Thunder, Lightning, the way we're batting is frightening.......

I was asked to talk a little more about the cricket and less waffle, so......

after winning the toss and electing to field, England were delighted to get the early wicket of Brendan McCullum.......

Ok. yes we did lose the toss, and yes we were asked to bat first on a very ropey looking track. Out went Degs and Ash, and they were looking nice and comfortable until the rain came down and we had to leave the field. After the rain break, with the game reduced to 40 overs, the openers went back out to try and re-establish themselves. Unfortunately, this was not to be. Ash was unlucky trying to pull one which came off his glove and popped up to square leg.
Matt came in, and looked to be settling in to his normal rhythm, until a ball he left nipped back and climbed to catch his glove to be caught behind. Will came and went quickly, getting bowled by a ball that cut back through the gate, and followed quickly by Rich, who edged Shane Warne to the keeper who took a v.good one handed catch. 3 wickets lost with the score on 50.
Nick was the next man in, who turned the tables and started putting the pressure back on the bowling side with his usual powerful hitting. Some well placed boundaries over the slips followed by a nice hit back over the bowlers head soon had them ringing the bowling changes with one of those changes reaping its reward, bowling Nick after he had scored a very useful 25.
Pops came to the crease and joined Degs, and these two carried on taking the momentum away from DB, and hopes of a good score grew with every boundary and scampered single that we eeked out. Degs was the next to go, pulling their slow bowler round to the square leg fielder who did well to wake up and take the catch. A very good knock in the circumstances, and i'm sorry i missed your on-drive, but i have mentioned it anyway. 63 very good runs.
As with the score on 50, we also lost 3 wickets on 130. Hayden skying a full toss straight to mid-on and Tom getting bowled first ball. Karl came out and joined Pops and helped move the score on to 149 before Pops was given out LBW for a good 24 and Liam was then caught behind for the 5th duck of the innings. (Tom's was the only 1st baller though, just in case i haven't mentioned it)

more rain at tea time, with the covers on just before it rained, but the game reduced to 38 overs. With pitch and outfield drying out, it certainly looked a different pitch to the one we batted on. Good opening spells from matt and Tom went unrewarded, and it wasnt looking good. neither was the weather for a spell, with thunder and lightning all around us, but miraculously missing us. First change Nick found the edge first, but Tom dropped a dolly in the gully and then made Pops chase after the ball for him. The next chance went again to Tom, with a pull shot going straight to him at square leg, followed quickly by another which Tom decided to stop with his, err, lower abdominal region....?
The first wicket came when Karl produced a ripper which caught the outside edge of the opener to be caught by Will, and Karl got the 2nd wicket as well when the other opener didnt pick Karl's quicker ball and looped it straight to Liam at midwicket.
that was our last wicket, and runs seemed to come in a hurry then. Keep smiling boys, it will all click soon