Sunday XI v Tabard Pilgrims - 22nd June 2014

M & B's Sunday X1 made it three wins on the trot as they easily beat Tabard Pilgrims in a one sided game at Bray. Despite saying they were weak in batting the Pilgrims won the toss and elected to bat ! To be fair though opener Edgar fronted up well and played with a straight bat, unlike most of his team mates. Opener bowler Arul Appavoo was straight on the button from ball one, giving the batsmen nothing to hit, and finishing with figures of 5/2/5/1. Other opening bowler Avi Gossain was not at his best albeit only conceding 10 runs in his spell. The main beneficiary of the Pilgrims poor batting was Sunday stalwart Atif "always late" Amin, who despite getting hit straight over his for six by Edgar, reeled the danger batsman in shortly after as he played across an away swinging ball and was caught at mid wicket by Yusuf Quershi. Edgar demise for 23 really spelt the end for The Pilgrims. Amin finished with figures of 5/0/22/3.

Armstrong was able to bring on part time bowlers Alex Cheema and new player, 24 year old pipe smoking, Alexander Leclerq. Amazingly Leclerq claimed his first wicket for the club courtesy of a catch at first slip from Jim Sidwell, yes that is correct Sidders yes that is correct Sidders, yes that is correct Sidders, yes that is correct Sidders ! He gobbled it up as if he had been taking slip catches all his life. Perhaps that was the answer, he should have kept without gloves ! Actually Leclerq's victim Pimms, was The Pigrims only other hope of achieving a respectable score. Even Cheema was able to come away with decent figures of 7/1/22/2, whilst LeClerq probably achieved season's best figures of 5/1/10/2. Skipper Armstrong was able to hit the timbers twice to close The Pilgrims innings at 94 in the 35th over.

To be honest The Pilgrims bowling wasn't that much better than their batting and the new South African opening partnership of Brian Dixon and Barry Wykes feasted on the open buffet on offer(rather appropriate as Dixon is head chef at the McDonald Hotel at Botley Park in Southampton). Dixon dealt in drives and cuts whilst Wykes eventually got his leg side play into gear after taking 7 overs to get off the mark. The only wicket fell in the 11th over when Wykes bottom edged a pull and was caught behind for 26, which included 5 4's all on the leg side, in an opening partnership of 56. No. 3 Yusuf Quershi finished off proceedings in the next 4 overs as he stood and delivered, crashing 4 4's and a 6 over long on. He primarily dealt in boundaries as he was having difficulty running after suffering a bizarre injury in the field. Whilst fielding he slipped and his back landed on the ball, causing him great discomfort and breathing problems. After attending A&E the prognosis was nothing broken but possibly a damaging of the shoulder / back cavity. In the end he carried his bat for 26 as did opener Dixon for 39, which included 7 4's. Hopefully Dixon will benefit from time at the crease in the coming weeks.