Hit or Miss CC
(21/5/2017)
Result:
Weekenders lost by 66 runs
UNEXPECTED
SUNSHINE BUT WEEKENDERS ARE NOTHING BUT A SHOWER IN BUNGLED CHASE (TO THE PUB)
HoMCC
173 for 6 (35 overs)
K Jones 107, Pendred
16, Richardson 19
Orwell 7-1-32-1, Douglas 7-1-37-1,
Dunne 7-1-21-0, Dibley 7-1-26-1, Lyons 4-1-32-1, Leale 2-0-10-1, Lee 1-0-8-0
Catches: Dunne (x2) (Lee + ?)
Run out: Orwell (direct)
WCC 107 all out
(33.3 overs)
Lee 6, Hogben
7, Husaini 0, Leale 50,
Douglas 0, Dunne 9, Orwell 12, Dibley 0, R. Smee 10, Lyons 6, A Smee, 0 not out
Dickinson 3-12, Bushnall
2-21
Sometimes you have to re-draw the
definition of what winning really is. Purists cling to the narrow description
of Ōgetting more runs than the other teamÕ but this is the sort of small-minded
pettiness that closes off hearts to the true wonder of living.
Stand-in skipper, Husaini
won the toss (WTF?) and inserted HoM. The third
delivery produced a superb ankle-trimming reflex slip catch by Dunne, who
usually opines ŅIf itÕs below the knee, itÕs not a
chanceÓ. The slow pitch stifled scoring and all joy generally, with even the
Derby Destroyer failing to winkle out any more batters. Things got interesting
when the ball was tossed to Lyons. Despite 33% of the team being posted on the
long-off boundary, (and HoM opener JonesÕ evident
predilection for hitting it exactly there) - we were unable to take the catch
that would have snared the trap. Jones continued to circumvent the thickety outfield by depositing the ball directly into
hedges and arable pastures. He scored 7 sixes and 11 fours on his way to an
impressive 107. Having gone into his shell to calculate his inflated batting
average, JonesÕ mission for red-ink was ruined by a
brisk Dibley thunderbolt. Leale
brought sarcastic cheers from the bowling cadre by lobbing down a series of
rank long-hops, but still taking a wicket!! LOLZ
Tea was fairly functional. The ham
and cucumber sandwich was novel for some. 173 felt steep on this pitch from
just 35 overs, but a good team performance might get close. Sadly Hogben, Husaini and Douglas
missed straight deliveries, and Lee patted the ball into the air from one that
stuck in the pitch. This left Andrew Leale, our
cheery Saffa, to patiently clip the ball around, and
build a semblance of an innings. He scored an elegant 50 including 6 fours and
1 six, with curmudgeonly support from Dunne. Ralph Smee,
once again, reminded those of a certain vintage of how our President used to
wade into bowling attacks, but at the end we were a long way off the pace.
Somehow, it didnÕt matter, and the flow of players from the pavilion to the sunlit
glory of the Hit or Miss pub across the road, left the playing area empty just
ten minutes after the gameÕs conclusion. Despite losing the match
comprehensively, we felt like winners with chums and family throwing down
lager-shandies in an early glimpse of English summer.
President makes some adjustments (left) & the team
softens defeat in trademark style (right)