Napton was short of numbers again even though it was a home match.

Captain Sam Sensecall won the toss and decided to put the visitors into bat. His farmers knowledge of the elements served him well. The weather was breaking up and it was cool, overcast and breezy whilst Napton were fielding,
However, Barford spent the rest of the afternoon looking quite miserable defending their total in continuous showers and falling temperatures.

Napton took to the field with ten men and a depleted bowling line-up.
Mike and Stuart opened up the attack and both were sparse with their offerings to the batsmen.
Stuart was immediately into the openers by bowling number one in his first over and Mike saw off number two in the 11th over. Barford were 34-2

Following his decision to field first, the shortage of a regular second line of attack brought about the Captain's second spark of brilliance. He brought on Joe.
Get Sam to fill in your lottery ticket before he becomes normal again !!

This correspondent can remember Joe as a young bowler many years ago. At that time he was under Stuart's bowling tutelage. His double swing action was identical to Stuarts delivery at the time.
Joe tended to concentrate on his batting and we rarely see more than the occasional couple of overs from him these days.
Joe's bowling was so tight, and he was taking wickets, that he was kept on for the allowed eight overs in one run. This included a wicket-maiden. A revelation.
JP returned the best figures of the day for the home team, even taking two wickets in one over.

As has often been recorded, Napton's fielding was a major factor in keeping the oppositions score in check. Gary, Bruce and James excelled. Mike took an impressive catch running away from the wicket with the ball coming from behind him. Mike was also instrumental in a run-out.
Graham's absence resulted in one-time permanent 'keeper Guy taking up the position again for this match. He had lost none of his skill and dived to his left and right like a young 'un.
When he had calmed down he went and stood behind the wickets !!
Barford batted through their 40 overs and ended on 152-9.
Wicket takers:
John P Eadon 6 overs 2-18
Mike Eadon 8 overs 1 maiden 2-22
Joe Alsop 8 overs 1 maiden 2-24
Stuart Alsop 8 overs 2-25

The sponge cake with strawberries on at tea was excellent. The producer of this delicacy escaped identification. Advice on the location of the kitchen that spawned this product would be much appreciated.

As was mentioned previously, the rain fell throughout the game following tea.

Opening batsman Stuart and No 3 Mike came together in the third over with Napton on 12-1.
They lasted for a valuable partnership of 81. Their running between the wickets for quickly taken singles added many important runs.
In the final overs the game was touch and go and it was left to Bruce to take the home teams score across the line. Sam and Guy held up their end in turn and Bruce scored the necessary runs for victory with a boundary in the 39th over. Napton 156-5
Stuart Alsop 50 runs 8 boundaries inc. 1 six
Mike Eadon 44 runs 6 boundaries
Bruce Cook 24 runs* 3 boundaries
Joe Alsop 12 runs 3 boundaries