Match Report - Bures Vs Wickham St. Paul's 21/06/03

The euphoria of triple tour victories evaporated as Bures came crashing back to earth in this tense encounter at local rival Wickham St. Paul.

Having won the toss for a change and having a reasonable batting lineup, Mr. Slow sentenced the WSP players to what should have been an afternoon of purgatory on the village green in the hot sun. Sadly, Master Batsman Warden was quickly back in the hut with barely double figures on the board and Mr. Slow, despite a cautious start fell to a trademark loose shot and departed spitting feathers and kicking the turf. In-form Chris Ayers gloved a lifter to the keeper and with The Skipper and Si Ayers back in the pavilion, things looked grim. Meanwhile, James Lee was accumulating steadily at the other end and looked to be in little trouble, until he opted for a suicidal run and was out for 33. Bugbee and McKenna came and went and it was for the youngsters to show us how it should be done with commendable application and not a little spirit. Joe Dutton scored 14 including one huge six over mid-wicket, Lee Norton 19 and James Bocking 16 not out. A satisfying outcome for James especially, who had declared that he was out to beat The Skipper's score of 14 and won a fiver off him in the process! Bures all out for 141.

After a plentiful tea, WSP began their reply steadily against a Lee (hostile) and Chambers (steady) attack. With the introduction of McKenna in place of Lee it became clear that it was not going to be easy to get these runs. Both bowlers bowled excellently and deserved their long spells. Wickets fell steadily and at 96 for 6, Bures should have won. But sadly, catches were dropped at crucial moments and a run out attempt was fluffed. Several whizzed through the slips which might have been caught on another day (one of which struck The Skipper sweetly on the end of his finger - ouch!) and Mr. Slow just failed to take a straight drive to his right, buggering his hand in the process! The total was chased down for the loss of 7 wickets, with Wickham St. Paul recording victory by 3 wickets.

Bures bowling figures......

A distraught Mr. Slow, having had his hopes of victory dashed, led his wounded troops off to the Wickham Ship for character building. He smiled for perhaps the first time that afternoon at the sight of an Adnams pump alongside the ubiquitous, mediocre GK IPA. At least there would be a decent glass of beer! But fate was about to deal MS a duff hand. The barmaid's attempts to dispense the cool and satisfying Southwold liquid met only with froth and sludge from the pump. "I'm afraid the Adnams is finished" she chirped, "IPA?" At that moment, MS resolved to give up cricket forever and hang himself from the oak tree on the green but at the sight of money coming out of The Skipper's pocket and being given to James Bocking, he cheered up a little. Everyone had given their all but it was not quite enough. Whoever said "It's just a game...........?"

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