On a sunny but blustery day a depleted N2 of 9 men took the game to the opposition with optimism in their hearts!
Stand in skipper Josh newham had gone with the majority feeling on the day and against all N2 tradition and had chosen to bat first after winning the toss. We could almost hear the words of Peter Hart ringing in our ears -"you silly buggers!"

So Parker and Dyer opened the batting and got on with the job of trying to set a resepctable total. Parker made his intensions clear by pulling their opening bolwer for 4 in the first over. Was this the dawn of a new age of aggressive batting from the normally more sedate opener. Well almost but 5 overs in and attempting another pull he top edged and was caught for 16.
The score however had been ticking over at 4 an over. With Dyer holding up an end, skipper Josh took to the field and all hopes were on him for a great captains innings. After a couple of sweet hits including a very nice square cut for 4 he dobbed one up for an easy catch and was gone for 6.
With fear of a collapse of huge proportions, Matt our trusty big hiitter came in at 4 and smashed a quick 20 before bizarrely and uncharcteristically giving the bolwer the most simple caught and bowled chance which he of course duly took. Simon Dyer eventually followed after holding out against difficult fast bowling for 11.
At 55 for 4 things weren't looking good. D Dyer added a further 5 with a splendid tickle and drive before being bowled. Thompson was to follow after a rush of blood and was stumped after adding 8 looking in good touch. Olly Butler was caught for 0 and the innings was ended when Paul Dodd was caught off a poor shot after previously hitting what was described by one of their players as "shot of the day!".

All out 76.

And so with only a small total to defend our bolwers went at them with added vigour and energy though some discovering that over doing the cakes at tea does not make for a spring in the step! The going was hard with the extra gaps in the field and their openers were solid in defence. Sheilesh bolwed fast and well coming close a couple of times with some nice line and length. Paul Dodd also bolwing off a shorter run up -perhaps due to the cake found some good line and pace but neither bowler could make the early break we needed. An early slip chance off Bhatt wasn't taken and the oppo went on to reach the total without loss after Simon Dyer and Matt Hawkes had turned their hand with also no luck.

Batting

Dave Parker            caught     16
Simon Dyer              bowled    11 
Josh Newham         caught     6  
Matt Hawkes           caught     20
D Dyer                      bowled    5
J Thompson             stumped 8
Butler                       caught     0
Dodd                        caught     3
Bhatt                        not out 3

Extras   4

Bowling                Overs        Mdns        Runs        Wkts 

Shailesh Bhatt          6              1               14           0
Paul Dodd                6              0               21           0 
Matt Hawkes            4              0               21           0 
Simon Dyer              2              0                9            0

Game lost by 10 wickets
Man of the match - probably unable to award to anyone!