Hampshire here we come

By Way Out West and Barmy Kev
August 2 2015

WOW starts off report describing our batting effort with some understandable concerns .  Barmy Kev describes reply in similar vein. Yet we hear of a comprehansive win, at a delightful gound.  There are some comical moments in between. Read on.  

WAY OUT WEST STARTS

Middx win toss and bat. We have an unchanged side lacking a bowler and Gubbins at 6. Why? 

2nd over realise they have wrong ball and they can't find right one. Kev texts to say he will bring one from his home, when he turns up later. 

Slow start. 5/0 from 3, 13/0 from 6, 25/0 from 8.  25/1 Robbo out LBW long way down pitch. We speed up and 52/1 from 12. It's 71/2 Compo out LBW Tredwell another dodgy decision.

Morgan plays aggressive shot whileon 3 unfortunately caught on boundary good 1 handed catch by Coles 81/3. Malan poor pull shot caught Blake now 97/4.

After nervy start Gubbins opens up and threatens the leg side railway track. 150 is bought up in 37th over and 171/4 off 40. Franklin reaches 50 off 58 balls caught and bowled Cowdrey. Gubbins 50 off 62 included 4 sixes and is out to great catch by the ice cream van.  TRJ hit some big shots at the end. We reach 260 /9 as Harris is run out off last ball.

Positives from WOW

Radlett nice ground

Well played Gubbins.  Fancy opening?

TRJ class. Why bat so low?

Negatives

Batting order. Gubbins should open. Dexter at 6. Robbo out

Approach. Stuck in past, need to attack first 10

Running between wickets. Lots of runs lost.

 As agreed reporting handed over to Kev for 2nd innings

Hi it's Kev here. I felt we were "30 runs too short" especially when heard scores  round the country were 300 or more . Denly having earlier made a spectacular stop in field to save a boundary I thought he was destined to carry his bat for a century, Skippy puts that theory to rest he's out for 11 from a mistimed pull. Northeast out going in 1 direction off of an edge fantastic catch by Simmo diving in 2nd slip area all is almost forgiven for (cough) Blackpool . 69-3 when Bell-Drummond ran himself out and we could not mess this one up. The match is Even Stevens, comparing scores at this stage, but not now as he holes at long off, TRJ great boundary catch with score 106-4. Simmo takes another spectacular catch diving in 3rd slip area, now totally forgiven, is it danger man Billings , no Cowdrey.  Game still on ,until their Top Billings is out. He top edges a reverse sweep, easily caught we are safe. 

There was an amusing moment at end when ball was lost in trees and our 3 subs came out to help find it. Just as well it was, as not sure if there was a spare one.

There was a moment that appealed to me with Blake, "me saying wouldn't it be funny if he was out for 7?". I even texted WOW as ball being bowled.  Check your scorecard and I can only apologise for my ridiculously over enthusiastic celebration and Blake 7 chant-beam me up our coach.

The Spitfires lower order did not show any resistance against our German Ollie. We have our first win of this competition as  Kent are all out for 173 we win by 87 runs. Onwards and upwards for Hampshire....... (Hmmm retrospectively).

Positives

Agree Radlett nice ground

2 great Simmo catches

Blake 7 predicted

Negatives

I had little faith in our ability to win for a long period even when we seemed favourites.

Too many headline opportunities, unnecessarily stressing me out.

Annoying Kent fan in Arsenal shirt.