1st XI lost to Kempton

It was finally a day for cricket in the sun or so the forecasts suggested a couple of days before Saturday. We ended up playing most of our cricket in very windy TD - given how the season has gone so far, that was a win.

The skipper won the toss and decided to bat first. The Ben's opened and showcased probably our best opening stand of this season, or for that matter quite a few seasons. Striking at 5s an over, scoring boundaries every few balls and leaving Kempton scratching their heads in search of answers. BT was especially brutal, smoking 4 sixes over the heads of deep fielders - all 4 timed to perfection to tease the fielders just enough but comfortably landing over the (imaginary) ropes. Ben McGee admired those glorious shots from the other end, while showcasing his own adeptness at scoring in 1s and 2s and boundaries along the ground.

All good things come to an end, as did this partnership when both Ben's fell in quick succession, BT missing out narrowly on his 100 after laying as strong foundation as any we may have laid before. Sam and Riggers took charge, the former shifting gears quickly once he knew what the bowlers were doing. Riggers was unlucky to miss a straight one. Rob joined as Sam hit some great shots to keep the momentum going. At just over 200 in 40 overs, we fancied 270 but as luck would have it, Sam holed one in the air after a well-made 41, and Rob found himself short of making his crease attempting a quick single and we lost 3 wickets in the space of 4 runs, Sures being the 3rd victim of a straight one.

Jordan and Speller took the crease, the former ensuring runs through safe shots to prevent any more quick wickets but also building on the great work of the top order. Playing his first game for the 1s this year, Speller struggled to find his timing. Some good shots from Jordan and some hurried running by the lower order left us finishing on 240-9. About 25-30 short of where we could have ended but still one of our better performances with the bat overall.

We opened the bowling with Omba and Ben McGee who had given a glimpse of his seam capability earlier in the season. Omba was tight, quick and swinging it sharply in towards the off stump while Ben targeted the ribs, sometimes with the help of a bounce, sometimes without. His first full toss on the knees was adjudged a no ball to everyone's surprise, including the batsman's. The second full toss however, left no room for doubt as it hit the batter's grill, and Ben had to be taken off immediately.

Jehan stepped in and did what he does best - bowl in the right areas with all the wisdom he has gathered over his cricketing years. The opening duo were in a rush though, sometimes hitting cleanly, more often edging but getting boundaries regardless. Ben, before being taken off did get one of the openers out by one of his more effective short balls. #3 joined, mainly to spectate #1's vibrant stroke making as he smoked 7 sixes, 4 of which were in a row off the first 4 balls of one of Sam's over attracting an excited comment from the sidelines of a Yuvi-Broadie memory. Thankfully ball 5 went for a single and the excitement was curtailed, to an extent. #1 finished on 95 off 58 balls and the job had more or less been done for the others to come in and play without risks, which they did as they chased down the total in 38 overs. We lost the game and the teapot!

Another disappointing result but we go again next week, needing to win all 3 of our remaining games to have any hopes of survival in Div 4. With the quality of cricket we have played in the last few games, that is very possible, me thinks.