Match Report by Peter Fairbairn

A sunny and breezy day saw us start at exactly 2pm - so exactly half an hour late as usual! Skipper Richard was keen to field first, seeing moisture in the wicket for the bowlers. So he lost the toss and the oppo skipper, seeing the same thing, opted to field. Richard chose Ken to open the batting with him and the innings got off to an auspicious start with Richard gracefully pulling the opening ball for 4. At 18 (runs, not age!) Ken, after a cracking late cut for 4, was point blank lbw on the toe. At No 3, Amit was agressive from the word go, though his obvious lack of experience of playing poor legside bowling counted against him and he took a while to get going. Richard played positively until, with the ball sitting up and begging, he

a) hit it for 6 over midwicket
b) rejected the obvious and tapped it to mid off, or
c) toe ended it straight back to a very grateful bowler -
your vote on a postcard please!

50 off 12 is the kind of start every player in the team should be looking for, but it has so often eluded us in recent times. Amit, now getting into a good rhythm, was joined by Glenn who, in his usual fashion, spent a while digging for rabbits before realising he was supposed to be hitting a cricket ball, The partnership prospered as Amit timed the ball beautifully and Glenn eventually got his brain to work. Amit passed 50 and accelerated his strike rate before giving it his all, eventually bowled for an impressive 71 including thirteen 4s. Stiven joined Glenn, having spent half an hour in the nets, but was unfortunate to get a goody that cleaned up his stumps early on. Arif was agressive from the word go, giving good support to Glenn, Arif even admitted afterwards that he was only looking for a single to give Glenn the strike as he hit a majestic boundary. Glenn accelerated beautifully, just needing an easy 12 off the last over to complete his century. A tall ask for an early middle aged spread, and despite some big larumphs he had to settle for a mighty and wonderfully timed 90 not out. The Horizontals ended on 228 for 4 and repaired for tea in good humour.

With tea taken, Horizontals took the field with Matt opening the bowling from the Road End. Even without his children there to egg him on, Matt started fairly well - if you can call successive wicket maidens an acceptable start?! Continuing the good start, the oppo were mercilessly reduced to 6 for 4 (one run off the bat and a few extras where Rocky Rahul was having a little difficulty with his run up) At this stage the skipper was wisely looking for his early death bowlers Roger and Pete to bring things to an early conclusion. Roger had a difficult chance dropped on the boundary, while Pete - well he looked a little rusty to say the least!. Trying to tease out the Grumblers did not seem to be paying off, and their 5th wicket partnership consolidated superbly as their batsmen played sensibly, combining solid defence with excellect driving and cutting to the extent that it seemd victory would be unlikely. Then, in a few instants things changed. Arif put on some good pressure and started the wickets flowing again. Next Glenn Ninety, who had dropped an absolute dolly which could have had us all in the bar considerably earlier than expected, came on to bowl. His first delivery somehow took the off stump of the oppos most resilient batsman - and it was game on again! With some 6 overs left Matt was recalled to the attack with 3 wickets to go for. Fortunately Heather and the kids, who had spent some time saying goodbye to Daddy, hung around to spur him on a little further. He just couldn't resist the familial pressure and digging deep produced a fabulous second spell that knocked the Old Grumblers for six! Well actually for 7! Matt fininshed with figures of 11-3-7-9.
A great end to a great game in which the Grumblers belied their name, being sporting and enterprising guys with whom it would be good to lock horns again in the future.