Grizzly at Risley

The Firsts travelled into Hazzard County to the picturesque Risley ground. The squad was as threadbare as the gusset on Bobby's whites, with ex-Minor Counties star Graham, and young guns Benji and Tommy away. We also weren't helped by Boom Boom's freak lawnmower accident. The Treetops Retirement home adjoining the ground was staging an Open Day with news that Cowlard and Drurs were once again pressed into service. Cowlard though was in his element with Risley surely the only ground with a pool table in the away dressing room.

Stand-in skipper Bobby lost the toss and we bowled first. Despite only getting a supporting mention in this week's Post 'and Dave Strong' was given choice of ends in keeping with being the side's leading wicket taker. Ex-French International, and Varsity Blue, Rocket Rendu was forced to bowl up the hill and sulked. The home side mastered our opening pair reaching 50 without loss by the 11th over.

Spin twins Baker and Day Hiller-Sister pulled back the rate with Jay taking a sharp catch at slip. Bobby deserved better than a single wicket, and if he'd had three arms would have postured a triple teapot, as AC somehow lost his bearings taking a catch at deep mid off only to find his feet on the boundary line. Day was the pick of the bowlers with 3-43 off 11.

Billy just pipped See-Saw for the fielding point, a studs up slide on the boundary the highlight of which any Notts County centre half would have been proud.

Tea was a solid spread. Pasta salad was a highlight, along with retro snowballs with 98% sugar content.

Beakey and XX Dale got off to a great start reaching 50 in the 13th over, and put on 85 before Dale went for a fine 43. Two overs later Beakey followed for 35. Drurs walked plum LBW first ball and at 86-3 we were on the back foot.

Jay 18 and Rocket 14 found boundaries hard to come by and the run rate required climbed steadily from 6 through to 11.

Bobby gave us hope smashing 22 off an over but perished for 28. Strongy ended up on 26 for his usual red-inker.

At 188-7 we were well short at the close.