Medstead vs Wield, Sunday 20th May
Weather - Colder than a jilted bride!!!
Match summary – Another fun game against our neighbours and a fair result
It doesn't get more village than this!!! 2 teams, 22 players (sort of!!), 2 lots of teas and 2 pitches. Wield arrived at our ground in the usual dribs and drabs only to find no opposition, as for most games we are always the second team to arrive this was somewhat unusual.
Surely Medstead had not got lost on there long commute!!!! No, with our usual communication skills we thought we were at home as did Medstead.
So with 2 tosses of a coin, 1 to decide the venue and 1 that decided we were fielding first we decamped up the hill to Medstead.
Due to batting for a little while the day before our skipper was desperate to stand down, so in a like for like replacement Harry Robson made his full debut age 10!!! With a brief look around the dressing room the average age of the team had plummeted, with Josh, Will, Simon, Aidan, Jack and Harry we were looking young and fit.....and then Max turned up!!!!!!!
Josh and Simon opened the bowling with varying results until Simon forced Alex into one lofted driver too many. Medstead's other opener Ross continued to score freely until he top edged a pull off Simon, the skyer reached Harry at fine leg who's valiant attempt was greeted by applause by everyone apart from his father!!!
Josh's rusty looking spell came to an end and he was replaced by Will. Simon finished with 2 wickets and was replaced by Aidan.
Aidan gained the plumbest LBW ever (even the batsmen appealed!!) and Will grabbed a couple as Medstead's good start petered out. Ross finally missed one and was stumped for 60 only 55 after someone dropped him!!
The bowlers getting younger came to a crashing halt when Robin and an even grumpier than normal (I know hard to believe) Dougie took over.
Medstead slumped to 110/8 so Jack was asked to bowl his first over for a year and preceded to get a wicket. A few long hops from my eldest later and Medstead finished on a reasonable 139/9.
1 of the 2 teas available were demolished and Toby and I headed out to begin our reply.
Toby started well and one fantastic straight drive that went so high it plugged, so convinced it was going for 4 we only ran 1.
Toby got one that popped and gloved one to slip. Josh received exactly the same ball but survived, only to prove his batting was as rusty as his bowling. Will joined me at the crease and the runs started to flow along with the dropped catches!!!. Will was bowled for an excellent 21 which brought Jack to the crease. With Matt Rawlings bowling full pace, Jack survived 8 overs before being caught in the gully.
Dougie grumbled his way to the wicket, refused a couple of singles (no change there then) and then refused to connect with the ball and was bowled for 2. Simon came and went quickly, before Aidan batted really well until he was caught at square leg and the stage was set for
Robson jnr jnr!!!!
With the dynamic duo of Robin and Max to come and a run rate of 10 an over there was no real way we were going to win the game so Harry and I settled in to gain a draw. Harry danced down the wicket to smash one through the covers (well smash for a 10 year old) and preceded to do a very fine impression of Sangakara. I didn't dance down the wicket to smash one through the covers (well smash for a 10 year old) and preceded to do a fine impression of someone who couldn't hit off the square!! It occurred to me half way through that Harry was being kept off strike so they could bowl at me!!!!! I was hoping he would be 12 before that embarrassment happened!!!
With the 7 overs over come the draw was secured and we walked off the field with (not for the last time I suspect) Harry leading us off with his bat raised high and me trudging behind for a thrill a minute 50!!
Tony
