Rearguard action foils Lynchmere

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee weekend saw a Waverley trip to Lynchmere, preceeded by lunch at the Prince of Wales in Hammer Vale, where Teabag announced his presence by "revisiting" his previous night's drinking in the aforementioned pub's car park. The select eleven consisted of Marcus Carmichael ('MC'), Peter Brewer ('Mr B'), Craig Ryan ('C_rage'), Simon Brewer ('KV'), Jamie Harris ('DJ Teabag'), Garry Moxham ('Gazza'), Adrian Day ('Mog'), Adam Carmichael ('AC'), David Stockwell ('Stockrates'), Kyle Moxham ('Kye') and Herbie Scarth ('Bertie').

Having been thrashed by ten wickets last season, a repeat of the same was immediatley avoided as Waverley fielded first. Grumpy quicks Teabag and Mog looked to make early inroads and a cunning reverse-bouncer from Mog got the early breakthrough. Teabag bowled with aggression and was unlucky not to get in amongst the wickets, the second also being bagged by Mog. AC and Stockrates were introduced and both survived some early tap to hit back with two wickets apiece, both benefiting from sharp stumpings by KV as well as shattering the stumps (Stockrates) and a high catch pouched by the illustrious skipper (AC). Kye came on for Stockrates and did well to bowl a consistent line and length whilst battling the slope on the square. Bertie wheeled in from the other end and struck in his first over, the batsman smashing his own stumps, following this up with an LBW off the penultimate ball before tea. The home side declared with a score of 186-8.

The resumption saw a new-look opening partnership of MC and Mr B, both of whom played some elegant strokes on their way to scores of fourteen. However, Mr B misjudged a straight delivery and he was followed not long after by MC, who was triggered by Stockrates. C_rage then followed without scoring and Waverley were truly wobbling when the skipper was caught at cow corner after a couple of lusty blows. Gazza also missed a straight one and with the 20 overs having just commenced, Teabag dollied one up to point. With Waverley's chances of winning now slimmer than AC's waistline, the equation was simple: bat out for the draw. AC and Mog endeavoured to do just that and ten overs had been negotiated when Mog was drawn down the wicket and stumped. Stockrates was then back in the pavilion without scoring after a disasterous mow. Kye came to the crease and showed a great deal of maturity despite being surrounded by close fielders. By the time he was undone by a quicker ball, Waverley had just over two overs to survive but only one wicket in hand. Ultimately it came right down to the final over, AC needing to survive six deliveries to secure the draw. After edging the first ball of the over agonisingly through the slip cordon, AC survived the remaining five deliveries without incident, completing a stanunch rearguard action to ensure that Waverley avoided defeat in what was an entertaining game.

Back to the Prince of Wales for the post-match awards, AC being presented with the Man of the Match Hat for his two wickets and seeing Waverley home for the draw. Teabag got the Pink T-Shirt for complaining about being hungover and being ill in the car park before the game, while Mr B was presented with the Supporters' Egyptian Hieroglyph Pink T-Shirt for scaring Laura and generally being a little drunk before the game. This week's Comments from the Clio is somewhat unique in that the panelists hadn't even commenced their journey at the time, AC, MC and Laura being at Chez Comical. AC, trying to explain the Laws of the Game to Laura (with reference to a well-known tea towel) asked MC for help. "I'm not getting involved" replied MC, "I know a lost cause when I see one... that's why I don't recycle..." That concludes our party political broadcast on behalf of the Green Party...