Match Report

An unexpected match, given the recent poor weather and an oustandingly unexpected result. Your correspondent arrived confident that the whole team knew that it was Leigh Reigate and not Leigh Tonbridge. This was negotiated by all but a combination of motorway jams and the inability of Surrey County Council to signpost Leigh at all meant that we began at 1.35 with 5 people. Fortunately we won the toss and therefore elected to bat. Clive and John B. opened cautiously against the usual tight attack, although this was , also as usual, enlivened considerably by the hostility of Paul Watson, whose follow through takes him three quarters of the way down the track and thus ample opportunity to comment on the luck of the batsman, his parentage, the agricultural nature of the last shot etc. This is an opportunity he never misses, which makes for highly amusing, if rather long overs. Greenwood D noballed him, to be told he had never previously been no-balled in his career, prompting thoughts of this is the first time then etc. Four deliveries in a row against Clive which all came close were followed by a fifth stroked to the boundary and the customary torrent of abuse and cheers from the boundary! Pablo and Clive took the score to about 100 for 1, but there was then a collapse, requiring our laid back No 5 to change out of his shorts and put some pads on. Sadly Robin Wallis looking in touch then edged one to the keeper. Sharp singles from Matthews and Greenwood T then saw the score reach 180 for 8, and tea at 4.15 after 2 and a half hours batting.

Playing 20 over from 5.40, Hetarioi enjoyed a wayward opening spell from Jonathan Dudding who nevertheless produced one excellent delivery to take out the middle stump of one opener. However in general the bowling was not that accurate, in comparison to Leigh, and at 150 for 3 with 14 overs left, things looked grim. Yet every now and then, miracles do occur and with Brian and Pablo in tandem, the remaining 7 wickets went down for 28, leaving Hetairoi the victors by 2 runs - the closest ever, in terms of runs? Celebrations in one changing room, and silence in the other. Still, relations remain good between the teams and we can bask in the glory of a great victory to conclude the season. 11 wins to only 5 losses, with about 6 drawn I think.

Bowling - Brian 6 for 50, Pablo 3 for 20 odd - and 7 bowled in the innings, averting all controversy

Clive's cover drive for 4 off Mr Watson
Mr Watson's verbal response to that shot
Stephen's quick singles, which effectively won the match
Brian's sixth wicket, the most by a Hetairoi bowler this year

A couple of end of season matters. Firstly arising out of the Leigh game, having reread the report, I'm a little conscious that the weight seems unduly in favour of the batsmen. Since it was Brian and Pablo who pulled us out of the proverbial jaws of defeat, they deserve all the credit...and Pablo figures were 3 for 11 I've been asked to remind everyone. A truly heroic performance, only spoilt by my car breaking down, returning on a relay lorry to Oxford in time to greet Sunday morning and having to sit for two hours in a pub with assorted members of the opposition present and trying not to smirk too much whenever we discussed the match, and sort of knowing they knew we knew they knew we were secretly discussing it.