Week 5

Stoke St Mary II – Home

Well, it was official, before the start of play on Saturday Over Stowey 2^nd XI had moved off the bottom of the West Somerset League Division Five. Thank you rain! The bottom side was then Lydeard St Lawrence 2^nd XI, who, for some reason, had played one game less. Oh, and I promised I would mention Greg Arlotte in the first paragraph, so here you go Greg……. Greg Arlotte!

For those who watched Countryfile last Sunday you knew the forecast was going to be a lot better for the weekend, and yes Ellie was on, but no Helen. Apparently viewing figures of Countryfile have rocketed by at least 20 viewers thanks to, well you guessed it, yours truly.

Now then, a game of cricket I can officially umpire, and with no rain forecast, what could possibly go wrong. Ok, I had a barbecue the night before, where apple juice of the alcoholic kind was involved, thank you Thatchers,  so I turned up to the game on Saturday not that alert. Well it was the re-arranged barbecue from my birthday, so do you blame me?

So here is my match report from Saturday:

·         Over Stowey won the toss and elected to field. It looked like a good decision, wet wicket and all that nonsense.

·         Lee Rich broke down in his second over – do you blame him, the stance Stoke’s opening batsman took, made me as an umpire wonder WTF?

·         Greg Arlotte took his place and subsequently took a wicket with the first ball he bowled. Would like to say it pitched and turned, but it pitched and good as rolled along the ground and took the base of middle stump. Not quite a no ball, but it wasn’t the best shot I seen play.

·         Julian Pocock bowled his left arm over’s, and boy can he appeal. Can’t wait until the Ancient Mariner opens Julian, not far to walk! No while I am mentioning about Julian, Saturday was his first game of the season, and he had a bit of trouble with his kit. In fact it has been attacked by mice during the winter months. He now has an air conditioned jumper and pads!

·         The mighty seconds held a few catches, Adrian held one, only because it was of his son’s bowling never does it for anyone else.

·         Stoke scored 132-9, yes nine wickets for Stowey. Lee taking four of them, jug avoidance Lee me thinks.

·         Stowey batting – Quote: “Don’t do anything to rash, there’s plenty of time!” First ball nearly a run out, and everyone tried to hit the slowest of slow off-spinner for six, but instead they got either bowled or caught!

·         Skipper Carl, swept like a pro. He would sweep a four, the fielder would move, and subsequently sweep another four to where the fielder moved from.

·         Stowey finished 50 runs light – oh well, getting closer to a win!

·         I turned down two LBW appeals, one stumping appeal and a run out appeal. Definitely not out as the batsmen were from Stowey! Plus they were not out anyway!

·         Next week Crowcombe III away.

Now the mighty twos are still next to bottom in the league, mainly because the website hadn’t been updated. Did I tell you that Division Five is the bottom division of the West Somerset League, so being bottom is a very privileged position to be in? Not many sides will manage to achieve this throughout the season, so hey, what a side Carl has.

The mighty Somerset drew against Warwickshire in the week, thanks to the rain and managed to pick up some bonus points; however, thanks to the rain, Middlesex didn’t even manage to bowl a ball against Sussex, so the advantage they have over the might Set is shortening.

Don’t forget Somerset fans across the world they Cidermen still have a game in hand. Come on the Set, just get that T20 winning mentality back, my trip to Barbados depends on it!

Now it is time sit in the sun, in the back garden, supping Thatchers cider and listen to music! Countryfile at 7pm, Ellie, Helen etc.... Then Wednesday night, Stowey take on the Swan Inn - watch out Les Biffen!