What a glorious day! The Chairman, Chairlet (Max) and Jez Sheldon were the first to arrive at Stonegate at around 11.30am. Jez was nursing some very sore ribs that had been cracked a couple of days earlier whilst bonnet-surfing in London. Bonnet-surfing is similar to free running but is involuntary and primarily involves aged Nissan Sunnys, whose owners offer compensation by way of the gift of a pineapple. Anyway it became immediately apparent that the jeu du jour would be to tell Jez as many jokes as possible in oder to make him laugh……
Without the skipper present, Gazebos were duly erected in an atmosphere of strange calmness. However, sometime later, two were blown over due to lack of ground adherence and I’m sure I espied the upturned twitch of Neilo’s knowing smile.
Barbies were fired up, meat was sealed, roasted and consumed, along with plenty’o’ale and rosé (for the girls and Fotherington Thomas’). The teams had already been selected by The Chairman, so we were spared the hulabaloo normally emitted from The Triumvirate of Angst ( I leave you to guess who….). Thus, at a late start (no!) we commenced the 13th MMMMMMMMMMMM with a 30 over game ahead of us.
Skilbecks opened the show and (or should that be ‘but’), after three overs it was clear that an invidual’s runs would have to be limited to 35, as the elusive Mark Nicolls stormed to 20 with a cannonade of enormous sixes and sizzling fours. Thence ensued a pretty solid batting performance by the first seven batsmen, with Nicolls (35 rtd), MacIndoe (14 run out), Ross (25 ct) and Grigson (20 not out) included. Young Jake Clifton scored two more than his father, by clocking up 2 in his inaugural MMMMMMMMMMM. Mind you, with the state Tobes was in when he reached the crease (well done for getting that far) it wasn’t really surprising. Bowling was dutifully shared, with the pick of the crop being Robin (2 for 12 off 4) an Ant (3 for 13 off 4). As the last ball was bowled the the score moved to 156 for 10 (12 a side remember) and a visibly relieved Cambiz (No. 12 bat) removed his pads.
Tea was devoured and The Grigons took to the Field. The first five Skilbecks batted solidly amassing over 70 off the bat, with further contributions from Messrs Bye, Wide and Leg Bye. Aside from the unfortunate ducks of Dixie Dean and Tom McKenzie (apparently both intentional) the latter order did a fine job and the day was won with Jamie Flint on 25 and Ant Lund 17, with 1.3 overs to spare. Bowling worthy of mention : Nicolls (2 for 21 off 4) and Clifton T. – obviously fortified by a few Alka Seltzer and pint of tea – (2 for 11 off 4).
The day was rounded off by a jolly gathering at the Bull, complete with cup presentation and tales of ‘gwate dehwing do’ .
Particularly good to have young Ned Grigson and Jake Cliftom playing their first game, and, also being deflowered, Alex McKenzie who scored 13 more than his father.
Big thanks to all invloved with their contributions of cakes, bodgelies and salads.
HUSSAR the Rascals……
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment