Cricket week 2012 - Wet and getting wetter

Paddy Harman strikes against Old Millfordians

The funny thing is that, however badly affected by the rain we feel that cricket week has been, we've also been quite lucky. Monday and Wednesday produced full, completed games of cricket in (at times) hot and sunny weather and Thursday gave us half a day's worth. Given the forecasts, there could have been no cricket whatsoever.

Monday's game against Old Millfieldians was a great cricket week match which went down to the last over with everyone involved. managed well by Tom Crump, OC's defended 242 by bowling OM's out eight runs short in the penultimate over. Duncan Allen, back in the UK for a short period of time and keep to get some OC games in, produced a classy 85 which was the foundation of the innings. Will Langmead (40) and Tom Crump (38*) were other notable contributions while others chipped in. The likes of Tom Merry and Tristan Rosenfeldt have played little to no cricket this season so it was pleasing for these characters to get out onto the field and play the game they both love. Graeme Brown was the hero of the bowling effort recording figures of 6 for 78 from 24 overs of probing offspin. It was the perfect start to what was to become a mighty evening.

The Merry BBQ is as firm a fixture in the calender as any of the big old boys' games. Come rain or shine we knew that Phil would be stationed at one end of the patio churning out flavoursome burgers and sausages with tongs in hand with Rosemary quietly ensuring that everyone has all that they could possibly hope for at a BBQ. A large contingent of OC's (perhaps 40), the majority in blazers were present which is testament to the night's popularity. It was nice to see faces such as Mike Payne and Stuart Meaker in addition to the usual playing crowd. An enjoyable session of fines ensued and then the essential trip down the hill to Guildford's premium nightclub. Cope and the Crumps were chauffered by a rayband wearing Meaker (despite it being dark outside) in his open topped convertible whilst others had to make do with more mundane forms of transport - Renault Espace's driven by part time students from Chennai for example.

Enough said ...

Needless to say, if a club creates a VIP area then the OC's will expect to be in it. This VIP area, about the size of a washing machine on the corner of the dancefloor was inhabited by some shady looking Park Barn dwellers who clearly hadn't paid to be in there. They were ejected. Of course there are more stories to tell but this wouldn't be the forum to do it would it Will Langmead?

Tuesday's game against Old Georgians was disappointingly rained off. According to Mac, on some sort of self created undercover reconaissance mission, the OG's pitch was perfectly playable at 9.55am that morning but sadly, for whatever reason, they had long since pulled the plug.

Wednesday saw a decent game against the School in which we came up shore. A first innings score of 175 was insufficient. Rob Jones top scored with 69 but the top order generally failed to fire against some tight and penetrative bowling. For much of the School's innings they were cruising, especially once the Scriven boys came in. Once they had been winkled out however - Matt Crump and Paddy Harman being comfortably the pick of the bowlers, the young middle order appeared uncertain how to knock off the remaining runs and for a time, the pressure was building sufficiently that it looked as if they might choke. However, we were 20 rums short and couldn't snare the Scrivens early enough. The School boys deserved to win but there is no doubt we will look back and feel that, on paper, we should never have lost.

Thursday's match was abandoned at around 4pm and, as there may be a report forthcoming from enthusiastic cricket blogger and captain for the day Paddy Harman, there shall be no further details here.

Friday at Tonbridge is off. Sunday at home against the Buccaneers we shall have to wait and see (This was also cancelled). Ed Henderson

Graeme Brown on the way to his best return since most of the current School 1st XI were embryos