On a glorious May afternoon the teams assembled for a rearranged fixture happily reinstated on Friday afternoon following the potential withdrawal of “the other” UWE side. Again the pitch number list was incorrect and as the University 2nd X1 were playing their Welsh counterparts on the main square we retired to pitch 3, the scene of Tuesday’s almost miraculous but ultimately vain chase of 180 or so in 20 overs.

Having agreed a timed game and confident we could now chase 300 on that pitch with Luke again in the line up, the captain won the toss and chose to field. (It is becoming clear that when the captain canvasses advice among the team before the match he is really waiting just for someone to agree with his already set ideas whatever the majority think and this week Mike duly obliged).

It was time for one of the Venturer’s occasional tricks to unsettle the batsmen (in this case two boys young enough to be the Umpires sons/ Grandsons and given some of the decisions they most probably were!) Two slips duly posted for regulation edges from Duncan’s firey outswingers down the hill and Mike’s accurate bowling UP THE HILL. Our score book (kept meticulously once more by our lone supporter Cat) records that Blue helmet and Green helmet proceeded serenely to 50 each but it was not really like that as sharp chances and near misses were were created almost routinely.100 was however posted before Rhodri bowled Blue with a sharply dipping full toss that ripped through his defence and sent the stumps flying. On a different day we might have insisted it was a no ball and let the lad stay but his partner’s refusal to walk for a regulation edge heard by all but one, two or more missed chances in the slips (Adrian where are you!) and Rhodri’s earlier fumble had changed the mood and off Blue went.

In sharp contrast to Tuesday’s match the bowlers did not suffer from short balls spanked in to field but generally kept their line and length to allow straight shots only and Luke especially was a star in the field restricting boundaries and sending in sharp throws to Betty at the stumps with Mike also responsible for some great defensive fielding down by the rugby posts. Paul “Betty” Martin also caught a regulation skier from Rhodri’s bowling clearly only because he was wearing gloves!

James D bowled 7 overs for 23 (mentioned soley because the author then only made a feeble single with the Kahuna later) and was supported ably by Paul Snow with 4 good overs before it became clear that as tea loomed Simon and partners (170-2) were going to hit and run so we turned to Kartyk and Adam to stem the flow.

Adam bowled something akin to “that ball to Gatting” first up and Simon departed bewildered. But it is hard to defend on that pitch and as we retired to tea (real milk this time but what has happened to the tea bags!) we were looking at 235 to win and it was already 5.45 before we were ready to go again.

Generously the Captain’s agreed to change the match terms so they would bowl 40 overs for us to get the runs or survive for the draw.

Time for another historic inning from the Venturers as the openers Steve L and Adam strolled confidently to the wicket. The youth formerly known as Blue helmet opened down the hill, bowling what was later described as steady medium pace although it looked quicker from where the scorers sat. Beefy (or BFG as recorded by Cat) bowled innocuous medium pace up the hill and duly accounted for both the openers cheaply. Luke threatened briefly to repeat his Tuesday heroics but sadly it was not to be and after a few lusty blows for 11 a straight one from Blue Boy found him out. With Duncan “I can’t bat” Lee and “Betty” Martin now together as the core of the Ventures batting it might seem we were looking at a stolid fight for the draw but nothing was further from our minds as Duncan and then Paul got into their stride.

Few who were present to witness Duncan’s maiden fifty will forget his two spanking sixes from the bowler’s apparently misguided attempt to trap the batsmen with his spinners. Fewer still will recall the muted applause that met his milestone as we all waited for the hundred there for the making. But Duncan waiting for accolades from the boundary could restrain himself only so much and on asking how many he was on was duly told he had 70 before he hit the next ball down to Beefy at long on to be caught. His comment “Thank-you you morons” regarding the lack of audible applause at 50 can only be an aberration brought on by disappointment.

Paul “Betty” Martin (16) was playing with increasing confidence before being caught off the bowling of kid B (front runner for the season award for being out to the shortest/ youngest bowler). Mike W contributed with a great knock of 35 in his usual professional manner and kept the Venturers hopes alive. However, at the loss of his wicket James D and Rhodri perished cheaply unsure whether to have a crack at the 35 or so runs needed or bat out the remaining 4 overs. This left John Harris recording his own best ever score of 27 (not out again!) to shepherd first Kartyk and then Paul Snow through to the end. Thus the stage was set for a true Venturers climax.

Kartyk, back to his best, was batting with the Kahuna and finding the elusive middle played some sparkling shots including a sublime straight drive for four glorious runs. However, unable again to restrain himself he was bowled for 15 and the last man Paul Snow arrived at the wicket to survive 3 balls. John, helpless at the non-strikers end could only watch in horror as after surviving the 4th ball, Duncan the umpire gave a generous wide before judging the batsman LBW from the penultimate ball of the match. Duncan was later heard to say –“I couldn’t not give you out, back foot right in front mate” as he purchased the jug of beer. Next time we will all remember to applaud louder!