Another damp day in this very damp summer (drought order and hose pipe ban excepting) and circumspect batting saw its just rewards. Gone were the cavalier innings and glory days of 2011, chasing record totals in 30 overs or fewer, replaced by grim determination on wickets favouring the ball.
Three half centuries were scored at Wellesley House, two for the Stragglers by pere et fils, Ian and Olly Robinson, and one for Tim’s XI by Matthew Roberts on a ground he has come to enjoy. Indeed Matthew was only denied further success by the rain and stygian gloom, which brought proceedings to a premature end. Each half century was crafted with patience and care, bad balls despatched, good balls watched and defended. Others shone briefly or not at all.
In a long Straggler innings, grinding out at 4 an over, Tim did his best to wear out his bowlers, and Archie in particular, whose spell unchanged of 20 overs (2 for 89) will undoubtedly be the longest we will see this summer.
