League results from yesterday, featuring joy, pain, and one batting collapse that probably deserves its own counselling service.
The First XI recorded a fine win in a proper topsy-turvy battle away at league leaders Ashford Hill. They stay third, right behind the top two, lurking in the bushes like a fox waiting for someone to drop their sandwich. Well done lads, a superb result.
Commiserations to the Second XI, who put Basingstoke Capital to the sword with their best batting display of the season. This was helped along by a marvellous, jug-avoiding 89 from Dan Weller-Evans, who clearly understands that personal milestones are nice, but buying beer is expensive.
Sadly, Capital had other ideas. A chap rather aptly known as Sachin hit us to all parts with a blistering unbeaten 121. Fair play to him, although it would have been nice if he had shown some compassion and got bored at 40. Oakley’s cause was not helped by 50 extras, which is less a cricket statistic and more a collective breakdown.
As for the Third XI, what can we say?
Steve Savage and Dan Beckell took us to a steady 47-0. About half an hour later, we were 65 all out in one of the finest collapses the club has ever recorded. Not so much a batting innings, more a controlled demolition…without the control.
My guess is DB was not happy as a good platform had been built for a decent game.
We did take six AWE wickets to get some respect back, so without being there, I am guessing the pitch played a pivotal role and only DB and Steve really stood up to it. Everyone else appears to have treated batting as a brief and unpleasant admin task.
Oh well. Move on. Preferably quickly, and without making eye contact with the 3s scorebook.
Honours board to follow.