Coming off the rails

The second match, against Ablem Breweries ended in a seven-wicket defeat after what was generally agreed to have been one of the worst performances by the club in many years. The only highlight was the first century on tour, Alan Cope following his 76 in the first match with an unbeaten 110.

On a searingly hot day we batted first after confusion between the tour organiser and captain led to the abandonment of the toss and some heated words. Mike Chase, who was presented with a cap to mark his 100th appearance shortly before he went out to open, was soon back in the shed after being trapped plumb lbw – he didn’t query Pete Hobbs’ decision but was unimpressed that Hobbs gave the finger with a big grin. Tristan Rosenfeldt mixed crisp driving with much playing and missing before, exhausted, he was stumped for 32. At the other end Eds Copleston, in his first innings since the Brewers Cup final, looked like someone who had got to be at 6am .. which he had.

Cope’s arrival came in the 14th over with the score on 49, and he immediately overtook Copleston and upped the tempo with some textbook drives and deft sweeps – both conventional and reverse. With Copleston happy to give the strike to his more adventurous partner, the pair added 80 in 14 overs, both surviving drops in the deep before Copleston chanced his arm once too often to be caught at deep midwicket.

Cope then really cut loose, although even as the fittest man in the side he started to look tired in the closing overs and Sam Langmead struggled to give him as much of the strike as we needed. As a result, the last five overs were not as productive as they might have been.

We got off to a good start, Watkinson bowling Viswant, who had been dropped at cover by Langmead in the first over, with his first ball. With Ed Henderson in good form at the other end, we slowly exercised a stranglehold, even though the left-hander Viabhag was ruthless on anything wayward. Martin Williamson made the second breakthrough, trapping Sunil leg-before sweeping a straight one, to leave the hosts on 51 for 2 in the 13th over. At that point we were in a good position, but then it all went wrong.

Tom Hufton bowled well, but it was our lack of a fifth bowler than really told. Langmead went for 24 off two overs, Damian Hill 34 off four, and Copleston 22 off 10 balls. Surprisingly, it was Copleston who got the third wicket when, after three full tosses, he bowled one that pitched and Sarvesh missed an attempted sweep. But Advaet joined Viabhag and they began to pick of runs with ease, aided by some dreadful ground fielding, mindless throwing and too many extras. The last chance came and went with the score on 164 for 3 when Advaet was bowled by Henderson only for Mike Payne to call no-ball. Heads dropped and by the end we were a shambles.

A dispirited group returned to the hotel, but once fines had laid low several and amused the rest, it was out for a meal and clubbing. The less said about that the better, suffice to say we left with 20 and returned with 22.