| Boxmoor won the toss and on a very sticky dog inserted Chorleywood. Toms and O'Donnell rolled back the years and put on 49 for the first wicket, against some interesting popping deliveries from veteran Lockley. Toms was dismissed for 30 from a low grubber. O'Donnell River Danced his way through a hail of poppers and settled in for an eventual nice 38. Mamma Louigi came to the crease and went for an unusual duck, making up for it later in the game when cries of "Just a like a Mamma used to...." each time Rice took a wicket. Tweedie came to the middle and dominated the square, not only with his large frame but with a class, single chance 72. When O'Donnell was given leg before by his very good friend Rice (not so good now!), young Toms came out, as usual the opposition took pity on the youngster and came in 30yds, to be greeted with the ball flying to the boundary from the first ball through mid wicket along the floor, they retreated swiftly. Tweedie talked the pair through to a stand of 70 and skipper Toms was happy...ish to declare on 172 for 3 gaining 6 of the oppositions overs.
Toms gave the team the usual tea time rally cry, and threats, that if Sinderberry came back and we he hadn't won as skipper then Heads would roll!
It seemed to do the trick as debutante Perry (later to be christened neck brace, as he nose dived into the floor holding on to a stunner) and Smithson set about the task of bowling out Boxmoor. Eventually after 12 Overs, the openers got it off the square but were always behind the pace. They reached 38 for 2 off 27 and with some slight encouragement from Toms both verbally and with three overs of bombs they pushed on. Batsmen were queuing up on the touchline to have a go and gain a point but still Boxmoor were very much in defensive mode. Rice then sliced them apart with a staggering 20-16-8-6 performance supported with great fielding and superb catches from Dunning, Hatfield and Perry. The highlight was when Rice had already turned on his heels as one was popped off the bat to an outstretched Dunning who caught it with one finger and scooped it home. Perry followed with his Flipper impression and held a beauty amongst the sound of cracking vertebrate! and Hatfield took a skier. Toms R bowled reasonably well and had three dropped to which he gave a teenage shrug to. Now there are sporting declarations, but confidence ebbed and flowed, but when the last pair survived 8 overs it was heading for the inevitable 9 down, well tried result, Toms threw Smithson the ball and said "you had better get him out or your dead... " or something like that anyway. The 14 year old responded with a stunning spell and with one ball to go knocked them down with a leg cutter from the manual to an almighty cheer.
Well done to all on a great team performance, played in great spirit with some exceptional individual moments, now I know why we play this great game.
Thanks to our scorer Helen.
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