Back To Winning Ways

The return of Reg as skipper and the arrival of Redfearns at Tong turned round the defeat of the previous week. The Tong side was without the services of Pencil Philips (knackered, Leeds game or some other reason) and Buttocks (totally knackered) so this brought Senior Shack out of retirement for the second time in 7 days, and the inclusion of Nick Sowerby as keeper and Phil Taylor to bolster everything.

Reg, winning the toss, inserted the Redfearn 10 and the Redfearn openers made a steady if slow progress. In the 15th over, Smiler (7 overs 0 for 18) was replaced by Huddy, and 3 overs later. Phil Taylor opened the Tong account taking the slow scoring Mitchell (10) snaffled at squared leg by 'Hands' McCutcheon. It was a further 10 'slow' overs before the second wicket fell this time to Huddy, and with the score at 123 for 3 and 11 overs left it looked like a score of close to 175 was on the cards.

The Redfearn 'tail' did all but wag though and a wicket an over over the next 6 overs quickly closed the innings at 137. Huddy ending up with 5 for 41 and Steve Taylor with 3 for 37. The most memorable spell of bowling though was perhaps Big Phil Taylors opening over. The first ball nearly pitching on his own toes, the second bouncing several times on the way to the keeper, and the third,having the batsman totally kerflumuxed, being caught by Irry as previously described.

Teas were once again provided by those gorgeous girls Janet and Jackie, and were excellent both in quality and quantity. Particular mention must be given to Jackie's 5.00 am scones! Apparently being refused by Bobby, she decided to get up and do some baking, using a full half pound of Bob's best butter! I gather that he was none too impressed when it came to his toast later that morning. Never mind Jackie we all thought they were excellent.

Tea concluded, Neil and Darren marched forth to the crease, the former obviously intent on concluding the matter quickly! Daz unfortunately was recycled quickly, but Neil continued to flay his willow with gay abandon (I use the term 'gay' advisedly!). Skippy Reg was also sent back early and Neil then went in the 11th over on 49. He then spent the next 10 minutes trying to get Kirsty, our scorer, to adjust his score by adding a single he claimed he was due from a no-ball!

Young Nick takes guard

The removal of Neil had perhaps given the Redfearn side an infusion of confidence, but the arrival of young Nick Sowerby at the crease was soon to change this to frustration, as, in his own inimitable style he proceeded to clip balls into perfect gaps, and pull wides outside the off stump neatly to square leg. Nicks 40 swung the game back Tong's way so when he was bowled with only 8 needed there were still 13 overs remaining.

Out walks 'Horners' to the centre - hang on a minute Skippy had said that either Shack would replace Huddy should he be out, or Phil Taylor would replace Nick Sowerby - what goes on here?

Well, suffice to say that Horners had spent most of the previous hour explaining to anyone who would listen how he was third in the batting averages and deserved a higher placing in the batting order. Since the skipper had obviously decided to ignore these utterances Horners had decided that the fastest man out into the middle would get to bat at the fall of the next wicket!

Hornby smites the winning six

Six balls later the game was all over as our team dentist sent a towering six out over the road, and returned to the pavilion once again not out with an improved average! So game one out of two this weekend to Tong.