Your author arrived at the match an hour late so the initial phases of the game will not be thoroughly documented! Vice-Captain David Sheppard led the team into the field and rightly gave each player two overs. The Hospital team kept things very tight and Peter Symonds only crept along at 4 an over. Milon returned figures of 2-0-5-1, John 2-0-4-0 but Vik impressed with 2-1-1-2. Well done.

After 15 overs, Symonds were on 51/4 and it looked likely they would get a small total. However, in strode A level psychology teacher Tom Stannard who got well stuck in smashing a quick fire 29 including four 4s and a 6. Tom Gilpin got his revenge by bowling him with a beautiful fast delivery. Next in for Symonds was hockey coach Laura Pitfield. Gilps thought he would try his off break and on his first ball with a Murali-esque action, he produced a rip-snorted that turned from outside off to hit the leg stump. What a ball! Clare Thrower faced the potential hattrick and with everyone round the bat, defended the ball back to Tom.

Symonds finished on 106/7 in this 20 over match so game on! Of note, we leaked 36 in extras!

Sheps and Tom opened the batting against Prall and Price and they found life difficult. Prall was quick and accurate and Price made best use of the slow and inconsistent bounce. Tom fell first for 8, stumped after charging a short ball and then Sheps was out C&B for 4. Nish and skipper Davies steadied the ship with a decent partnership. Nish hit two 4s on his way to 11 and Rhys two 4s and a glorious straight 6 before being bowled by the impressive Stannard who finished with wonderful figures of 3-1-7-4. This spell caused the ship to wobble slightly as Milon, Jim and Vik failed to make headway. The game was now close! Fortunately Axum (14*) and John (8) turned the game back in our direction, helped with some occasionally wayward bowling which gave us 20 runs in wides and 8 in no-balls. John hit a lovely straight 4 before being bowled but Sam scored a quick 5* to see us home winning the game with a boundary with a couple of overs to spare.

A lovely game of cricket played in the right spirit under clear skies. We then headed to the King Alfred for drinks and nibbles.

The next match is against Gurkhas CC next Thursday at North Walls. I still need a player or two so update the app.