Good evening one and all and welcome back for another season. Admittedly a little later than planned thanks to the moistness we have all experienced. Anyway, off we go again.
As has become customary I sit here on a Sunday evening, limbs heavy and with a light heart. The heavy limbs unusually cannot be blamed on running around yesterday, i blame the rose I had for lunch and the shiraz i am supping now for that. The light heart comes from a rather splendid weekend spent with family and friends with seared meat and brown booze. Oh, and a comprehensive victory against that lot from over the river.
At last, Saturday dawned without a cloud in the sky. I wondered whether Boris Yeltsin is still alive as i surfaced from my slumber. (I have just checked. He isn't.)
I should state that I hold Yeltsin to account for the demise of Didcot B Power Station. If he were still alive he would be personally responsible for the axe hanging over the Field of Dreams. Communists and hippies are a threat to cricket everywhere.
The Field of Dreams looked fantastic yesterday, green and lush with a sheen of expectation hanging in the air. The warm up was top quality and set the tone for what was to follow. As 'That Lot From Over The River' walked through the gate I felt proud. We have one hell of a team, and we looked like it.
I willed the coin to fall in our favour against a team with a reputation for wanting to avoid defeat. It did. We will bowl. Hurrah.
It was quite warm yesterday. I honestly don't think one person mentioned it, such was our focus.
A couple of fine opening spells from The Prodigal Son and Northern Gravy kept things tight with the run rate hovering around two an over from the first 15 or so. Plenty of threat and plenty of good batting and a little luck meant that only one wicket fell. Didcot on top at the first drinks break. A wicket or two more would have been nice though.
TLFOTR opener batted nicely for a well composed fifty and was well supported lower down the order to put TLFOTR in a potentially commanding position with 9 overs left. It looked as if we would be chasing 250 plus. I think it was Pritch who suggested we should try to get the last few wickets for as few runs as possible. Good advice.
196 for 5 in the 44th turned into 217 for 9 after 53. Momentum had swung. We knew it, even if TLFOTR didn't. The Prodigal Son marked his return to the Field of Dreams with 4 for 57. Don't tell him, but he probably deserved a pfieffer. Dave was well supported by the rest of the bowling unit and our fielding remained at a high level despite the heat and its effects on concentration levels. A thoroughly professional performance.
Tea was taken on the patio, the melons were a highlight and wonderfully refreshing.
I felt we would chase 217 and win, I didn't think we would make it look quite so comfortable though.
Prtich and Tubes were in the zone before the innings had started. They started at quite a lick and had the 50 up inside 9 overs. They made it look far easier than it actually was. The 100 partnership followed and then the 150. Three highlights for me; firstly the running between the wickets was excellent (as long as we discount the the running once that had got past 180, which was frankly appalling); secondly Tubes signature shot - the shimmy followed by the punched on drive for 4; finally Pritch's off drive - disdainfully dispatching the ball. They stayed together until 198 when exhaustion got the better of Vet Pritch. Matt joined Tubes for long enough to stop him getting a ton in his maiden innings and we won by 9 wickets with plenty of time to spare.
Winning felt good. Especially as we had to work very hard for it.
375 more points to play for, our quest has begun.
