v HSBC 2nd XI

With all the optimism of a lion spotting a baby buffalo in the Kruger safari forests of South Africa, the twos marched into the beginning of another (hopefully successful) campaign at the very scenic looking HSBC ground in Beckenham.

Nothing much had changed, same shoddy warm up, which involved a football kick about, late and very late arrivals and something that resembled a warm up, that the dad's army would have been proud of, the skipper heightened the mood by winning the toss and opting to bat.

Things generally went to plan, as last years top run scorer, Jonty, back from his ankle injury, picked up from where he left off last season with a breezy 62, ( the highlights of his innings being dropped twice and being caught twice off two free hits!!) supported by Ben with a battling 46, who deciding to sweep a yorker when in sight of his 50, a patient 33 not out from Neil, Ciaran with a breezy 27 and a few lusty blows from the eventual man of the match, Master Shootandkill (Shuk) 20 odd took us to a very competitive 212 off our 50 overs.

The less said about their teas the better!!

Having told one of their players, I thought we had the best bowling attack in the league, our bowlers decided to make a game of it, that there were only 9 extras!!!! Seems remarkable but mainly down to a very liberal applying of the wide rules by papa McCann ( who was probably on a promise and recognized that would be in jeopardy after Monk seniors first few balls).

The opposition started off like train going at almost a run a ball for the first 20 overs feeding on a steady diet of long hops and full tosses, (a third of the other balls they couldn't get to!) must mention Ciaran's admirable work behind the stumps and Barks ability to field both at first slip and backstop.

Throw in a few dropped catches and the lion was in danger of going without a meal, but thanks to Shuk with an excellent spell of bowling, not sure why he was 5th bowler, Sam with a good accompanying spell and the inability of the hosts to deal effectively with full tosses, we managed to close out the game for a relatively easy 26 run win.

All in all, a very good team effort, with lots of room for improvement.

This week we welcome the newly promoted St Lawrence and Highland Court, who are also unbeaten to the Heath.

Written by John Olufawo