Season peters out in the rain at the Hogs

The final game of the season was in doubt after a Saturday downpour but the Hampshire Hogs groundsmen had done a splendid job ensuring the pitch was playable. This news came as a surprise to the younger members of our side, who were in London nightclubs until the early hours.

It was a remarkable achievement to have 11 men at Warnford by 10.55 and with a few damp patches on a length Eds Copleston lost the toss and we batted. Jack Scriven and Tom Cooper opened up and Scriven was aggressive from the start, defying the skipper’s orders of taking us to lunch without any risks. Cooper was bounced out by a ball that rose sharply and Damien Hill fell shortly after. Brad and Jack Scriven took us to 60 for 2 at well over a run a ball before Jack (45 off 31balls!) was bowled trying to hit a good length ball back to Cranleigh. Phil Roper was immediately adjudged leg-before and we were 70 for 4 as Copleston joined the "older, better looking, yet unlucky with girls” Scriven. Brad Scriven appeared to take over his brother’s domination until he chipped up a catch to mid-off and when David Bugge was also given out lbw on the front foot, we were 80 for 6 with 45 mins until lunch.

A quick game is a good game but some of the shots played made it look like a T10 blast gone wrong. Copleston and Hugh Jolly took us to the break without any further alarms and began to open up after lunch. Punishing any poor length deliveries, Copleston went to fiftyand took us out of a dangerous situation. The pair put on 124 for the 7th wicket before Jolly was fell lef-before and Copleston fell on 98. A first baller for the lesser-seen Pete Hobbs and a skied sweep for Paddy Harman left the not out expert Mike Chetwode stranded again.

The Hogs reply started in the rain and clouds gathered. Chetwode opened up, needing two wickets to "make it to 700 for the club and retire" - he struck quickly trapping the Hogs opener in front. However the heavens then opened hard and an early tea was taken and the game eventually called off at 4.15pm. This left Chetwode on 699 wickets and needing to play again next season.

It was a pleasure have both our outgoing president Bugge and incoming president Chetwode on the pitch. The best week of weather this summer was during OCCC cricket week, thankfully. Since then it’s been fairly unpleasant - we wish for better weather next summer and hope to see you all at the OCCC end of season golf day. Eds