With their strongest line up of the season and after an easy victory the week before the Rogers approached old foes West End Esher full of confidence. Heavy rain caused a delay to the start but only 10 overs were lost and we got underway at 2pm, Skipper Rich inserting the oppo.

Tribe, buoyed by a gypsy family day out just off the outfield reminding him of his youth, started well offering the batsman little to attack. At the other end Jimmy Randall opened and his first over was reminiscent of Mark Wood such was the pace and hostility. Sadly I’m not sure if the conditions got to his head but the remainder of his spell was more Victoria Wood.

Tribe took the first 2 bowled then lbw before Zachy, replacing Victoria, had 3 smart catches held by Arthur, Jimmy & Hally, another high one for Hall though if last week was Burge Khalifa this was more Shard…. With another from Tribe and a little Lording West End were floundering at 94-7 however no9 through a combination of huge luck and some powerful hitting and skill brought WE totally back into the game as 86 runs were put on. It was left to Rich & Arthur to finally end the partnership and bring down the run rate as WE ended 193 all out, at least 80 more than they should have. Ageing Roche snared a couple behind the stumps too.

West End tea’s were always one of the best and though the sandwiches were pretty flavoursome the lack of other choices of foodstuffs was disappointing. 6/10.

Roche & Drew strode to the crease confidently after their 99 opening partnership last week but it quickly became apparent the opening bowler from the Garson’s End was a tricky customer getting a lot of away swing and movement off the pitch. He had Drew play and miss a few times, first dropped by the keeper and then taken. He then took Rich & Hollo (with Sai falling at the other end) in quick succession before Hall & Roche tried to pull things back a little however when Roche played on V’s were 35-5. Arthur soon succumbed to the mystery man’s 5for with a real jaffer that the stud fiddler did well to nick.

Hall struck a few nice shots before nicking behind for 21 and with the opener finally out of the attack Tribe and Zachy put together our highest partnership of the day, 22, for the tenth wicket but all to no avail as we were comfortably beaten.

A game we could and should have won but too many bad balls allowing West End to escape to a big score and a bowler of reasonable pace and great skill and accuracy who shouldn’t be playing 2nd XI Div 2 cricket (but apparently they didn’t know he was so good!)