Last Of The Summer Vine

'But it's not supposed to be like this,' bleated a few of us who'd spent the morning perusing all the available weather forecasts, as we sat under the porch at Frenchay listening to the rain drumming on the roof. The sight of some of the opposing Lansdown team turning up with a rugby ball got a few hot under the collar, but for a while it looked like the more appropriate sport.



Eventually, the drizzle eased a bit and the covers were rolled off to reveal a reasonable, if sticky playing surface. Bolts won the toss and dithered little in his decision to have a bowl, electing Harry and Dave L to take the new ball. The young Lansdown openers started very slowly, thanks to some thumbscrew-tight bowling from Dave but it was Harry who made the breakthrough when Bolts pouched the first of his three catches.

Justin was on duty behind the stumps again and made Martin a happy man when he came on to bowl and provoked an edge that Justin eagerly snaffled. Sadat generated some pace from the other end and eventually bowled the other stubborn opener to leave Lansdown on 69-3 some time after the 20 overs drinks break.

The rain had continued to fall on and off but mercifully the ball hadn't degenerated into a sodden sponge, although it did get a bit scuffed after being deposited for several straight boundaries off Martin, who was somewhat reluctant to let your correspondent have the ball when given the nod from the skip. Hidayat came on at the other end and broke the middle order partnership that had been steadily threatening to crescendo to a competitive final total and justice was achieved not long after, when Martin caught out his earlier tormentor.

The novice Sunday 1st XI bowler had further success when Justin took a fine, low, leg-side catch and then again, off his worst ball, to Bolt's finest catch. He was then somewhat perplexed to discover that it was a 35 overs match and that the innings was at an end with Lansdown on 151-7.



A few sandwiches later, Justin and Bolts were off to navigate the way to the target. The first three balls hit Justin uncomfortably, the fourth he prodded behind for a catch. After the jittery start, Wilko proceeded to compile a fifty run partnership with Bolts, playing his deft, trademark, late dabs until Bolts was lbw for 20 and he was joined by Duncan. The score cruised up at a good rate to 81 before the pair went in quick succession, Duncan to a catch, Wilko stumped smartly for 33. A few runs later, Harry was adjudged lbw for a duck, leaving the Cowboys on a still healthy, but possibly crumbly underneath 86-5.

Contrary to appearances, the next man in wasn't hiding, but sheltering amongst the conifers from the wind as the chilly autumnal evening descended. He waited and waited, as Hidayat and Dave L progressed with just the right blend of care and aggression, taking the total towards and past 100. The fielding side displayed a mixture of superlative throwing and slapstick as they tried in vain to break the partnership. Spectators arrived from the friendly match on the other pitch (big up Nelly's 50) as the pair at the wicket calmly overhauled their target with an unbroken 69 run partnership in the 32nd over.



The pink champagne flowed, followed by a pint served for the last time by Chris and Ian, who are retiring from their voluntary running of the bar and will be hard to replace.

Man of the Match was shared between Hidayat, Dave L and Tim and the Cider Moment split between Dave being bowled off a no ball and the third of Bolt's catches.

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