Fairly Elementary for Watsons - 2s Lose

Another week, another bone-chilling Saturday afternoon. The wind had been turned down but so had the lights. Grey, grey, grey. In fact it was so dark that pre-game a passing seagull mistook one of the bails for a chip and made off with it.

Watch out. There's a gull about.

Watsons, winless so far, were three short at the start with reinforcements unlikely to arrive from a school game for an hour. We won the toss and put them in. I'm still not sure whether we thought this was the best way to secure a quick game and get back in the warmth or whether it was a strange bit of sportsmanship.

Either way, when they were 4-1 in the fourth over with Dan (9-1-23-1) and Vik (9-1-26-0) bowling well, it looked a fine decision. 41 overs later at 229-2, with Counsell Senior (85) and Mawdesley Senior (78 no) putting on 163 in a fine second wicket stand and MacLeod Senior twisting the knife with a rapid 34 no, it looked a bit less so. There was some good dogged fielding, especially from Michael and the returning PVB, but little else of note from our side. Even the umpires were more noteworthy, with one insisting on wearing a thigh pad throughout his stint. For warmth? For a bet? For protection against seagulls?

In reply we made 171 for 9. MacLeod Senior (9-3-29-3, including a stunning caught and bowled) and Brown (9-2-27-3) did most of the damage, but they were well backed up by Brooks (9-3-19-1) and MacLeod Junior (6-0-15-0). Vik was our main man with 67 - a fine innings that started quite cautiously but exploded later on.

Thanks to Watsons for a game played in very good spirits, especially considering the weather. Let's hope the summer has arrived by the time we see you again in August.