23rd July Orpington Nomads League  

Nothing like a trip round the M25 to get your taste buds tingling on a bright Sunday morning. We welcomed Beth Morgan back and she duly lost the toss, but was amazed to find that we were asked to field. The dynamic due of Sarah Bartlett and Beth took the new ball, and made things difficult from the start. Caroline Barrs looking comfortable and reminding the spectators just what a player she was and still is ­ some classic shots, a real pleasure to watch ­ I was disappointed when she got out, to tell the truth! The first wicket fell in the 9th over ­ Barts being rewarded for her persistent line and length.

Danni Warren and Debbie Stock were brought on and began to tighten the strangle hold that good fielding and tight bowling were forcing on Nomads. Stockie was eventually rewarded with the prized wicket of Barrsy ­ bowled trying to force the ball into the gap. With the batsmen proving resolute in the defence of their wickets, Janice Fraser was thrown the ball, and showed that she is just about shaking off the hebby jeebies with her bowling ­ her 6 overs going for 7 runs, and picking up 2 wickets as well. Emily Jones (PA) was asked to toss the ball up, trying to get the batsmen to leave their crease. She did a great job ­ bowled really well, but couldn¹t tempt them away from safety. It was left to the pace attack of Barts and Morgan to try to blast the last wicket out ­ something which wouldn¹t have been achieved without possibly the catch of the season so far from Helena Stolle (H). Fielding at long off, she took a diving catch down by her ankles ­ quite how she managed to hold onto it completely confounded the rest of us. Still it just goes to show that if you put in the hard work in practice, it makes it easier to pull of the magic off when it matters. (Ed - Stockie took a 5'fer!!)

Something else which completely confounded us was the fact that Stockie decided to field for a large part of the game with only one shoe on ­ her painful big toe was too sore. We all thought it very brave, especially considering that the outfield was a sea of clover, covered with sweet little honey bees, which do have a nasty sting!

With a target of 81 required, and 13 overs to get it, in order to claim maximum points, it was no surprise that Janice and Anita Thorose were told to Œgo get Œem Floyd¹. With naturally aggressive batsmen such as these, you don¹t need to ask them twice to attack. Sure enough, we set off at a blistering 8 an over ­ Meobs demonstrating some exquisite lofty drives, while Janice was content to pepper the square leg boundary. Barrsy needed to do something, so turned to the experienced Julie May ­ it worked. Despite being hit for a big 6 in her first over, she kept her nerve and bowled first Meobs then Janice in consecutive overs (both for 27). However, the damage had already been done, and Chander Kaul and Beth made sure that we made it home in style in 12th over.