Newdigate won the toss and put us in on a track that looked to have a bit for everybody.

Batting
The openers for the first game, ( technically ) were The New Skip and the Very Very Old Skip
A solid start from the Vs saw a good aggressive run rate put us in a strong position.
Roche soon departed for 10 with a career high run rate of 62…. #onfire!
Next in was Hollo whose winter has consisted of burgers and protein shakes, took too much inspiration from that and was In-N-Out in a flash without scoring!
The mini collapse was halted when Boney Ms Ra-Ra Rob Bastin came to the crease to join the new skip, with boundaries and quick running seeing them get a well deserved 50 partnership.
Having had enough of the quick running, Rich put an end to a quick single, that put an end to Rob’s innings, run out for a nice 27.
Skip Leeson ( Run Trader ) was joined by Big Al Moffat with a simple aim of no quick singles if he could help it!
The partnership was cut short though, when Hollo’s finger sent the skipper packing on 36! Plumb or never out depending on what side of the coin you were.
Lord 6, Vish 4 and Pollard 0 all looked rusty but buying valuable time allowing Big Al who was looking anything but rusty, the chance to relentlessly pepper the boundary.
Next in on debut was Sam McDonald, the Melbourne Marauder at 6ft 9” ( not many people can get away with calling Jimmy Randall ‘Titch’).
Big Mac was here for a good time not a long time and raced to 11 before he missed the clever straight one!
Tribe 8 and Zach 1, helped move the score along, all the time while The Grand Moff ( Star Wars reference, but lost on me ) creamed the ball to all parts.
The Vandals scored a decent 194 thanks to a brilliant anchor innings from the Super Moff as he recorded his highest ever career innings of 83* and red ink to boot!
Well batted Al, I am sure you body will let you know how well you did in the coming days!

Newdigate set 195 for the win.

Tea
Very good, plenty to go around. Even enough for seconds at the bar after the game!

Bowling
With the riddled Tribe breaking down again The Lord and Zach opened up the Vandals attack.
It wasn’t long before Pollard decided to get in on the action, that the injury action is. Leaving the Vs 2 bowlers down and 2 traffic bollards in the field!

Zach 5ft 10” ( 6ft 2” with afro ) bowled well with some corking deliveries, taking 2 for 22 off his allotted 9.
The Lord 4ft 1” ( 3ft 9” without his Cuban heels ) bowled a thankless but necessary 9 luckless overs for 29.

While there were no collapses from Newdigate, our bowling generally kept them way behind the rate so we didn’t have to chase any wickets, which was lucky with only 7 fielders and 2 statues.

The next duo were Billy the Vish and Sam Mc hoping for a Mcflurry of wickets!

Billy bowled a steady spell that heralded 2 wickets for 33 off his 9 overs and took 2 great catches. Billy also got the key wicket of their opener thanks to a Stunning head height catch from Teflon Roche who dropped so much during the game ( including his guts at various intervals ) that I was fearing for my life at slip when the opener nicked it!

Sam, thanks to the Vandals Injury list had come from not bowling in about 10 years apart from the odd game of T20 in Oz, to be asked to bowl his full allocation straight through. An impressive 1 for 24 off his 9, a catch and a week of aches and pains were his reward.
It’s fair to say Big Mac’s body after his 9 overs was not Lovin it and was seen replenishing lost fluids with many Guinness at the bar later! These Kiwi’s love a drink……

Down to the last 2 bowlers in the stable and feeling left out, Ra-Ra decided to tweak his knee a over before his spell!
Thankfully Ra-Ra was able amble to the crease and bowl some filthy spin and was rewarded with a wicket for 20 off his 3 overs.

The Skipper being the last eligible bowler, bowled a tight key spell and managed to not get injured! Picking up 3 key wickets and he got a catch too! Finishing on 3 for 12 off 3.5 overs.

Newdigate finally all out for 153. Tough day which would have been easier if we stayed healthy, but we battled through. We were very close to seeing a Holloway bowing debut had the injuries carried on!

MOM: Allan Moffat

Next week Away to Sutton Challengers where the MOM will be the physio if we can get 11 fit bodies playing!

Up the Vs