Poulshot v AVCC
Wednesday night was a return to 20/20. We turned up at the village green in Poulshot to play the locals with an unusual team - 3 school attendees; 2 of which were young ladies (India Corden and Holly Campbell); a couple of pensioners and some between.
Poulshot's ground is picturesque but unusual.., artificial track, road and ridges through the pitch. And a boundary where the main road runs by. The loo is a narrow path on the edge of the green. Very celubrious.
We turned up late and in dribs and drabs. Not good. Graham stood in as captain at the last moment as the home team were twitching with impatience and our captain Simon was en route.
Graham lost the toss and they batted.
Not a defensive shot in sight for the next 20 overs as they slogged away, pull shot after poulshot (sic).
The short boundaries offered no protection from the onslaught, and even though we bowled well, they rattled up 161. We dropped a few, which did not help and struggled for catching in the bright low evening glare. We bowled well though, but need to learn how to deal with batsmen that move across the crease.
Jamie Corden got a good wicket, Simon Campbell bowled well and took a fine wicket, and Graham added to his tally too with Tim Gent, standing in at wicket keeper snapping up a catch from him.
Batting then became hard as they had genuine pace, bounce and menace. Holloway took 3 of our top order cheaply (Jon Wolverson 9, Angus Harley 6, Michael Rae 0), before Simon Campbell steadied the ship with a rapid, brutal 51 not out (had to retire). Bathe also took 3 wickets with some awkward and painful bouncers (I am bruised just below the ribs).
Peter Williams looked good for 22 with 2 almighty 6's, Jamie Corden got 13 and Graham hit 8 before we subsided for 152 leaving Tim Gent on 6no. India and Dudley didn't trouble the scorers, and unfortunately we couldn't get Simon back on strike.
Thus, we lost by 9 runs in a high scoring game. Indeed, this was our highest ever 20/20 score and so we can take some positives out of the game.
Afterwards, the village pub was attended, and Poulshot provided us with a tasty shepherds pie to eat. Much appreciated!
First time, I have seen 2 girls in a side in any format in our games and so we are trend-setting too.
Marden next!