Venturers vs Winsley, Sunday July 27th

Winsley 214-3 – Venturers 200 all out

(Note: the opposition were actually a combination of Hampset and Winsley's development sides).

It was hot. It was very, very hot. Unfortunately Roger lost the toss and we were put into field with glorious sunshine and not a breath of wind. The wicket was completely out of character with our usual fair. It was rock-like and actually had cracks in it.

Kevin and Ian G opened the bowling and we saw very little other than a few deft cuts and the occasional miscontrolled swinger from Ian. Several chances were put down, a fast nick was spilled by Alex and a cut wide of Fluffy, both off Ian, should have been taken and Winsley were rattling along at 5 an over. Kevin's neck began to stiffen up again, so Matt was brought on to replace him and got the breakthrough, Alex taking the catch down the leg side. Ian bowled out his 8, but with no joy for one of his best spells. Matt swapped ends to replace Ian, with Fluffy coming on in his place. Rather bizarrely Fluffy went on to hit the same batsman twice, once in the box and once on the side of the head – fortunately his extreme lack of pace and the youngster's helmet prevented anything untoward. The runs briefly dried up, but the few tight overs only yielded one wicket – a superb diving catch by Richard at point off a loose ball.

Fluffy bowled out his overs with Ahmad coming on at the other end and mixing things up. Adam P and Roger both bowled short spells towards the end as everyone began to wilt. The third wicket was taken off the first ball of Chris' spell – the batsman not realising that once he had missed the ball, he should probably retreat back behind the crease – Alex took the stumping. There were many half chances in the deep over the course of the innings – the only ones getting near to hand were either misjudged or in one case the sight screen providing a rapid reduction in Fluffy's back-pedalling. We had 214 to chase, but the wicket looked good.

Roger and Richard opened the batting and were looking good – easily keeping the run rate under their control. Roger then pushed at one, a crime he admits he commits too often and the catch was gratefully taken by short mid-on. Ahmad came in and put on 115 with Richard, scoring 76 himself before being cleaned up. Unfortunately that was it. Everyone one else nibbled a bit at the total, but no one got going. The second change from the pavilion proved interesting. His first ball was a fast, short pitched delivery that reared at Richard's chest. Not too surprising given the wicket, unless the one step run up was taken into account. This bowler kept Steven D quiet until he fended one to mid wicket and Richard fell on 43. Ian G was the only batsman outside the top three to get double figures, and then only just. We managed to throw away all our wickets having been put in a superb position by Richard and Ahmad. We needed 22 off the last 2 overs. We got 7 off the first 3 balls before Ian G was clean bowled trying to hit the same innocuous young lad who accounted for Kevin, Alex and Fluffy.

The match and weather were generally pleasant – if we had batted first and then fielded in the cooler afternoon there is a good chance we would have won this match.

Fixtures & Results 2008