Unbeaten home run extended.................

......................with an away loss to Cuxham.
Cuxham always field a strong side at home, mainly consisting of huntin' shootin' & fishin' types with the odd psycho-analyst thrown in for good measure. Moreton fielded their usual Thursday team, mainly consisting of workin' types, with Bomber thrown in for good measure. The "Big 3" arrived in Charlie's convertible to the sound of The Clash blasting out, and Carl was peeled from the deepest corner of the back seat, 2 sizes smaller than the start of the journey. News was that we were batting first, and Tim was sent straight out to bat with Nige.
Not an easy pitch to bat on, with the ball keeping low; Tim batted like an opener for the first time ever, and slowly accumulated 29*, but the steady fall of wickets at the other end, meant we were always under a par score. Bomber, at square leg umpire, looked concerned that his captain might "leapfrog" him in the batting averages with a highly promising 3 not out, but found the solution in his finger, spitefully giving him out off the last ball of our innings.
Westy & Jonny bowled superbly, with Westy picking up 4 wickets in his spell, & Nige took a good catch at square leg to keep Cuxham on the back foot. Sam, Joe & Simon kept the pressure on with more good bowling on a helpful pitch, and the result was in doubt for most of the match. Key moment, when their ump showed Bomber how to turn a "blind eye" when your team need you, and Cuxham scraped home with 8 wickets down.
Back to the local for a few pints of expensive beer & delicious game pies. The journey home was somewhat marred by Bomber giving his car keys away to Joe, hiding in the bushes until everyone left, and then ringing round asking where his keys were ! Charlie manfully offered to drive back with aforementioned keys to rescue our star umpire !

Another complete shower................

.....................visited North Moreton today.
Yes the visitors from Mill street weren't over proficient in the cricketing department, and some of us joined them in their mediocrity, to ensure a competitive, close run game.The run rate was good for the first 4 balls of our innings, then the wicket rate threatened to overtake the run rate, before Sam & Vicksy steadied the ship with sensible batting. Joe looked good & Simon got a few, with his 9 iron, before Carl managed to evade the ball successfully in the final over.
So after Nigel totted it all up, we posted a total of 92 or was it 94 or maybe 93 in 15 overs of steady drizzle.
Jonny & Joe opened up with some hostile bowling, and we had an early wicket in the bag, despite the umpire trying to turn a blind eye to the bail being dislodged. The crowds wisely stayed away, and our bowlers were sadly not lifted by the sight of a committee member chain smoking in the bushes; a flurry of runs tilted the match back in Mill Street's favour, and the captain looked anxious. As the pressure built, one or two of our larger fielders looked a gallop short of full fitness, but finally the turning point came courtesy of the "techno" kid, who clung on to one of Simon's long hops as it sped towards what looked like another boundary. Thompy was the star bowler, but was well supported by Sam, Jonny & Joe, and we eventually slammed the door satisfyingly in their faces. A good effort- man of the match Sam.
Next week Cuxham away, will be a tougher & chewier proposition than this lot- be warned !!

It's great to be back...............

OK the weather was not what you would hope for, but there was a spring in the step of MCC members as the first "proper" game of the season got underway. The "visitors" were Southfield Nursing Home, with an odd "ringer" or younger relation, as they are called, bribed to turn out, and an easy victory was expected.
Capt Yaxley duly won the toss, mainly 'cos their captain couldn't see the coin, but who cares, and he correctly chose to bat. Tim & Nige put on 33 in the first 3 overs, well to be factual, Tim scored 28* and Nige watched- though to be fair he did go on to score 13 in his own time. A resident of Aston Tirrold came in next to give a demo on tree felling, before returning to the pavilion to complete ridicule- luckily Bomber is very thick skinned & momemtum was unaffected because Westy & Charlie kept the scoreboard moving with some decent strikes. Young Sam top scored with 29 & "PSV" Howard umpired with his usual ignorance of the rules of cricket- but we love him anyway ! Nigel had a geriatric moment with the scorebook, which made Southfield feel at home, and their target turned out to be just 152 to win, which coincidentally was the combined age of their opening bowlers !
At 12-4 the game was over- Tim had just put in an entry for catch of the day, Westy & Jonny were bowling well, and Vicksy was a revelation behind the stumps, (he's finally found something he's good at !) but Jonny decided to be charitable & put "wide boy" Bomber on, who offered them a glimmer of hope with the longest over of the day- luckily Sam & Simon restored some order with good bowling, and young Dan chipped in with a wicket, leaving Step Dad Thompy as the loser in that household. Darkness & rain followed, as Southfield batted for the draw that doesn't exist in Twenty20.

It was good to retire to The Bear for a curry & compare membership subscriptions with fellow players, who are all enjoying the FREE membership offer from the club this year.

Next week Jonny looks forward to Capt Beaky !!