02 May Flackwell Heath (Away) Won by 64 runs

What a great way to start the new season off - a win !  It certainly wasn't an easy one with Flackwells opening bowlers asking a lot of questions for Fat Bloke and Roll On to attempt to answer....what is the capital of Afghanistan, for example.  Roll On was dismissed by an absolutely unplayable delivery that swung, seamed and spun - anybody saying it was a head-in-the-air swing of the bat must be mistaken.

Animal came and went without troubling the scorers and it was down Stanners and Fat Bloke to steer us past the magic 16 figure before we could relax. Scoop joined in the fun with a typical cameo innings (who remembers when he could hit the ball off the square ?) before our own Ginger Spice came in an destroyed some bowling figures with some lusty blows including a straight six that almost hit the fielder when it bounced off the tree 40 foot above him !

Some great hitting by stand-in skipper Chodmeister helped us to a respectable total of 154 but would it be enough ?

Fortunately, a catlike performance behind the stumps by Roll On (two Test class catches and a clean sheet) inspired the team and we bowled out an impressive Flackwell with 5 balls to spare ! Obviously the bowlers did their part but that's what they're paid for, innit ? Actually, the lads bowled really well with Uncle Hugh rolling back the years and playing like a man 10 years younger.....still making him about 73 by my reckoning....

I can't let this match go, however, without congratulating Animal on equalling my 8 year record for outfield catches in a match....obviously his were all dollies whereas my 4 against Amersham were screamers....

Man of the Match : Dave Williams (Ginger Spice) 88 points