We'll talk about the "quote" of the season later on in the report....

Common made the relatively short trip to Easton on saturday, to face one of the most familiar names in local village cricket, Easton and Martyr Worthy Cricket Club at their picturesque ground

Upon arriving, it was evident due to holiday commitments, that Easton were going to be playing a very young side with 8 under 17 year olds playing.

Skipper Champion, after a detour back to Common to get one of last weeks opponents sunglasses and hat, lost the toss and was given the use of the new ball by the Easton captain.

Easton Skipper Bolland (one of the over 23 year olds selected by Manager Pearce) opened with 15 year old Campbell and 14 year old Griffin. To be fair to both lads, they looked relatively untroubled with the opening spell of Champion and Jacobs.

Champion generated great pace from a good batting track and showed his famous glare against the youngsters, Campbell responded with a solid off drive for 4!!

Jacobs, bowled a steady opening spell and the batsmen found it difficult to score from his deliveries - his final over induced a lofted drive by Campbell (22) which was well caught by Ricky Swain. Jacobs finished with the tidy figures of (7-3-7-1)

The introduction of Stone into the attack brought immediate success when young Griffin cut a wide ball to the watchful Mitchell, who fresh back from his trip to Florida obviously thought it was a burger flying his way for immediate consumption, and took a regulation catch at point.

With Ben Watts also taking a wicket in his first over, thoughts of a repetition of Silchesters demise last week were no doubt in people's minds. However, the other 2 over 23's, Brian Neville (36) and Adrian Lee (47) started attacking the Kings of Spain, and built a 4th wicket partnership of 93. Both were prepared to take a few chances and whilst a few edges bought them some runs, no-one could deny them the luck they had.

Champion then played his ace and threw the ball to Jamie Watts, after an injudicious start, and an 8 ball over, he got his line and length sorted and picked up the two key wickets of Neville and Lee, being caught at Long Off by Swain and Long On by Stone respectively.

This then exposed the tail to the swing and pace of Jamie Watts, with Jamie picking up a 5 wicket haul for the first time this season, finishing with fine figures of (7.4-0-22-5). Skipper Champion also picked up a wicket at the end of the innings.

Special mention must go to Easton skipper Matt Bolland, who suicidally called young Compton for a run which was never on (the fleet footed Ben Watts runningn him out), in order to protect the younger batsmen, only to be comprehensivley bowled next ball (for a golden duck)!!!

At tea, Easton had progressed to 134 all out, which was a most respectable score against the top of the table bowling attack.

Tea consisted of a nice selection of sandwiches, although some did question the palate of the person who put together a triple sandwich which had the fillings of "Tuna and Sweetcorn" and "Ham and Mustard" but it worked.....

Starved (not of food) of their usual opening partnership, Common opened with JPJ and Mitchell, an unusual role for the latter. They faced the contrast of Matt Bolland's pace and the swing of Hampshire ladies U17 star Rachael Carrick. Both were determined not to get out to Carrick which led to the strange sight of Mitchell playing several consecutive defensive shots!!!

With the score at 70, Mitchell was unfortunate to be caught at slip after a wicked deflection off the keeper's gloves, and went for a very controlled and mature 31 runs.

Bolland was happy to rotate his bowling attack, partly because he had to due to league regulations, but also to keep the Common players alert, and the introduction of Griffin saw JPJ smash a cover drive straight down covers throat for a well compiled 37 - on any other ground that would have been 50+, but JPJ didn't take into account that Easton's ground is a natural ampitheatre and many of his shots rolled around the boundary rather than making the boundary line - none the less, another good innings from Junior!

PLEASE WELCOME TO THE CREASE MR JAMIE WATTS......

Young Rachael Carrick in her second spell and bowling superbly, saw her rabbit. I am reliably informed that Mr Jamie Watts, allegedly, stated that "Girls can't play cricket", the first ball he faced nearly bowled him off his pads, the third ball he faced comprehensively bowled him....Yes, Jamie, Girls can play cricket!!!

Common, thanks to a typically aggressive 24 not out from Ben Watts got to their target with 6 wickets and 10.2 overs to spare.

This was a good contest between two contrasting teams, but played in an excellent spirit and special mention to the "Over 23's" of Easton, Messrs Neville, Lee and Bolland for encouraging the youngsters and showing them how to play cricket in the right way.

Common consolidated their position at the top of the division and face a tough game against Sherfield next week. With the same application shown in this game, another good result will hopefully follow.