... When all through the team, talent ran freely and so our chances were up;
Sean laid his pint of the table with care,
In vain hopes that Callum Daley’s chat would wear;

When out on the wicket there arose such a clatter,
Ritik had been caught early doors,
So Ben Cobbett sprang from his chair to see what was the matter,
Away to the wicket, he flew like a flash,
Put on his pads and took off his tradie stash.

The horizon was a beauty with no clouds sat amongst the sun;
Which cast down on the skipper, as he went for less than 1.

The first ball he faced was tossed up into the air, always thinking he would hit it beyond the square;
He missed it, with visions of it going to the boundary, his innings I’m afraid was now ancient history.

The chaps carried on, batting away nicely; Tunnacliffe made a stunning a 92, and ex-Glamorgan Tom Merilant made a beautiful 105* unsurprisingly.

The pirates were in a very good position with runs a plenty, Sandeep and Callum also contributed with their bats, which now have many a cherry.

All in all, we put on 255, but could the pirates keep our bowling together and make the crowd thrive?

Part II

As Lockie came into bowl, running towards the money, in his first over the ball was edged to the region of Ainslie.

His eyes - how they twinkled! His athleticism - how stunning! His hands smothered the ball like honey; and I knew from that moment that things were starting to look sunny.

Spinner Sandeep came on, bowling with guile - he took three stunning and well-deserved wickets in style.

Ritik then spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
Looking for wickets, turning with a jerk - spying out one of his breaks, his victim was our well known colleague Mr. Raees.

Giordy and Bobby also sprang to their train, Tunnacliffe came on too, and away the wickets tumbled down to Timbuktu.

199 is what Old Whits 2s put on the board, for it was the Pirates whose winning ways were restored!

Match report — or poem — from Leo Kelly