I owe Sunday’s opponents an apology. We have always referred to them as “The Greys” whereas a look in their scorebook confirms that they are properly called “The Mighty Greys” (TMG). A quick search on Google shows they have a highly entertaining web site and a history going back to the Greys public house in 1987. Whatever, they have proved in the past to be tough opponents who enjoy their cricket as much as the social side of the game.

We had heard in mid-week that they might have a below-strength side out, which in the rich history of Crescent cricket meant no change at all in the odds of win/lose/draw being the outcome. Skipper Matt Lawson won the toss and having seen the batting riches available to him, decided to bowl first and chase on what is becoming a typical Horsdean wicket – dry and dusty with a layer of dead grass between the surface and a rock-hard base. The team had a full complement of younger members, so much so that the ballast provided by Messrs. Garoghan, Eastwood and Carter must have doubled the average age of the team. Jake Brooks opened the bowling with Max Kidman and both bowled quickly, getting bounce (in Horsdean terms) and both getting the ball to seam as well. Jake picked up the first wicket in his second over with an LBW but TMG batsmen are always capable and they continued to pick up runs off pretty much every delivery that was less than excellent. Jake is rapidly becoming the Mike Hendrick of Crescent cricket (most of the team will need to look him up – he was also known as England Cricket’s unluckiest bowler) as he had catches dropped by Matt Wood and Rick Carter in circumstances where you would bet the house on them holding on. Max picked up the wicket of opener Brasher, caught behind by Terry Garoghan off a cracker of a delivery. This was quickly followed by probably the key event of the innings as Nichols – who was looking in good form - was run out in a terrible mix up with his partner. From then on, batting started to look a much more difficult proposition.

Jake finished his spell with 7-0-32-1 and Max with 7-1-20-1 with the total score on 55-3. Matt Lawson replaced Jake for a spell of 8-2-13-1 where he showed good control of line and length and swung the ball, and Jamie Will bowled beautifully for 8-3-26-2. Progress was tough for the batsmen. The innings was closed out by Tom Burgess (4.1-0-11-2) and Rob Eastwood (4-0-15-1) and TMG were all out for 120 in the 32nd over.

The organisation of tea was thrown out by the early completion of the innings, as were the skipper’s sandwiches as they had developed a healthy growth of Penicillium spp. overnight (well spotted by volunteer helper Anne Carter). Luckily there was still plenty to go round.

The Crescent reply was initiated by Terry Garoghan and Matt Wood who took full advantage of the lack of pressure to have a good look at the bowling, to the extent that after 6 overs we were 11-0. Matt started to accelerate, but was the first out at 40-1 having scored 15. The fact that Matt was first out was probably A Good Thing (©A.A. Milne) as Michael Wood was batting at number 3 and the two Woods batting together can be great fun for spectators but rather stressful for the boys. Michael and Terry continued the steady progress until Terry picked out a fielder with a lofted shot for 26 with the score on 57 in the 14th over, bringing Rick Carter in to join Michael.

TMG’s bowling continued to be fairly challenging, but they really were 50 runs short. Rick picked off the occasional bad ball in his ‘flat track bully’ mode and when Michael decided to play more aggressively the end came fairly quickly just after he reached his 50 which included 4 huge sixes. Rick ended with 22* in a partnership of 67 in 9 overs and the game ended with handshakes all round and plenty of conversation as The Mighty Greys stayed en masse until well after virtually all of the Crescent players had gone home.

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