The Lowerhouse captain won the toss and elected to bat first on what looked like a very good batting wicket. It proved as much, as they scored 205-6, a score that I was quite content with given that the off side boundary was only 30-35 yards from the square. The wickets were shared around as I used 9 bowlers in my quest for wickets. The most successful bowler proved to be Sam Heap with his 2-15 off 3 overs. He got these wickets through pure aggression and snarling as he menaced and bounced the 13 year old four foot batsmen!

 

In our reply we were quickly reduced to15-2 inside 5 overs. However Ormy and Nasser then put on a stand of 125 in 20 overs before the latter departed at 140-3.

 

Nasser Hussain in only his 2^nd cricket match in two years clubbed an imperious and classy 87. Supporting long hair and a physique that would even put a pepporami stick  to shame he looked more like a rock star high on Lowerhouse’s dodgy teas, than a cricketer. At least I know what you would get if you mixed the genes of Ginola and Goldielocks! Never the less his innings contained no less than 5 sixes clubbed and timed round the ground. One even ended outside the ground, hitting the front door of a Lowerhouse terraced house. Apparently there was some damage to the door so we were in two minds whether to donate the proceeds of Nasser's collection to her (£13.26) so she could buy a new bungalow a little further away from the ground, in Burnley.

 

James ‘Homo-rod’ is surely becoming Mr Consistent in the thirds team as he hit an unbeaten and chanceless 77. With his shirt collars pointing upwards, he tried to look like Trescothick but in fact ran between the wickets like a slug on sleeping tablets. Even Inzamam would have lectured him in his running between the wickets as he turned easy 3s into hard worked 2’s. Other than his running, he played a very sold knock, which was noted for its classy cover drives and flicks. He is impressing me more and more with his ‘flicking’ techniques and could prove a solid role model for many others to come.  In the end Ormy and myself (14*) managed to carry us through to the target and victory by 5 wickets. At last a well deserved win,  largely through the efforts of Nas and Ormy but well supported by the rest of the team.