"Flat"

The title of my blog - "The Difficult Second Season" - might turn out to be more prophetic than I intended. On Saturday, in glorious and unseasonal Spring sunshine, GCCC Sat XI visited Dunmow to play our first match of the season. And we lost by 80-odd runs. The pitch was flat, and so were we, as was my bowling. Flat, flat, flat. As a pancake. Or my stomach. ho-ho.

The afternoon started brightly enough. I gathered the team for an inspirational team talk in the away dressing room. I thought some kick ass beats would be a good idea - "let's play some music to get us going" - except we didn't have any. Angus played The Kaiser Chiefs on his mobile phone. It wasn't the ambiance we were after. It took him a minute to turn the damn thing off. I mumbled something about 'competing' and 'remembering to enjoy it' and 'results will come' and 'other cliche's'. It wasn't Duke of Wellington circa 1815 and the battlefields of Belgium that's for sure.

The pitch had a bit of green about it and was damp. To bat or bowl? That decision was made for me by their skipper who won the toss and, in 0.00078 seconds, decided to bat. They made 225 or thereabouts for 2 wickets. Just the 2 then... And funny thing is we bowled okay; Jamie and Ali opened and kept it tight. A few half chances here, a dropped catch there. They were 85 at drinks. That was only just par. But we never really looked like getting a wicket. And the longer it went on, the quieter we all got. JW finally got their (14-year old!) opener out, caught by Trev at gully for 44. Dom, their other opener made 85 before retiring. Oh yes, and before this the Dunmow skipper had wandered on to the pitch to remark "That if I wanted any of their batters to retire, just to ask, old chap, okay?" Grrr...

Rob Halls bowled well and got the other wicket. JW and Paul did okay considering the pitch and that it was the first game of the season and all that. I bowled 'alright' with a lower case 'a'. No wickets, bit flat, 3 half chances and , er that's it. Time for tea.

We started our innings well too. Mike and Ali were up with their rate after 15 overs or so till, Mike got his bat caught in his pads (oops) and was out. Andy D went in and walloped it but was out lbw without really getting going, although he had smashed his finger taking a catch earlier and played on through the pain. Still well placed though after 20 overs. Or so I thought....

The roll of shame:

Trevor: made a couple I think, then clean bowled
Panther: out first ball leaving one..... that hit middle stump (idiot boy!)
Preacher: got a duck (having to face a hat-trick ball) and got one that nipped away a few balls later. Good ball, chaps honest...
Angus: out first ball (hit the bails off with his own bat (idiot boy!)
JW: a duck as well I think

Shall I go on? Their Sri Lanken bowler was mustard. Nipping it in, then away and against the slop. Too good for us. But of course we knew that. Thanks Dunmow.

Jamie was still at the crease with Paul but when J went we knew the end was nigh. We had 28 balls to go to earn a losing draw but, then with Paul clean bowled it was all over.

There was some good news. Rob Hall's bowled very well. And Chelsea beat Man U 2-1. But the promises I made to myself at the start of the season of 1) no ducks and 2) get at least one wicket a game got busted in April. Twas ever thus.

Dunmow were very sweet and laid on a nice tea and they had the telly on so we could watch the footie results come in. I knew it would be tough but, for 3/4 of the game we were in with a shout. The difference was their one bowler who took, what 6-7 wickets? We should not be too down-hearted. And I think we'd all agree the season starts properly next Saturday when we play at home. Now, I have spoken to Clint and there is definitely a game this Sat, 2pm start at the park. I just can't remember who. A new team I think. Let's see what happens. I will bring some sounds.

And as skipper I want to hear lot more banter in the field and for us all to support our bowlers. Now do come along. Or I shall get shirty and simply insist on playing my new album by The Fall before we play. And that will upset us.

Man of Match: Rob Hall (well done Rob)
Mug of the Match: Angus (for mobile phone incompetence and knocking over his own stumps)

Well, we have the tough game of the season over and done with. Now to put our game faces on. We've waited 7 months for this.... let's enjoy it.

Happy days are here again!

Have a good week everyone.


Preacher