Match Report
Sunday 8 August -v- Belvedere at Woolwich Road
After an absence of ten years, we renewed acquaintance with Belvedere, hoping to maintain a recent good run of Sunday form. The rarity of a won toss created all sorts of dilemmas for the Nob, but he finally opted to give the hosts first knock on an uneven looking track. The quartet of bowlers all reaped reward, both from the pitch and Belvedere’s over elaborate stroke-play. Slack and Silver Fox took the new ball and in ten over spells each returned two wickets at moderate cost. Chris although finishing as most expensive, was the pick of the attack and deserved better than the 2-38 figures with which he finished. Belvedere unveiled a ‘Darkie’ that made our own look like a Saint, when some brotherly love brought about the second of two Crusader style run outs and with it threats of unspeakable damage to one’s kin. Belvedere grafted their way to an unimpressive 119 from 41 overs, a target that should have been well within our compass. Tea was taken in amongst the sand, cement and unfinished building work that constituted Belvedere’s home.
Not for the first time we showed fragility within our batting line-up that was difficult to comprehend. Against an attack that had as much venom as Jim’s sperm and as much accuracy as a Timm’s goal-kick we managed to gift-wrap victory to one of the worst sides we play. I would hope to find some crumbs of comfort from a display such as this, maybe Duckie’s resilient twenty can count as something, but at the end of the day we had only ourselves to blame for a spineless, pathetic display. Along with Gordon, only the tail of Lardy and B'Stard could emerge with any credit in tact, theirs for a rearguard action that saved us from complete embarrassment. We finally totalled a meagre 92; and that from only 23 overs. With work not completed on the bar, we were invited back to the Fox for an after match drink, but the Skip’s normal ability to stomach defeat was tested to it’s limit and he departed early.
