Everybody wins at Wembley

As we drove over to Wembley the storm clouds were gathering. Last year's fixture, at one of the more prestigious opponents we play, had been a washout. This year looked as though it could come to the same watery end.

Smiler tossed up and followed his usually ploy of batting first.

Our usual suspects, the skipper Mike "Smiler" Herlihy and Andy "V" Vernon strapped on their pads and strolled out to face the Wembley opening attack.

V with his new found vigour this year (impending fatherhood is having a positive effect on his batting) blasted a quick 15 before holing out to cover-point from a rank long hop.

In fact as I write several days after the match the V man is in the process of encouraging his good lady wife - Rachel - to nudge a quick single and produce him some offspring. Good luck Vernon's! More news next week for interested web readers.

Smiler seems to have decided your correspondent (Tony Medlock) should hold down the number 3 berth this season. So as the clouds continued to gather I replaced the ever so slightly agitated Vernon.

I faced a couple of balls and the long promised rain began to fall…..off we all trundled to wait for it to blow over.

15 minutes later we were back in the middle. Smiler was doing his normal efficient opening role and was nudging the singles.

Your correspondent upped the pace and raced to 14 off one over from Imrie. The very next over Smiler called me for a single and I sent him back. One ball later we were having another running fiasco and I was stranded half way down. Result - I was run out by 2 yards.

Newcomer to the club this season Alex Heathcote was our next batsman, however he was at the crease for only a short time before the heavens opened, and both sides raced for the cover of the pavilion, as the Wembley player dragged their smelly plastic covers over the wicket.

As the rain continued to fall the skippers, Herlihy and Meyers agreed to take an early tea and inspect the covered wicket if the rain stopped.

Following an excellent tea, during which spectator (and former player before his addictions kicked home) Mark Naisbitt, forgot he wasn't playing and hoovered up several sarnies, the downpour stopped.

After much consultation involving captains, players and the assistant groundsman it was agreed to take the cover off and continue the game.

Heath cote did not last long, the tea interval taking its toll, as he holed out on four runs.

Skipper Smiler continued his vigil and was joined by the flamboyant Mick McGowan, who carted the Wembley attack to all corners in a splendid 68. The Wembley bowlers had no answer to his hitting and I suspect if he hadn't been trying to give their outfielders some catching practice he would have easily reached 100.

Upon Mick's eventual despise, stumped as he strolled down the wicket once again, Smiler declared the innings on 163 for 4. The skip once again completing a 50 and being undefeated, surely he will be the seasons top run getter?

Wembley had 20 overs plus 40 minutes to reach our total.

Wembley started well and had 25 on the board quickly; with Ringo Tailor's bad balls being punished (it's a while since our 52 yr old swing bowler has had his balls punished!).

Dom Pilgrim at the other end bowled a tight line and length and was rewarded with our first two wickets, the first seeing Desai caught by our resident youngster - Luke Vassey, and the second sending Simmons stumps cart wheeling out of the ground.

At 30 for 2 the game was set up well, with Aussie Sullivan going well for Wembley.

Dave "the cat" Cattell replaced Pilgrim and began to slowly eek out Wembley's middle order. Vassey and Jani took turns at the other end, but both were a little expensive.
Cattell continued to wheel away of his ever diminishing run up, and with 8 overs to go the skipper called on yours truly to bowl at the other end.

With Wembley down to 10 batsmen due to illness, we needed only 9 wickets to win.

With the total in the 130s Smiler did not view our chances favourably, and was beginning to bemoan being persuaded to declare when he did. When the skip gets down in the field we all know about it!

The Cat had other ideas though and squeezed out two Wembley batsmen in an over, including the dangerous Sullivan for 63. At 138 for 5 we were still in the game.

Cattell completed his 5 wicket haul, and I chipped in with one leaving Wembley with two to win from my last over with the last pair at the wicket.

Good catches from McGowan, Herlihy, Heathcote and Golding all contributed to the fall of wickets.

Wembley skipper Meyers was facing, he played out my first two balls and inside edged the third, but failed to score. With two balls left Wembley were leaving their winning surge late.

To our joy Meyers swung at the 5th ball and once again got an inside edge, this time on to his stumps. We leapt with joy and Smiler muttered something about an exciting game (completely forgetting his comments 15 minutes earlier!).

We retired to the bar a happy band of travellers to toast our success.

On to the days winners and losers;

The Winners:
Mike "Smiler" Herlihy - another 50, and unbeaten

Mike McGowan - top class 68

The "game" - nearly abandoned it turned out to be our closest for some time

The Losers:
No losers today in an exciting game of cricket

Next week we travel to another esteemed opponent - Highgate. Dick their infamous captain is apparently playing so watch this space next week for his shenanigans.