Well, when we had Preistfield at not many for 6 I guess we all thought the game was in the bag! Alas it was not to be and a superb batting performance from the visitors turned the game on its head. I heard all sorts of mentions about their batting order being turned around and the shortening of the boundaries at Kempton playing a part but as Skipper I guess I look at my own performance to see if I got the tactics wrong. Firstly, I still think we did the right thing in batting first, and with it our batting line up. The Colonel was superb, and he blasted away like a good 'un in bashing his maiden fifty. Wrighty has been a brilliant servant for the club over the years, sometimes be limited to just a fielding role and waiting his chance down in the 'engine room' to go blast a few runs. Last year as VC he regularly took the number 5 slot but the decision, and Garsh has to take a lot of credit, to put him in at number 4 certainly paid huge rewards. The bowlers were really thrown off by his 'no frills' batting style and text book it may not be but no one could argue that he was not effective - and what a six! - magnificently smashed over long on. Further down our order Casper and JULC took us from a mediocre score to one we should have been able to defend. Their partnership of 83 fell just one short of equalling the club record for the sixth wicket which has stood since 1994. I took the decision to bowl both Garsh and Casper out as they were having such a strangle hold on the batting I thought it would put Preistfield so far behind the rate that our change bowlers would have some protection. Not only that but Casper was carrying and injury which might having frozen up had he tried to come back for a second spell, and Garsh had to leave early so it was important we got his full overs out of him. So in reflection I was happy with the tactics from that point of view. I guess the issue was the lack of a 6th bowler. On Saturday I became aware that Hippo could play, and given the strength of the opposition and that before the game only Windy and Casper had batted this season that our batting line up could do with a little more experiecne - hence I contacted M'Nig and asked if he would step aside to accomodate Hippo, like the gentleman he is, M'Nig agreed. We could have dropped Paulo Davis instead but I thought that sent the wrong message to a new member to the club. I guess now in hindsight you could be of the view that had M'Nig played we may have had that extra slow bowler in the side which would have helped but then again would be have got to 237 without Hippo? Its one of those things we will never know the answer to, but I guess thats the sort of decision you have to make a skipper. Having said all of that it was still a great game, and on another day we may have nicked one more wicket earlier and maybe cantered to a comfortable win. There were certainly positives to take from the game, a second 200+ score (this one without a fifty from the openers) and taking 8 wickets on a flat track - and two more from Hippo is helping to backfill the loss of Mincey at the moment. Of course I guess the lesson to be learnt is that the game is not over to that 'fat lady sings' at six down we thought she was clearing her throat...but in fact she had not even got to the dressing room!

 

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