Waverley do the business

Fielding display sets up comfortable victory...

The last time Waverley visited Purbrook they were put to the sword as the home side racked up a record score of 324. Andy Minshaw ("the Mincer"), James Wright ("Jim Jam"), Marcus Carmichael ("MC"), Russ Golding ("Raoul"), Simon Brewer ("KV"), Adrian Day ("Mog"), Jamie Harris ("DJ Teabag"), Simon Knox ("Chewy"), Matt Du Gay ("Doogs"), Peter Brewer ("Mr B") and Adam Carmichael ("AC") were looking to set the record straight.

Waverley took to the field first with speed twins Doogs and Teabag taking the new ball. They both got off to the perfect start with a wicket each in their first overs, a catch from Chewy off Doogs and a trademark MC catch off Teabag. The pace bowlers kept a lid on the scoring on a damp pitch but the home side still managed to put together a fifty run partnership for the third wicket. Enter Chewy, who continued his fine bowling form this season by removing C Marsh to a catch from Mog and luring R Marsh down the wicket a couple of overs later, a regulation stumping from the Mincer. S Figgins was proving to be a thorn in Waverley's side but with his score on 48, he tried one big shot too many and was well held by Doogs at cow corner off the bowling of Mr B. Brother Knox then castled R Mitchell to finish with figures of 3-7 off seven overs, with the home side struggling on 75-6. Mr B then took an excellent one-handed catch off his own bowling to dismiss the Purbrook skipper as he also finished with excellent figures, 2-6 from eight overs. AC, on for Chewy, bowled like a drain for his first two overs but somehow ended up with a wicket thanks to a very well-taken catch from Mog, sprinting round from mid-on to pouch the chance. When AC picked up his second wicket (a half-volley that never bounced), the home side were 107-9. Mog wrapped things up with a wicket for himself, setting Waverley 123 to win from their 40 overs.

After an excellent tea the Mincer and Jim Jam were tasked with starting the Waverley reply and for fifteen overs Waverley made good headway, both batsmen managing to keep the scoreboard ticking over despite the damp wicket. But Waverley wobbled when first Jim Jam and then the Mincer fell within three deliveries trying to force the issue. MC and Raoul took up the baton but when MC was trapped LBW a few overs later, the merest inklings of doubt started to creep into the minds of the onlookers. Any such doubts were put to rest by Raoul and KV, who kept the score board ticking along with a mixture of ones, twos, threes and a slice of luck (Raoul dropped on three occasions) that soon saw Waverley above the run rate. When KV heaved a six back over the bowler's head ("not the first Waverley player known to heave", quipped Loz, looking in Teabag's direction) Waverley found themselves needing only two runs to win the game. Determined to make it difficult, Raoul and KV both lost their wickets at this point (caught and LBW respectively), but only one was required to win and Teabag duly delivered the winning run to complete a five wicket victory to Waverley.

Mr B was awarded the Man of the Match Hat for his impressive bowling display and the catch he took off his own bowling. In a game strangely devoid of offenders, Raoul was given the Pink T-Shirt for some dubious fielding off the bowling of Doogs. Jim Jam won the Supporters' Egyptian Hieroglyph Pink T-Shirt award for the string of expletives he utter after managing to dive over the top of the ball while attempting a run-out. This week sees a special Contract from the Clio, inadvertently made when Teabag was in discussions with AC and MC on the way to the game. Bemoaning how his friend was not allowed out by his missus, Teabag stated "If I ever become like that AC, you can punch me in the face." A verbal contract without a doubt. There would have been a Comment from the Clio on the way back, but AC unfortunately slipped into a coma as MC and Teabag talked about refereeing for the full hour's drive...