Odiham vs Wield, Sunday 18th July
Weather: Warm and sunnyish.
Match summary – A welcome return to form for Lord Flashheart could not stop the not-so mighty Wield from (as my children described it) a SHELLACKING!!!!!!!
After some confusion over start time (we thought 2.30 they did not), Wield were put into bat in a new and unheard of format (for Wield) a 40 over game!!!!!
After much discussion I was told I was opening with Toby, I screamed NOOOOO!!!!, Toby screamed NOOOOO!!!! everyone else screamed YES!!!! and I opened with Ed.
Currently in the biggest slump since The Great Depression, Ed took to the field in a calm but worried state, this soon increased to a state of panic after 754 wafts outside his off stump. Not having seen Ed bat before this wafting seemed to rile the opposition (thanks Ed) into some aggressive and tight bowling.
After this quiet start Ed finally got into his stride and the opening partnership went past 50, a couple of close LBW shouts later and Robin (umpiring) was also taking stick. Odiham's all-rounder Rob finally got Ed bowled for a season saving 45 and was heard asking Robin if that was close enough.... or words to that effect!!
Dougie arrived and we had big hopes of adding to the 93 run opening stand. One great flick off his legs and Dougie skied one to mid-off for 5... and so went our chance of quick runs and a big target. Toby came and went playing square off a straight one ....again!! The Fromes came and went without bothering the scorers too much and I was finally out for a painstaking (according to Dougie and Yorkie) 76........ Painstaking???? I hit 9 fours, that's more than I hit all last year!!!!
There was only time for Yorkie to get his usual not out and the innings closed on a reasonably respectable(ish) 150.
The Teas were excellent and we managed to watch Paul Casey mess around in a gorse bush and lose The Open (and his ball for a while).
We took to the field with our usual battery of fast bowlers (none) hoping 150 would be enough to at least make a game of it. Dougie opened the bowling and 2nd ball bowled their opener and we were off to a flying start. This unfortunately did 2 things, one fill us with some hope and two bring the aforementioned Rob to the crease. With a burning injustice (thanks Robin) and a very heavy bat he preceded to hit Dougie, Yorkie and Robin out of the attack (if you could call it an attack).
Rupert took a consolation wicket and Odiham headed for victory with the only thing likely to stop them, laughter from some quality village moments!!!
With Max's injury jinx continuing (old age) he seems to have passed on the cricketing skills to Harry Blackman, three times the ball went sailing high towards Harry at Deep Mid-Off and 3 times Harry made sure he wasn't going to drop a catch by running in a completely different direction!!!! This in it self is not unusual for Wield but the fourth time we all turned and shouted "catch" Harry was no were to be seen...... a quick toilet break behind the sight screen had put paid to that chance!!!!!!
The game continued towards its inevitably swift conclusion, Andrew Frome came on and sped things up with a truly excellent over that unluckly went for 33!!! Finally with Rob needing a four to win the match and score his hundred there was time for one last chance. Dougie bowled, Rob skied it and Will dropped it. It was a fitting end to a shoddy performance.
Rob walked off with a hundred and Odiham had shellacked us by 8 wickets in 19 overs..... Go Wield Go Wield!!!!!!!
Tony Robson
