Team: A Gregory (Capt) A Levy (wk), J Barker, G Williams, R Wells, P Moruzzi, K Brady, D Rollo, R Blaby, R Hill, C Knight

After Gregs again won the toss and chose to bat on a hot day, it really was deja vu on the batting front as a lack of application, poor shot selection and one dose of bad luck left the innings woefully short of a good target on a lovely track and outfield at Allenburys. Once again only the Jedi with a jug avoiding 49 came out with much credit.

Geoff fell 2nd ball a full 67 below his target (Nicky needs to improve on her visions!), chopping on a loosener from the opening bowler. However for the next few overs a sense of stability was returned with Teflon battling to see off the openers as Jedi gradually found his touch with 5 boundaries. However with the score on 39 Teflon was adjudged caught behind following a half hearted appeal from mid on (!) - to say this was a harsh decision is summed up by the opposition wicket keeper asking why the batsman was walking off.

The opening bowler, who was about to be taken off, was given a new lease of life and soon saw off both Kevin Brady and Dan Rollo. In came 15 year old Joe Barker for his 3rd team debut, only to be bizarrely dismissed after a few good looking shots, as he tripped up onto his stumps whilst playing an attempted pull shot. Benny took one painful blow (found both of them?) but just after this writer had commented that he was offering good support to the Jedi he played the most atrocious shot to be caught. Wellsy as usual came, played a couple of lovely shots and then got bowled.

Meanwhile the Jedi was timing the ball nicely and seeing off the good balls and just when it looked like a 50 was inevitable he was bowled - losing the ball again he claims (use the force!) - for 49. When Cheesy fell for a duck it looked like 100 would not be reached. In the end Gregs and Cue Ball took the score to 116 with some selective hitting putting most of the other batsmen to shame.

In reply Wellsy bowled a top class spell, with a number of deliveries being simply too good for the batsmen, who failed to find the edge. Both he and Roy saw a number of deliveries take thick edges and run away safely. Finally Wellsy got his reward with the score on 37 as Teflon snapped up the chance at the second attempt.

From there though the bowling was either not quite good enough or not penetrative enough on what was after all a good wicket. Joe put in a promising spell despite his hand almost being taken off when he attempted what would have been a fine return catch. The Cue Ball also put in a much improved spell from the one last week. It was left to Wellsy to pick up the only other point of the match with Gregs catching a skier. Wellsy took 2 for 23 from 10 excellent overs.

Overall though it turned into a lifeless display in the field and this and the batting need to show vast improvements in the coming weeks from all concerned.
 

Team: A Gregory (Capt) A Levy (wk), J Worley, G Williams, R Wells, P Moruzzi, K Brady, D Rollo, R Blaby, R Hill, C Knight

Gregs won the toss and not surprisingly inserted the opposition on what was likely to be a typical early season wicket. Wellsy and Roy both bowled pretty well with the new ball but failed to make the breakthrough (both a little unlucky to see good lbw shouts turned down) and the pressure was relieved as the batsmen took advantage of anything short. Both were perhaps kept on for over too long (easy in hindsight) as the score proceeded past 50.

John and Cue Ball replaced them but both went for early runs as they struggled to find their rhythm. In fact it could be said that to this stage things were generally rather rusty in the whole side. Cue a wicket and cue a complete change of fortune:

First Wellsy took an excellent running catch at mid on off of John and then Cue Ball took what could be the most undeserved wicket of the season as the other opener, just after reaching a chanceless 50, totally mistimed what can best be described as a 'half tracker' to see the ball spoon in the air to the waiting hands of Dan Rollo.

Drinks were taken at 104 for 2 and afterwards John and Cheesy bowled unchanged to see the last 8 wickets fall for 38 runs. In fact if it wasn't for a few lusty blows along the way that saw at least 3 sixes hit, the score could have been much worse. Both bowlers kept going nicely and vitally all the chances were taken with Wellsy picking up another catch and Teflon Sr taking 3 dismissals behind the stumps. John finished with 6 for 35 and Cheesy with 3 for 27.

Tea was taken......er, no it wasn't as our openers were asked to bat for 25 minutes first! During that time Geoff fell 35 short of his target, unusually playing down the wrong line. Jedi and Teflon Sr saw things safely through to tea and for 3 overs after tea. Then with the score on 22 for 1 disaster struck as 4 wickets fell in just 5 balls! First Teflon was harshly judged leg before (Next time use your bat! - Skip) and then Kevin was bizarrely bowled round his legs by a left armer bowling around the wicket.

Dan Rollo saw off the hat trick ball but then also fell leg before playing half forward, before John Worley was rather unlucky to edge one on to his pads and straight into the hands of one of a number of close in fielders! Wellsy played some good shots but his concentration was undone by a delay as the bowler recovered from cramp....and then found the stumps next ball.

The innings continued to subside and the only batsman to come out with much credit was the Jedi who made 25 with his new Ricky Ponting bat and was unlucky to bowled by a full toss that he clearly lost. The Cue Ball struck a few good blows to make 15 but his dismissal rather summed things up - bowled whilst going for another big hit.

Overall a big disappointment - a great effort to turn it around in the field undone by a cobweb laden effort with the bat. Hopefully this will be sorted out by next Saturday......