For the 13As’ first league game of the season, we travelled to Benfleet with my own hopes for an extended lie-in dashed by the rain easing off towards the scheduled start time. With the outfield slowed by the early morning showers, a low scoring affair was in prospect, where the game would hinge on solid teamwork and moments of individual inspiration. Benfleet batted first, and were restricted to 75–9 thanks to two such moments, with Luke K clean bowling Benfleet’s dangerous opener Charlie without scoring and a superb run out from the bullet-like arm of Chris Hall to remove the other opener Josh who was going well on 13. A mixed bowling performance from our lads, who conceded a startling 43 in wides and no balls. Luke S (2 – 15 from 4) and Luke K (1 – 7 from 4) providing the main spearhead.
A lively and accurate Benfleet opening attack restricted scoring, but some careful defensive play (a mis-print SURELY?!) from Steven L and Matt J saw off the openers with Matt falling in the 4th. By the 10th over the score had reached 27 for 4, still with work to be done. Another solid partnership between Steven and the unflappable Luke K for the 5th wicket took the score to 58 before a bizarre mix-up with the poor shivering scorer (sorry!) led to Steven being given out LBW when he should by rights have recorded a second retirement of the season. It was left to the wise old head of Luke K to shepherd us home with 3.5 overs to spare. A keenly fought contest between 2 evenly matched teams, played in a good spirit by both sides and despite the grim weather well supported by both sets of parents. Some important lessons from the game — 1) extras can potentially be costly, 2) parents who can’t add up should be kept well away from the scorebook, particularly when their own offspring is batting…