Match Report

Your correspondent arrived somewhat nervously for the above fixture...it being the first match for over a month, the first, indeed the annual occasion when he was accompanied by his wife to a match and the fact that he arrived early..though the presence of Mrs. Greenwood may have had something to do with that! In the event there was no need to worry. In reverse order, the standard late arrival of two team members made him feel
as though he had never been away, whilst the unbroken sunshine ensured that his wife would get her customary three hours sleep at the annual
fixture. Of his first concern, more later. Long Marston were inserted by our vertically unchallenged captain David
Oliver and began slowly, against the furious pace attack of Brian Slade and...well just Brian to be honest, as Olly would never claim to be
imitating Malcolm Marshall. A straightforward chance to the 'keeper was caught, the peerless Alastair Rolfe behind the stumps for the first time
in two years...Brian later reported that this was the first catch to be taken off his bowling since the five drops at the Guards game..plus ca
change. He was sadly to be reminded of that feature, with three very hard chances being put down. Olly's persistence brought no reward but the
introduction of Guy Lambert, back in his normal guise after his recent reincarnation as an opening batsman, brought controversy, the
ball appearing to strike the stumps and the batsman failing to walk. In fairness, this batsman was unrelated to our infamous friend from Wendover
- another 'victim' of Brian who failed to walk - and as soon as he had established from Alastair that he had not dislodged the bail, he walked
off immediately. The innings of LM then meandered until the introduction of nos. 7 and 8 who demonstrated power and skill. This coincided with the
re-introduction of Brian to the attack, but Brian did get the last word, having no.7 bowled. In the end, LM batted for almost three hours for 202 -
5. Before assiduous readers reply to complain of a mathematical failure, the no. 5 retired with a side strain...although it could easily have been
a stomach strain located in his side, if you get my drift.... After the customary excellent tea, Hetairoi walked out with a maximum two
hours batting time. Messrs Ball and Rolfe J began circumspectly, neither having batted for over a month. John Ball was unlucky enough to get an
inside edge onto his stumps, which brought our eminent captain to the crease. John Rolfe then played his copybook glide through mid-wicket and
looked in good form until he attempted to guide a ball to third man and was caught at slip.[Ed...can't you just tell us the result and get off
home...we don't need this much copy]. The partnership between Oliver and Greenwood realised 104 before David was bowled by one which may have kept
low. A cameo from Clive, involving a sequence of four overs when he managed a single off the last ball, ended with a similar guide to slip, but Rolfe A arrived as if he had been batting all summer and finished the match with a pulled 6 over square leg with over 3 overs still remaining.

Ball....7; Rolfe J 23; Oliver ....51; Greenwood 71*; MacIntosh 8(I think)..Rolfe A 31*

Hetairoi therefore won their second match in a row - surely a winning 'streak' but are still in deficit after Guards and Australia House defeats..does the latter count as two Brian? Phew Bedtime....