Equine Influenza Paves Way For Fathers' Entry to 'A' Grade

In the second grading game for the new season, a six man Fathers outfit humiliated their opponents 228 to 87. Sure their opponents, the GGs (aka the Horsies) only had five players after being decimated by the equine flu, but I think that fact can be ignored. Indeed it is now becoming apparent that six is the optimum manning for the Fathers if recent historical heroics are any indicator.

The Horsies started strongly and were looking like they may push the Fathers after posting 91 runs by the tenth over. They hadn't reckoned with the bowling talents of our Gladdy. Was there some prescient punishment at the forefront of his mind as he demolished the Horsies in the eleventh over? Was his 4 for -19 intended to exact revenge for the "Papa Smurf" sledge that was to come his way later in the game??? Whatever the reason, it was poetry to watch. [Dot ball, Dot ball, ONE (woo hoo!!!), Run out, Caught, Run out, Dot ball, Run out]1 Gladdy earns a fine credit for his hat-trick (and we all know how valuable they are on Encampment weekend).

The Horsies never recovered, particularly after choosing Nads and Carl (we have to get him a nickname) to bowl the extra overs. The Horsies could only return an embarrassing -4 from the last six overs. In the final wash up 87 was a reasonable score, given that some of the Fathers were swinging the ball like bananas. Pity about the control though, eh Itchy!!! [Leg side, Leg side, Wide, Leg side, Two, Leg side, Two, DOT BALL!!!! – (0 for 14)].

All the Fathers ended up amongst the wickets: Gladdy (6 for -20), Gilly (1 for 14), Itchy (2 for 10), Norris (1 for 26), Carl (3 for 27) and Nads, after returning an uncharacteristic 1 for 30 off his first two overs, took 3 for none in the final overs.

The Fathers strode confidently to the crease. Gladdy (18) and Gilly (23) opened, followed by Nads (32) and Norris (16), wiping away the deficit by the eighth over. That signalled to the remaining batsmen that they could "open the shoulders". Carl (20) and Itchy, who it must be said was graced by some fortunate bounces from the nets, (39) took the total to 148.

The Horsies, oblivious to the rich vein of form that Norris (54) had been ploughing since his return from the wilderness, chose him to bat in the last batting pair. He flayed the bowling, taking 9 off a single ball (fine) and hit the back net on the full on three other occasions (surely a record for him). Ain't it a pity (not) that substitute statistics don't count for the record books. Norris was ably assisted by Gilly (26).

Four skins to the Fathers!!!!

Demoralised the Horsies traipsed off the court only to be asked later by the barman, "why the long face???".

1. Provided to satisfy the slaves to statistics that live amongst us. Yep that's you Norris!!!!