Waverley overpower Aldershot

At 1800 hours the game was officially called off. Then it was on again. Then it was in doubt. Finally, the rain stopped and the second match in as many weeks against Aldershot could finally get under way, albeit reduced to 15 overs per side, three overs per bowler. Batsmen still retired on reaching 35*. Facing a youthful home side were Ian Verrinder ('IV'), Russ Golding ('Raoul'), Johnny Mathis ('the Crooner'), Simon Brewer ('KV'), Adrian Day ('Mog'), Jamie Harris ('DJ Teabag'), Peter Brewer ('Mr B'), Bob Moxham ('the Sponge'), Simon Knox ('Chewy'), Sam Vass ('Sausage') and Adam Carmichael ('AC'). Ben Harris ('MC Tealeaf'), Mikey Harris ('Ice-Tea') and Martin Harris ('Teabag's old man') were all featuring for Aldershot, Mrs B suggesting that the collective noun for a family of Teabags should probably be a Twinings. Will Knox ('Baby Knox') also defected for the evening.

The skipper won the toss by proxy (IV) and decided to bat first. The first four overs were slow going, not helped by Raoul's game lasting just two deliveries as he skied one straight to Baby Knox at square leg off the bowling of Teabag's old man. However, the coming together of IV and the Crooner soon got things back on track as both retired out with scores of 37* and 36* respectively. The skipper contributed a quickfire 16 before holing out to Tealeaf. There was then a brief flurry in the final three overs as Mog, Teabag and the Sponge returned to the hutch. However, Waverley were able to breach the hundred barrier and set the home side a challenging 106 to win, a run rate of 7.07 an over.

AC and Sausage opened the bowling and both proved very difficult to get away on a damp pitch suffering from variable bounce. AC sent the two openers packing, a stumping from the Crooner and a quicker ball that kept a little low. Sausage got in on the act when Tealeaf had a swipe at one that reared up off the pitch, the Crooner even having a chance to do his pantomime act ("it's behind you!") before taking the catch. With Baby Knox at the crease, Chewy was brought into the attack and was spared an awkward car journey home when AC spilled a regulation chance at silly mid-off. Ice-Tea, sporting white trousers with an impossibly low crotch, struggled to get going and was eventually caught by Sausage off the bowling of the Sponge. The Destroyer picked up his second wicket when IV snaffled one at point shortly after. At 28-5 in the tenth over the game was well beyond the hosts, an economical spell from Mr B and only six runs off an IV over leaving a mere 57 required off the final over from Teabag. Only ten were scored, meaning a convincing 46 run victory for Waverley. Special mention should go to Baby Knox, who scored 10* and looked largely untroubled throughout his innings.

Being a mid-week game there were no awards presented (much to AC's relief following that drop off Chewy); however there's still time for A Word from our Sponsor (formerly known as "A Moment with Moxham"), who was overheard complaining that he couldn't go out and play in the rain as he'd go rusty...