Losing the toss (yes, again) and being asked to bat, the skipper, fresh and confident after last week’s 96 in the win against Barnards Green, strode out to bat with seasonal debutant Gopher who was glowing with honour of being allowed to play for the mighty 3s. Striding out to bat was the most purposeful thing the skipper did all day whilst holding a bat, because 4 overs later he trudged back to the pavilion having not used it much, and set off to sulk around the boundary without talking to anybody.

Chappo didn’t care a jot though, in fact the skipper was sure he heard a suppressed snigger as he passed him on the way back. Oh, no, he didn’t care at all. He was right back into his stride like a purring Rolls Royce, sending the scoring rate soaring, He actually looked like a batter (twice) as he quickly took control with a flurry of 4s and 6s. Tim was out in the 5th over at 7 for 1. By the time he had stopped sulking and finally took his pads off, the 3s has reached 88-1 off 15… and Gopher had a about 20 as Chappo eased to another 50..his 3rd on the trot. He was finally out, adjudged lbw for a swashbuckling 71 in the 17th over, with the score at 104. He was not happy, and muttered angrily after AK sent him on his way. At this stage Goph had raced to 25, in a partnership of 97. Ed joined Goph and so began a series of cameos as Goph motored along regardless. Ed 37, Lunty 16, Elliot 7 and a marvellous partnership of 50 in 6 overs between Pete and the second debutant, young Miles Anderson who smashed 31 and 22 respectively, regaining the momentum after 4 quick wickets .The most memorable of Miles shots was an ugly mow through cow corner which was reminiscent of Dad, Phil. Only joking, it was fantastic innings, swashbuckling and debonair, keeping up with Pete “The worst” Gale who to be fair was class. Again.

For the record, Goph was out at some stage, for 49….which he swears was 50..and blames Chappo for signalling a leg bye. (Surprisingly Chappy was unapologetic and unmoved; a far cry from his Peacekeeping heroics of the previous week) But Goph did do the job that the skipper did last week, and anchored the innings whilst the stroke masters mastered their strokes. Well batted Goph.

As we said, the wicket was good to bat on and it wasn’t easy to weedle the Malvern batters out. AK (2-14) and HBO (0-27 off her first 6) bowled miserly spells at the beginning, and removed the 2 openers in the first 13 overs, but a couple of their players hung about, hitting several boundaries, and surviving pretty adjacent lbw calls to Elliot (according to his Dad….), before Elliot, who got 3-49 removed them both and another to reduce Malvern to 105-5. Things seemed back on track with Miles (0-33) bowling tidily after a nervous first over, and nobody was worried… However, there then followed a Bartestree bottle-job…nearly. Elliot’s last over went for a lot and Chappo bowled 3 overs of what can only be described as buffet bowling (come, on folks, help yourselves), and Malvern got back up to the required 10 an over. Our fielders were sent scurrying to all parts. Ed looking very fetching in a paint on shirt and a pair of jeggings, threw himself about heroically, with mixed results (and fall out), but it was Miles and Ewan who stood firm, putting on a fine display of outfielding. Nevertheless, the match was hanging in the balance.

Enter the skipper who along with Ewan dragged us back into the match. The skipper picked up 2-17 off 4 (7 only from the last 3), including a smart grab by Miles, and helped put the squeaking breaks on. Ewan finished with 4-26 and Holly bowled her last 2 at the death to get her wicket and finish with1-48. Malvern finished on 228.

We ended up winners by 38 runs and stay top. Man of the Match; Miles

Tim Fawbert