A breathtaking bowling and fielding performance by the 3s ensured that they remained tabletoppers again this week. Spearheaded by a 3 wicket salvo, all clean bowled by young Miles Anderson, and excellent catching HCUCC were bowled out for 62 chasing what we thought was a below par score. Daiyle is indeed the pioneer of the new “no-look Cossack catch. His beard does give him the Slavic stud look and he proved why he is new to cricket having obviously spent the last 20 years Cossack dancing in the Gulags and vodka dens of deepest Russia. You had to be there to see it but move over Rudolf Nureyev!!
It wasn’t the only good grab though with Eckers, AK, Bradders and
Miles and miles plucking catches out the air as if they were plucking apples from our sponsor Weston’s apple trees. All this graceful leaping and prancing was done in support of our impressive bowling attack. AK 2-3 off 8, HBO 2-14, Ben 3-13 and the aforementioned Miles whose 3 over saw him on a hat trick as he clean bowled 3 of their top 5 batsmen, turning the match very much in our favour just after the miserly AK had broken a solid opening stand. Rokerite Rob was the only wicketless bowler, but he too managed to stop the skipper bringing himself on. As with last week the fielding was on point and intense apart from the skipper who was back to his non bending best.

Earlier, having been asked to bat, the 3s posted 212-8, which was 30 short of our usual base target. True, the outfield was long and balls hit along the ground held up, but HCUCC’s bowling was steady and tight.
Tim and Eckers opened and put on 55 in 11 overs, Eckers providing the brawn and Skip the pats for 1. They did run though. A lot. They had to because the skipper couldn’t hit it off the square. Eckers (20) holed out trying to make up for lost time and Ed came and went first ball. Bradders and Skip then added 30 odd before Bradders was bowled for 10 and had a hissy fit almost taking a chunk out of the wicket. Rob, still jaded from celebrating Sunderland's Play off win was next, and scored 19. All the time, Skip was there, starting to hit the ball harder and further and running quick singles (honest). Having lost Rob then Lunty for nothing, Skip finally opened up and brought his 100 up in the 35th over with a crashing drive. Slow but steady, but nonetheless he had provided a base for the team. He finally fell for 107 with the score at 188. Brief cameos from Miles, AK and our resident Cossack pulled us kicking and screaming past 200 and gave us something to bowl at.

Another excellent performance. Thanks to our supporters Fawbert Senior (who was watching through his fingers when (not so) junior was in the 90s), Annie, Stan, Miles’ mum Tori and Rosie.

Bromyard next.

Footnote: the skipper would like to vehemently deny the allegations that Chappo was banished to the firsts in order for the skipper to have a crack at overtaking him at the top of the runs table. Furthermore, the rumour that Dr Jay was allowed to go to the seconds to give the skipper more of a chance of bowling is utter poppycock. Nothing but wild and fanciful assertions.