Dave’s future selection policy. In yet another piece of inspired captaincy (according to Dave anyway) I came on a bowled a straight yorker length ball which sneaked through to hit middle stump for a wicket with my first ball of the season– a first for me – the winter net sessions were not wasted after all. The batsmen never really got away and the score was consistent with no bowler conceding at high rates. Rather harshly Elmo accused me of having no cricket brain as I tried to emulate Jerin’s direct run out to no avail – I’m hoping to get a dose of flu to improve my fielding and brain for next time.
Wicket takers Me 2-22 off 3 overs and Steve 1-33 off 4
Rankins innings closed on 145/4, which we considered gettable.

Bob and Rash opened the innings and found the going as tricky as Rankins openers, both tried bravely to connect with the ball off a the rather lifeless strip. Rash hit a memorable 6 into the tree and then there was some discussion as to whether this should be counted as 6 or 4 due to the overhanging branches. Anyway 6 was given. Bob was replaced by Finn who muscled the best innings of the day making 45 including a huge 6 into the neighbouring farmer’s field. Rash holed out for a decent 22. Dave stepped in to try and move things along but Rankins bagged a hattrick with Luke and Gary failing to trouble the scorer. Brad selflessly ran hard but took a run out for the team bringing the always entertaining Elmo to the crease. I can only assume his half marathon training and success in Sierra Leone has caused a considerable weight loss, as Dave’s relentless running of quick singles left Elmo and the ladies in the crowd rather red faced as he failed to keep his trousers up, spending most of the time running in a duck like manner to try and keep them on. (PS well done Elmo for raising over £10,000 with your Formula E colleagues). By now it was rather gloomy and Rankins bringing their quickest bowler in the half-light could be considered questionable given that by then the game was gone. Dave and Elmo carried the innings to a close both finished not out on 22 and 11 respectively. Elmo raised an objection to allegedly facing 17 balls as he claimed it only to have been “no more than 11 –and at least a run a ball”
Civic finish on 119/6 – 26 runs short
A creditable effort at chasing and good turnout in the bar afterwards.

All our results will now be posted on play-cricket.com for those interested

Play of the day Jerin’s run out
Man of the match Finn
Dick of the day Elmo for his dodgy trousers