WHAM! Just like that we are back to playing league cricket. And just like our previous captain, Dean “George Michael” Waller proved himself to be a useless tosser. Luckily for us, Ingatestone decided to let us have a bat first.

KB and Nugs opened up with what looked to be a solid start after a glorious straight drive for four from Kieran. However, a couple of quick wickets and we found ourselves 13-2 following the most casual one handed catch I have seen (1:21:15 on the live stream).

Sibbo and Dean looked to consolidate in their own ways. Sibbo digging in, getting the pace of the pitch, and ticking the scoreboard over while Waller hits anything pitched up…or short…or anything in between to the boundary! With the scoring nearing 100, Dean found himself trapped in front bringing Sean to the crease who continued to score around Sibbo to see their partnership fall just short of 50 when Sean decided to leave a straight one.

It seemed as if Captain George had decided to Careless(ly) Whisper into Maher’s ear before sending him out with Freedom! as he hit TWO sixes on his way to 46. With just 12 balls left in the innings and Sibbo on 90, Louis selflessly decided to take on a second run which was never there but did result in Sibbo remaining on strike who worked his way to 100 with 1 ball to go which left Shugs on strike but was run out trying to take a quick single.
Well batted Sibbo, a well deserved century, but you did run out two 16 year olds!

Tea was great, as usual!

Sean and Wain opened up the second innings with some very good deliveries…and some not so good deliveries but Wain made the breakthrough by bowling former Liverpool keeper (Bruce Grobler) with a leg stump yorker. 23-1!

The opposition batted well from here, they punished the bad ball and ticked the scoreboard over when they could, but we stuck at it with some good fielding, decent bowling and by supporting each other.
Dave bowled really well, with his figures not flattering his spell but he did make the breakthrough to reduce them to 66-2 before the run started. Their number 4 had one game plan…try to hit everything to the moon! And he got close as he put one in the pond and another on the very top of the clubhouse but Dave had the last laugh having him caught at deep cover with a decent catch from Tickle. It was during the celebrations of this wicket that Louis (who was phenomenal in the field for the entire innings by the way) decided to announce that he thought Waller’s earring made him look like George Michael. Not sure who should be more offended by that.

With pace off the ball, the Ingatestone middle order struggled to score quickly but they did put themselves in a position to win the game at drinks.
Shugs and Sibbo were brought into the attack along with Sean who all picked up crucial wickets in the later stages of the innings reducing them the 245-6, 245-7, 255-8, and 255-9, but with them needing just 4 runs for victory we needed to have Faith.

As their number 11 at the crease, Sibbo bowling full and straight made it difficult for him to score, but with a big swing of the bat he managed to get an inside edge to 45, and with us needing someone to step up and be the hero, KB decided “I’m your man” as he raced around from backward point, and the batters turning to come back for 2…he fired the ball into the stumps, with a direct hit and with the batter not in the frame, the game was won by just 3 runs!

Deano remembered to get a captain’s jug meaning the Club Tropicana drinks were indeed free, and there was also enough fun and sunshine for everyone!

Superb team performance in the end, with Sibbo the highlight for his 101* and 3-17 however, he was not awarded the ‘Man of the Match’ by the umpire…must do better next week please Joe!

Written by: Adam Hunt