With the tropical conditions being the polar opposite to the previous week, almost all agreed that Stick was correct to invite our hosts to bowl first. Not that we could take advantage of the shade at the multisport venue that is Trojans with its notable lack of pavilion. The new Padel centre did provide some music to accompany the stroke play on display.
Sticking with the youth policy, Al and G opened up and rolled back the years with a century opening stand before G decided it was time for a sit down and poked one to extra cover. Al (76 - runs not age) carried on biffing the short ball into the car park, putting on another 50 with Lilly who was enjoying caressing it through the covers. Sam assessed the situation and concluded that it was still too hot for him out there and when Major Cranley joined Smudge at 196-4 with only 7 and a bit overs to go there was a concern that we had wilted a little and were in danger of coming up short of a truly competitive score. These two had other ideas and the home side had suffered even more in the heat. Smudge (71) plundered 31 off one over from the returning opening bowler and Cranley lived up to the name on the back of his training shirt that he chose to bat in (and get suitably fined for) by playing tip and run and scooping over the keeper. 276 looked a much more challenging target.
As is the norm these days, our hosts did not provide tea. We did! To many jealous looks from the home side we tucked into a home made chilli and budget fizzy apple, some of us wearing much of it.
Early wickets were the order of the day to snuff out Trojans’ reply. With a surprising amount of swing on offer in the conditions Roly and Tim were finding the outside edge with regularity. Everyone was puzzled when the opener edged to Al at first slip and stood there (maybe he’s a big Stuart Broad fan?); even the scorers gave the catch to Poss. Roly was denied a hat-trick of sorts when Tim (new recruit from Trojans who we did not see arriving in his wooden horse) put down a chance at gulley. Trojans put on 75 for the 3rd wicket, and whilst always behind the required rate, there was always the potential for quick scoring. Up stepped Stick who managed to slide one through at ankle height. With the hard work done and the wicket getting lower and lower, Al started licking his lips. Bowling at the stumps and watching the batters try and whack across the line proved very effective with Smudge and Cam also joining in. The last 5 batters all being bowled as the home side were cooked for 214. Cam’s aggressive leg spin forced Poss to retire hurt with only one ball left.
The first win in May for the 4s in many years and a maximum points one as well. Keep your ears out for Sticky Wicket, the new captain’s podcast, soon to be available on no good podcast platforms.