Sorry Sundowners slump

We had a lot of rain over the days running up to the match with Pymmes and the wicket was wet. This was in stark contrast to the pitch the previous week.

I think we all thought that this was going to be a game severely affected by the rain and the feeling running around the changing room was we should win the toss, bat, have tea and retire to the bar when the rain came down. As we were to discover this was a bad attitude to start a game with.

Smiler duly won the toss and we were batting. The returning Vernon was to open with the skipper Mike "Smiler" Herlihy.

One quick mention for Mr Gareth Williams who turned up in the changing room to sample the pre match atmos. He duly informed us he would start playing when the weather improved and that he was seriously considering loosing some weight. He proceeded to plant himself on the bench in the corner, only to see it collapse under him. Surely this was a message from the man above for G.

Smiler and V gave us a good start. The first wicket bringing 32 runs. The highlight of this was a couple of well struck blows by V off Pymmes bowler, Chalkley straight back over mid on. One of these disappeared for a maximum.

V got a bit cocky after the above mentioned bludgeons and duly holed out off the bowling of Kansara for 21.

What happened after this can only be described as a lack of application and self destruction.

Medlock
McGowan
Jani
Golding
Stroud
Ferdenzi
Cattell
Pilgrim
Tailor

All of the above were dismissed for single figures whilst Smiler continued to accumulate at the other end. Poor old Smiler was left high and dry on 47 not out as our inning petered out to a meagre 102.

We went in for the usual tasty tea with our heads bowed low whilst Smiler muttered under his breath.

We came out from tea enthusiastically and were confident that with early breakthroughs we could salvage the game.

Unfortunately the desired breakthrough did not come and Pymmes made a good start with Kansara and Leith scoring 33 and 20 respectively.

Wickets started to come. Tailor picked up a couple, Cattell three and your correspondent one.

It proved all too late though as Pymmes cruised past our total with 4 wickets in hand.

We were left to rue the fact that another 25 to 30 runs on the damp track may have been enough to sneak a win.

On to the days winners and losers;

The Winners:
Mike "Smiler" Herlihy - an excellent 47 n.o to hold the innings together

Pymmes bowlers - picked up steady wickets

The Losers:
Sundown batsman - all except Smiler gave their wickets away far too easily

The changing room bench - Broken by Gareth!

Next week we are having the Bank Holiday weekend off and will resume on the 1st June against old rivals Lionel Length.