-
Having arrived very early for a 2.30 start I was greeted
by magnificent scenery (and Matt Hallam) which surrounds the North Holmwood
sports club. Needless to say this put me in a very relaxed frame of
mind, anticipating our opening win of the season against a side that
effectively dispatched us with ease last year. With the temperature
heading towards 32 degrees C and a pitch which promised 200+ runs, the
North Holmwood skipper, on winning the toss, elected to bat.
Alex C made his intentions very clear by marking his run up on the down
hill section of the pitch leaving Matt to his exertions at the uphill
end. True to intention, Alex bowled perhaps his best spell so far this
season, removing the middle stump of the opposition's highest scoring
batsmen with a classic fast delivery which beat the batsmen for pace.
Although, bowling uphill into a breeze did not suit Matt, he produced
an aggressive spell of bowling, troubling both opening batsmen and was
very unlucky not to take a couple of wickets. 
At 58-1 North Holmwood looked set for a high score. A change of tactics
was required, and Toby C provided what was required from him, persuading
the second North Holmwood opening batsman into misplaced exuberance
to offer the skipper a catch at gully ( 89 -2). Toby continued a fine
spell of bowling removing the weaker (but no less dangerous) North Holmwood
batsmen at regular intervals. However, he demonstrated his generosity
to the North Holmwood batsmen, by missing perhaps the best opportunity
for a 'hat-trick' and a 5 wicket haul in the same match! The final 'frustrating'
wicket was left to Cudworth senior to mop up. North Holmwood were all
out for 141.
Our opening batsmen, Steve R and Jon C started well, both looking comfortable
against the opposition's attack. Steve in particular shaped an impressive
24 with some excellent cover drives to the boundary. Jon C chased a
'wide one' in a rare lapse on concentration - 9 . 
At 73 -2 Concorde
were shaping up well to win the match. The arrival of Alex C and David
F at the crease produced some magnificent stroke play from both. Alex
was unfortunately given LBW just as he was getting into 5th gear. An
indication of the devastation Alex caused at the crease, he faced 26
balls for his 42 runs. Dave F played the patience game (relative given
the circumstances), unleashing well timed strokes to the boundary including
a huge six which the bowler indicated ended up somewhere in the next
village and promptly summoned a replacement ball - Dave F (35 from 39
balls). At 124-4 it was left to the skipper and Matt H to ensure victory.
(Webmaster correction - actually it was the webmaster who ably supported
the skipper in the last few balls)