Well here it was, the first league game of the year. The cobwebs had been blown away with 3 previous weeks of friendlies, and the real stuff was about to begin. The only problem was going to be the weather, as the forecast was not that great....

Skipper Lonnen won the toss (first of many this year one hopes) and elected to bowl. The pitch, although looking wet from the previous few days' rain we've had (and the morning rain) looked like it still had something in it. The only concern was whether the pitch would become harder to bat on if it dried out in the sunshine, which was forecast for the afternoon. However on the advice of Pip, who had played on the pitch a week earlier, it was suggested that the pitch would be easier to bat on in the sunshine...

And so we found ourselves in the field, Gillers took to the new ball coming down the hill with Lonnen electing to bowl up the hill. Gillers' first over set the tone; good bounce and pace, and we were away. It wasn't long before we had our first wicket, Lonnen squaring Kerai up, pushing the ball to Noodle in the covers. 3-1 and we were on our way. Lonnen got the next with a caught and bowled. Ridgway M then replaced Gillman, and got in on the act with the wicket of the dangerous looking Patiani, who had after a break for rain decided to hit out to get quick runs. The score was now 49-3 of about 20 overs, and runs were seemingly hard to come by (hence Patiani's somewhat reckless shot selection before being bowled by Matt). The Ploughmen were making their intentions known and 49-3 soon became 50-4 with Tom bowling Nitin for 0. Tom then got another courtosy of a sharp catch at first gully by Matt, and the Ploughmen sensed that it wouldn't be long until proceedings were wrapped up. However a small partnership developed between the competent looking Dinesh and the obdurate Ketan. It wasn't before the score was on 90, and with Tom about to consider a change of bowling, until the breakthrough was achieved. Tom was the man to rise to the plate, removing Ketan with a nice delivery that cut in of the seam. 90-6 soon became 94-7 and then 95-8. Lonnen and Ridgway M then finished off Swamibapa's resisitance with the last two wickets falling with the score on 96. All in all, a good fielding display; but the job was only half done.

After a quick turnarond, both Ridgways went out to face 10 overs before tea.
Both looked solid enough; looking to punish anything loose, and yet be positive in defence. Swamibapa were clearly concerned that they did not have enough on the board, as the chat was loud, and there was a lot of over-excitement at any ball miss-behaving. No matter, the batsmen just had to keep their cool, and pick the runs off when available. Unfortunately, the pitch miss-behaved with Matt, as a ball from Patel popped up onto his glove, and he was caught at short-leg. 21-1. Swaps followed soon after with a dubious looking LBW of the bowling of Sailesh. 23-2. And with the score on 29, and 2 balls before tea, Ridgway N lost his concentration, checked his on-drive and drilled the ball straight to mid-on. And so it was, we were 29-3 at tea chasing 97; finely poised, but the Ploughmen still fancied themselves.

Unfortunately, not long after the resumption, Wyllie and Strachan were back in the hutch. Hussain looked positive and was unlucky to be run out (although one would argue there wasn't really 2 runs on offer) and we found ourselves on 39-6. Gillman joined Britto to steady the ship, and batted with sense to push the score past 50. Unfortunately, and at the point the field was becoming quieter, Gillman got a good one and was bowled for a important 5. Feeney then followed the next ball, given out caught behind and we were 51-8. McEvoy joined Britto and looked solid, before being bowled by Kishore for 3, and Lonnen followed in the same fashion a few deliveries later. So there it was, we were bowled out for 59, way short of the target, and way short of our expectations.

This was not the start we had planned for, but we can learn from this: bat positively by either defending the ball (or leaving it), or going through with the shot and not play half a shot. Don't let a field get on top of you, by batting positively, but sensibly. Take the singles, and the partnerships will be built. Simple things go a long way in this game!! On the positive, our fielding was good, and it was good to see Tom on the money so early on in the season. Long may that continue...

NR