Rain Brings Down Curtain on Theatres Run Chase

One of the Nutters favourite fixtures, Royal National Theatres.
With the treat of rain later, Skippers Bob Samways and Peter Singh decided to limit the game to 70 overs. Samways won the toss and decided to bat on a green damp wicket.
It is not often that tech is put to use on the common, however NCC premier batsman Jonny Willis went into bat with a camera strapped to his helmet. Perhaps to get some live feed to the NCC website or provide video insight for the lower order batters as to how hard the bowling is at the start of the innings.
A rather svelte Enzo Nicoli, who else, opened the bowling. Willis slapped the second ball of the match to cover, turning his head just in time to film Nick George taking a well-judged catch. I wonder whether this clip will make it into the NCC archives. Two balls later David Butcher was also making is way back to the pavilion, being bowled by a ball that kept a little low. 1 over gone NCC 0 for 2, some rebuilding to be done by The Skipper and new bat Raggy Singh.
Singh hit two blistering back foot drives off Enzo but was then brilliantly caught by Jem Handbury on the run (a good memory for Jem, playing his last game before returning to Australia) . The wise head of Charlie South made is way to the crease and with some very measured batting enabled himself and the Skipper to put on a stand of 50 before was caught behind off Handbury. Whose 1 wicket was a poor return from his spell.
The Skipper continued to hold the innings together, until another of his running mishaps saw him stranded mid-wicket as Enzo hit the stumps direct from Mid Off.
A colourful partnership between The Hews and Jordan Crow, brightened the gloomy day. The partnership featured Jordan’s flamboyant drives and The Hews’ vigorous calling and dynamic running between the wickets… enough to get anybody’s heart pumping!!
The Skipper declared on 131-9 after 35 overs… again denying Jez another 50!.... The Theatres used 9 bowlers the pick being Enzo with 4-19.
There was a straight turn around with the promise of Elaine Catteralls tea, laid out in the Village Hall for later. With real gloom overhead the Nuthurst fielders were in position on the field waiting for some time before the Theatres batters appeared from the aforementioned village hall. There were a few worried faces thinking that the tea had been scoffed already.
Raggy Singh cranked the pace up to 11, in a fine 3 over spell that saw the back of Peter Singh. Jordan bowled well from the other end to remove the big hitting Mike Morris. Nick George and new visitor Merlin Giles rapidly moved the score on, putting the Theatres in a good position at 54 for 2 after 14 overs. Giles playing some lovely drives. Nuthurst left armer TC could count himself very unlucky not to have had Giles captured on the boundary in his excellent 5 over spell. Chippy produced a beauty to trap the dangerous Giles in front for 27.
With the game well poised the rain got harder and the attraction of a warm dry Village Hall, with a tea waiting was too appealing. The two skippers shook hands over tea and tracks were made to the pub were old friends chatted, drank beer and ate chips.
We all look forward to next year’s fixture.