Who invented starting a game of cricket at 9.30 on a Sunday morning? Anyway, the ten of Black Stuff took on the nine of WOCC. Actually, BS (I rather like that abbreviation) started out taking on the seven of WOCC until the stragglers finally arrived, bleary eyed and half dressed. Harding and Pierce opened for BS against a lively if a little wayward early on Phil “Damn!... Nein! ... Man!” Burleigh and official ringer Richard Neale on loan from D&F for three overs or two wickets and 25 runs only. It would be fair to describe the conditions as overcast as it was actually raining at the time. This helped the ball move and slowed down the outfield a little. Jem Pierce was as solid as ever which is surprising when you consider that he bats back to front. All the WOCC bowlers bowled well and wickets fell regularly despite a couple of juggled chances going to ground. Mark Fitzgerald bowled very well, his excellent quick ball cleaning out two batsmen bowled and picking up an lbw on the way to 4-36. Only Singhv offered any lasting resistance hitting some beautiful straight shots but an ill-advised single off the last ball of an over took him away from the strike during the last partnership and the very next ball BS were all out for 129 after only 28 of a possible 32 overs.
In now glorious sunshine, the WOCC openers Heath and Mees strode to the crease and five balls later Mees strode back again. 2-1. Tim Andrews clipped a lovely shot off his ankles to leg and was brilliantly caught by Singh at square leg. 24-2. Phil Burleigh joined Will but was also out to a fine low catch for not many. 42-3 with some fine batsmen out for only 9 runs between them and WOCC effectively 42-5. Jitters under the wind destroyed tents as WOCC batsmen padded up. Cometh the hour, cometh the man, they say and in came Jeroen Van der Knoop, eyes now open, to join Will who was batting well and scoring at the other end. Both batted purposefully and took the score to 129-3 when Jeroen was out exactly as Tim Andrews had been, Singh taking another excellent low catch. All that was left was for Will to spank another four to take him to 60 not out and to take WOCC across the winning line.
The last word of thanks goes to Black Stuff for the excellent petit pain au chocolat we had between innings.
Black Stuff 129 all out. Singhv 31*, Pierce 24, Fitzgerald 4-36, Galliver 2-17, West 2-34
WOCC 133-4, Heath 60*, Van der Knoop 30.
Mike West