Steventon – Victory

Firstly, I’d like to apologise to Duncan and Peachy for dropping two incredibly easy catches off of their bowling, for which I get pig’s ear. Fortunately the rest of the team played so well that this didn’t really matter too much and enabled them to have a good laugh at their skipper throughout the game and well into the evening.

Suffice to say that we beat Steventon yesterday. It was a good spirited game with both sides enjoying the sun, the wonderful batting surface and the good natured banter.

I managed to get something right when I won the toss for the first time this season. Choosing to bat first against a perceived slightly weaker side enabled us to ensure a good bat and to ensure that I could get another pint in before I had to play.

Alan “Raffles” Mercer and Ian “Viagra” Rollinson opened the batting. After six steady overs the first wicket fell. Raffles was bowled for 13, which was a shame because he was starting to looking comfortable against the pacy opening attack. Olly “Chief Wiggum” Haine joined Viagra but it wasn’t long before he returned to the pavillion for 6 after a particularly fast ball beat the bat and split one of the bails. Wiggum did manage to play a particularly nice cut that ran through to the boundary before this occurred though.

Viagra followed shortly after this after being caught for 13. David “Muppet” Henson with his usual text book batting style played some nice shots, two going for 4 runs each. These were the only runs that he managed though, before being caught.

Now Carl “Lard” Wooloff and Barry “Threesome” Martin were at the crease and together did quite well before being caught. Lard 24, Threesome 26.

Duncan “Longdog” Wooloff put on 21 before also being caught from the first of a hattrick from Steventon’s Panting. Tweekey walked out to face a single ball that bowled him which allows him to put in another donation to the primary club.

Peachy and Colin “Naboo” Mercer faced another over before the hattrick ball was bowled taking Peachy’s wicket, an LBW for 10 runs.

Having now had 3 pints, I staggered out, spanked a loose ball into the car park for 4 and was then deceived by a straight one with 3 overs remaining. Criminal! Total: 145 all out.

Teas were up to the normal Wantage high standard. Thanks Judith for doing them and thanks also to Longdog for volunteering her.

Naboo was a bit stiff from keeping wicket on the Saturday. With no Matt Cannon or Gorgeous George around, a different wicket keeper was required. Viagra wasn’t stiff but still didn’t want to do it so Lard padded up and managed to do a very good job (only 4 byes).

Longdog and Barry opened the bowling with some pace to put the willies into the opposition. Viagra looked on in awe! The opening batsmen had a