Pymmes punish on a poor wicket

Smiler claimed he hadn't lost the toss, as Pymmes skipper had called correctly (?) Anyway as a result of not losing the toss we were batting when Smiler had expressed a preference for chasing.

The Southover wicket could best be described as a "bit of a pudding" and the outfield was something resembling the Somme after a particularly vicious mortar attack.

It was therefore full of the joys of spring that your correspondent and my opening partner Andy Vernon strode out to begin the Sundowners innings.

We proceeded cautiously and slowly began to push the score along. Unfortunately I decided to push along a little too much and holed out to deep point. Had Pymmes remembered my batting that well?

Andy continued with the skipper and the score climbed up to 45 before he fell LBW to the accurate Vijay Kansara.

Having made six runs, our wicket keeper Mick McGowan, contracted an unexplained calf injury, which rendered him unable to walk. He retired hurt to apply various lotions and plenty of ice as offered by his team mates, who all to a man turned in to instant phsyio's.

It was at about this point that our emergency 11th man turned up. None other than Graham McGowan, who had bravely rushed through his Sunday lunch to come to the aid of his brother's team.

Steve Golding replaced the injured MM and soon got into his stride (more of that stride later).

Meanwhile at the other end the skip departed for 22 and debutant Paul Cotsen suffered the ignominy of a golden duck, our first of the season.

Mark Naisbitt joined Golds and showed more evidence that he can bat, despite his protestations to the contrary. His 19 included two fours and a six before the exuberance of the occasion became too much and his stumps were removed.

Dom Pilgrim became our second golden duck of the day. Andy V who was umpiring declared that "the only danger of the LBW decision going in Dom's favour was a doubt over whether the bails would have been dislodged".

Dave "Cat" Cattell joined Gold's and produced the days first odd run out. Having completed the run he dropped his bat and scrambled in on all fours with his hand. Smiler umpiring at square leg adjudged him out of his ground, although there seemed some controversy over whether the bails had been removed legally, and whether Dave had actually made ground with his outstretched hand.

Dave had to go, and he was not happy. "Smiler wasn't paying attention!" declared Dave, moments later.

Graham Mcgowan entered the fray and was immediately involved in controversy. Let me set the scene. Golds had moved nicely onto 27 and was looking good to guide our innings home. Graham looking to get off the mark drove the ball to mid-on and called yes. Mid on dived and stopped the ball. Graham decided he didn't want a duck, so shouted no to Golds, who was by now well into his stride. Golds decided to keep going, Graham didn't move - result Golds run out and a large scouser smile from Graham.

Ringo didn't last long for his single, so the injured Mick (with Golds as runner, to add insult to injury!) joined his younger brother.

The McGowan's guided us to 170 before Smiler called time on events and we all disappeared to the pavilion to feast on one of Pat's gourmet teas.

We felt confident we had enough to defend and entered the field with optimism.

Newcomer Paul Cotsen volunteered to take the gloves, as Mick's injury excluded him from his usual duties.

Dom and Cat opened proceedings, Dom down the slope and Cat from the "Bathard end". It wasn't too long before Cat produced his version of the "doosra" and claimed himself yet another wicket, Vijay being the unfortunate batsman.

Not long after he claimed a second and we felt the cricketing gods smiling down on us.

Number 4 for Pymmes was Doshi, who started nervously, but began to grow in confidence. We were slightly worried as Doshi's partnership with Leith grew. Your correspondent put and end to that by bowling Leith with a vicious spinning off break (well if you are writing the report some poetic licence is allowed!).

After this wickets continued to fall. A run of four nought's in the Pymmes middle order helped our cause. Graham picked himself a couple of cheap wickets. Skipper Smiler slipped himself on for three overs to bag another richly deserved rabbit.

At this point the game went sadly astray for us. Simon Chambers joined Doshi and between them they crept ever closer to our total.

Despite both Dom and Cat returning we did not have the fire power to remove either batsman. With 10 balls to spare Doshi struck the winning run to finish with a very impressive 73 not out. Chambers 21 not out at the other end was also invaluable.

Once again we had come close but failed. The season so far has been strewn with nearly's.

The bar seemed to offer the only solace for our tired troops and one or two even forwent showers to drown their sorrows even quicker.

On to the days winners and losers;

The Winners:

Pymmes bowlers - picked up steady wickets

Doshi - splendid 73 n.o.

The Losers:
Golds - run out by the visiting Scouser

Paul Cotzen - Golden duck, however he did keep excellently

Dom - Golden and no wickets

The list goes on and on and on…..

Next week we are chasing our first win, at home to Railway Taverners.