Meek Makes Wilsons Wilt

A workmanlike victory for the Firsts at home to Wilsons.

We were down to the bare bones missing Golden on nappy duty, DJ Sammy and Laddy en vacances, and Nelly still trumpeting around the Indian Ocean. Dessy was seeing his agent, weighing up offers after his success in Celebrity Gay Love Island Ibiza: a stint in Celebrity Fit Club or a stunt double for Jean Claude Van Damne, among the possibilities.

Rendu won the toss for only the second time and chose to field. Dizzy then rocketed in from the Vicarage End with a hostile opening spell, while Meeky wobbled it around from the other, and we got a couple of early breakthroughs. Then no.4 Imran Khan biffed it all over for a quickfire 50 and things looked like getting away. The experiment of spin didn't work, so Rendu turned to Dave Hiller. Immy was immediately back in the hutch as Dangerous nipped one away, Boom Boom snaffling the catch.

We then strangled the middle order, Meeky bowled his 16 overs straight taking 3-35. Dangerous was bowling so well that Rocket had to bowl his second spell up the hill, perhaps a sign of things to come - there was talk that if it was good enough for Dizzy, then it would be good enough for Nelly.

Ground fielding was by and large excellent, although Meeky dived over one and the Elliott bros had black clouds following them all day; Liam pulled a fetlock in the paddock, and Benji had a teenage strop after a lecture on body language. Catching was excellent, Ted bagged a quartet, and Butch and Ben were safe under skyers.

Rendu finished with 4-55 off 13 and Hiller with top figures of 3-22 off 11. 141 all out was below par on a lifeless pitch.

Tea by Lorraine and friends had many highlights, the welcome return of Malt Loaf a particular treat.

Our batting didn't look to have much depth, so Rocket told Drurs to bat like Boycott and let the strokeplayers do the rest. Ted looked in good nick but got a leading edge to a slower ball. Tinpot took himself round the boundary after nicking a wide one. At 40-2 we were creaking. Meeky though was in no mood to mess around and bludgeoned 9 fours and 2 sixes in a rapid 57 before another leading edge.

Needing 10 to win, Skipper Rendu had a rare lapse of judgement, shouldering arms to one that pitched on, and then hit, middle.

Young Benji timed one off his legs for four, and it was left to Drury to stroke the winning cover drive, ending unbeaten on 41. A solid victory by 6 wickets with plenty of overs to spare.

MOM: Meeky. MOM in Running: Nelly 3, Golden 3, Meeky 2, Rendu 2, Laddy 1,