Thought for the week

I am to cricket what Dame Sybil Thorndike is to non-ferrous welding.

– Frank Muir

Northop Thirds v Irregulars 26/4/09

Format: 35 overs. Venue: Northop. Scores: Northop Thirds 131-7, Irregulars 116ao in 31st over. Result: Irregs lose by 15 runs.

A disappointingly rusty batting performance saw us open the season with what in the end was a narrow loss against a young Northop side.

They never really got going with the bat, losing both openers for one to incutters from Gerry. After that there was slightly soporific progress with just the one run-out for quite a while and I was happy to keep things ticking over in the field, spread the bowling around and wait for the big guns to arrive. Mansoor was a little under-bowled as a result but in the meantime Ushan bowled seven overs for just 14 runs.

In the end they had to enforce retirements to get Wayne Totty in but Harry picked him up first ball to a tough steepling catch in the deep that Ushan made look easy. Gerry also took a corker off Harry’s next ball to leave him on a hat trick but, despite close fielders everywhere, he didn’t quite make it.

Harry and Mansoor, who also picked up two wickets in the last few overs, kept the batsmen quiet right through to the end and I think most of us would have settled for a target below four an over – especially with such a short boundary on the pavilion side.

Having said that, a total of 36 extras, most of them wides, didn’t help matters and nor did my arthritic keeping in the absence of both Ian and Dan – Graham improved things greatly once he took over.

Still, a very gettable score but we made the worst possible start when Dan went second ball with nought still on the board. Mansoor and I repaired things a bit with the first of four partnerships that foundered in the twenties.

Bruce looked good for a while before smashing a full toss straight to the only fielder for miles, becoming the third of the top four to get into double figures and then get out. We went from 55-3 to 58-6, with Mike Hughes and Wayne Totty upping the bowling ante, and at that point it looked like we would struggle to make things respectable.

Gerry, batting at 7, had other ideas and after a circumspect start began to play the sort of shots we saw in the winter nets. He batted for nine overs with Ushan, taking the score to 87 and giving us cruel hope, before Ushan lost his head and lunged at one tossed up by the young leg spinner Rhys only to be bowled neck and crop.

Another couple of quick wickets meant the score was still only 94 when number 11 Harry came to the crease. But a flurry of fine shots, including the shot of the day from Gerry – a flat-pulled six onto the pavilion steps – meant we entered the final five overs requiring just 20 and the game was suddenly back on.

It was not to be. Gerry hit a four from Mike Hughes’ next over to bring us within 15 of their score, before being clean-bowled for a fine, belligerent 36.

A game we could and should have won if the top order had made more of a contribution. Still a great way to start the season – onwards and upwards. We will all improve for the outing.

Man of the match: Gerry for his 36 and fine bowing figures of 5-1-15-2, although Harry ran him close for his terrific opening spell, figures of 7-1-21-2 and a nice little unbeaten knock at the end.

Champagne moment: has to be the final ball of their innings in which some Keystone Kops fielding turned what should have been a dot ball into three for them. In fact they nearly ran four. And all after the ball had landed in the keeper’s gloves. “Hope we don’t lose by three,” someone was heard to mutter darkly. We should have been so lucky.