Cowley CC v Stroud Post Office CC Thursday 1st August 2013

On a glorious summers evening we joined our friends from the Stroud Post Office team for our last home game of the season. The ground looked a picture and Dave had prepared an excellent looking wicket on which Rich elected to bowl first.

Keith got us off to a great start down the hill with a probing maiden over. Dave opening up the hill went one better and dismissed both openers - bowling one off his boots and taking a sharp return catch to dismiss the other. Cowley found themselves on the right side of a 2 overs, no runs for 2 wickets scoreline - possibly for the first time ever. Keith bowled another tight over each to keep the pressure on and then Dave bowled the no3 for a duck - 4 runs for 3 wickets from 4 overs. Was I dreaming? Tom was slightly expensive but rewarded with a wicket in his second over getting his line spot on. Tony bowled a testing couple of overs and also got in the scorebook as Jake completed a good catch to dismiss the dangerous no6. Jon bowling his canny spin accounted for the tenacious no4 bowling him with guile and flight. He could have had another if he'd held on to a hard return catch. The no7 looked like a very handy player and without taking any risks was scoring freely before feathering one through to the keeper from a tempting delivery from Jake. Conrad who had been hit for a few had the last laugh bowling the no8. The aggressive no9 gave James some easy catching practice off the bowling of Sam to bring last man Andy S to join the post office captain Toby. They batted carefully for the best part of 4 overs evading some excellent deliveries from James before Tim finshed off the innings as Toby fell for a stagnant 3 thanks to a great one handed grab from Jake. Andy (11*) had denied us the satisfaction of dismissing him but the posties had made hard work of posting a total and 86 looked a little light even against Cowleys inconsistant batting.

Tim and Dave were given the responsibility of getting our reply off to a good start and weathered the opening bowlers attack with Tim in particular not allowing the bowlers to settle. At the halfway mark we were on course with 43 on the board when Tim edged behind to depart for a well made 22 which included 4 boundaries. Sam replaced Tim and formed a solid partnership with Dave as good running and regular boundaries eased us to victory with 3 and a half overs to spare. Dave finished with an assured 25 not out, and Sam with his top score for the season, a pleasing 28 not out.

Tim fired up the barbie again and the beer flowed again as we bade farewell to the ground for the year. The fate of the ground for next year is in the balance but it was good to finish on a high note and if we can put some more performances together like today we should do well in our remaining away games. Frampton beckons on Sunday - bring on those short boundaries!