By Grockle
September 21 2003

A last 2003 match brings out a big one day performance from a side that bears little resemblance to the one starting the year. But they produced the highest 45 over total today and ended the season on a high. And so we come to the end of our first season in the second division of the one day competition with a match against Sussex at Hove.

The side boasts very few of the batsmen who were going to put us back in the top league. Cox is out - will he return or have we said goodbye to him for the last time. If we have Thank you Buzz - winter well and good luck in your future.

Peter Bowler seems to have given us his swansong and will be seen no more. James Bryant - his future is uncertain. Burnsy may be released from his nightmare as captain of a poor performing side and seems to be celebrating by smashing a few himself with the bat. Today he plays opener and wickie and delivers 91 off 81.

Dutchy may be going out on a high with a fighting 44 off 32 and KP still delivers in the middle order with a run a ball 40 today. But will he be working a lot in his benefit season?

All supporting the shining star of Somerset batting at the moment. Ian Blackwell hit another hundred plus today - 'Nelson' at 2 runs a ball!! WWhat a shame he's got to stop now and go and work for the ECB!

With Johnno's 39 off 15 and 6 penalty runs for a slow over rate, we now own the largest total in the league during our poorest season in the same league (although it is our first I suppose).

What's more, once the boys had put on 377 for 9, the bowlers took the Sharks to pieces! Dutchy 4 for 34 (has he come good too late?) Blackwell 3 for 57 and Nixon 2 for 29.. Goodbye Sussex, you may be County Champions but we whipped your today!
186 all out and a storming victory by 191.

Too little too late? Well we were out of the running well before this but at least we finished the season with a Championship and an NCL win and that can't be the worst result possible. Now for the post mortems, the discussions about what went wrong and the solutions to put it right.

Take your time boys because we really do have to get it right next season if West Country cricket south of the Big City on the channell is to survive in its present form!