Lobsters @ Damerham 21/05/23

The season finally got underway at Damerham in glorious sunshine.  The team assembled in the Compasses Inn prior to Skipper losing the toss.  The first ball of the season honour was bestowed onto Foz with Leo (0-12) starting from the Compasses end.  The opening 8 overs passed without too much threat to the batsmen, who had amassed 32 runs.  Then Foz got one to nip back in off the seam, taking the top of middle stump.  The incoming batsman got a big inside edge first ball which Skipper, somehow, clung onto at full stretch diving to his left.  With Foz (2-26) on a hatrick there was a sense of anticipation as he hobbled in to bowl.  A nice juicy full-toss outside off was not what was required, and it was duly dispatched to the boundary.  Brett was first change at the Compasses end, and he was soon into a good rhythm, swinging into the right hander with occasional deliveries going straight on.  It was Brett who ripped through the heart of the batting line-up, bowling the opener when on 25 and then, in the same maiden over, getting the new batsman when a leading edge looped up for Tommy to come round from slip to take a comfortable catch.  Ben began his spell from the tree end before Brett (3-16) got his 3^rd wicket with a sharp c&b (46-5).  Ben was unlucky not to get a wicket in his spell when he managed to get the ball in the right areas on most occasions, only conceding 9 runs in 5 overs.  David was on at the Compasses end and got some success, breaking the 6^th wicket stand of 25 when Leo took a catch at mid-wicket (71-6).  He then took a c&b the following over (76-7).  PW was into the action, taking the wicket of the captain when he got extra lift, getting a top edge that Skipper held behind the stumps (83-8).  He was bowling some great deliveries, but in-between was causing difficulty for the scorers with multiple wides!  His next wicket was classic PW – tossing it up and getting the batsman playing back to a delivery that needed to be attacked forwards, with just a hint of turn taking middle stump (90-9).  the final wicket belonged to David – a short ball that the batsman tried to pull.  The ball rushed onto him, and he top edged it for Skipper to run forwards to claim the catch. 103 all out in 30 of the 35 overs.

A delightful tea was taken in the pavilion.

Mike M faced the first ball of the season and blocked successfully.  The next ball he edged past slip for four!  Ben took a while to get off the mark but then was bowled soon afterwards (10-1).  Simon never looked comfortable at the crease, and he fell LBW for no score (13-1).  David came in and took a while to get things moving before blasting the ball to the boundary.  David (6) was bowled by the new bowler to bring Leo to the crease(32-3) .  It was at this point in the innings that Mike was at he most determined not to be out.  He single-handedly faced the entire 4 over spell of the other new bowler, only scoring a run off his last delivery.  In total, 24 dot balls in a row!  It was during this spell that the ball struck Mike on the pad a long way down leg-side and there was a strong appeal for LBW from the rest of the team!  Having played 2 classy shots to the boundary, Leo was caught to bring Brett to join the immoveable Mike.  Brett played some fine attacking shots and got the scoreboard moving, scoring 18 from 11 deliveries.  However, it was Mike to depart next, having scored 11 runs off his last 8 balls (being forced to run by Brett) he was caught for 21 from 78 balls (67-5).  With Brett out LBW (79-6) Foz briefly joined PW before being caught for no score (80-7).  Tommy was able to assist PW in getting the required runs with 5 overs to spare, with Mike H and Skipper ready to step in if required.

MOM: Brett – all round performance

Catch of the day – Skipper off Foz

Quote of the day:  So many. David “I don’t like my car being parked at long-off”

Skipper to Tommy at slip “I’ve seen better hatrick deliveries from PW”

James “You may be Lobsters, but we have crabs” We hope this is in reference to Leo’s girlfriend surname not his personal hygiene status.