Sunday XI v Chelsea Nomads 19th August

In the end M&B had a convincing 72 run victory over Chelsea Nomads. "In the end" being the operative words with stumps drawn at 8.20 after 30 overs were still required to be bowled at 6.30 ! As per the previous week skipper Armstrong won the crucial toss which meant a couple of hours hard labour for the visitors in the field.

For the second week running Simon Ball and Brad Upton opened up for M&B, luckily this time Bally lasted more than one ball. This time he departed in the 7th over for 12 , after striking three well timed drives to the boundary. The wicket brought to the crease club chairman, John Hewitt, who announced himself with his trademark cover drive second ball for four. Early on the Nomads bowlers bowled controlled tight lines making boundaries hard to come by. A bowling change though loosened the shackles as Hewitt struck the new bowler for 18 to boost the scoring rate as drinks were taken at 77 for 1 after 20 overs. After drinks some of the bowlers tired as well as the visitors lack of a fifth bowler enabling M & B to up the scoring rate. Hewitt eventually fell in the 25th over after hitting a slower ball to deep mid-on for a less than fluent 35, albeit he and Upton laid the foundations for M&B with a second wicket partnership of 103. The wicket brought to the crease public school boy Cameron "Bunter" Jacobsen, who in partnership with Upton would post a crucial 108 in a mere 10 overs, that said the partnership coincided with the opposition's decision to use up their fifth bowler's allocation. As always Jacobsen was extremely belligerent batting in the middle order, smashing 6 4's in his innings of 39, although his stroke play was more Baz Wykes than Oratory coached.

For the second year running Brad Upton feasted on the Chelsea Nomads offerings to score his second successive 100 against the opposition. As always he was very compact and extremely strong on the drive and quick to pull the short balls. One of Upton's strengths is his temperament which allows him to build an innings, crease occupation brings runs. Upton kept out the good balls and feasted on the buffet balls and picked the right bowlers. Upton smashed one over for 23 to propel his score. It must be said he did have luck on his side being put down at least once. In the end Upton was dismissed for 105 when the main bowlers returned to complete the closing overs. In all he hit 17 4's and a 6. Jamie Odell and Atif Amin batted out the remaining overs enabling M&B to post a healthy 242 for 4 from their 40 overs. For Chelsea Nomads it was all about the fifth bowler, whose 8 overs went for 109 !

In response M&B's new cherry bowlers were the new combination of Joe" day dreamer" Blackett and Jamie Kiddell. Blackett no doubt dreaming of his bed, dropped short and wide too often and was punished. He was though a hand full when he pitched it on a good length. Kiddell did get the ball to swing away well when he pitched it up. The Chelsea batsmen though got off to a good start to chase down M&B's total. Armstrong turned to his main bowler Jamie Odell to get a breakthrough and he didn't disappoint bowling Fitzgerald for 20. The game turned when opener Fuller retired due to heat exhaustion, which enabled M&B's bowlers to restrict the scoring against the new batsmen. Chief exponents were Sachin"Paul Adams - frog in a blender" Moudgil and senior pro Matt Armstrong who bowled their eight overs straight through. Moudgil finished with figures of 8/0/29/2 and Armstrong with an analysis of 8/0/31/2. In the end with victory secured M&B were more concerned about getting through their overs before the daylight disappeared.