Considering the weeks previous - the weather, the pitch, the outfield etc. you would have expected
Crossbats to relish the return to Hampton Wick, with it's superior facilties and grounds - not to mention
the glorius weather that had been provided..........And, to be fair, for about 80% of the match they did.

Although losing the toss and being given the ball on a somewhat spongy wicket, Crossbats were in the wickets early.
Lawrence struck with the first ball of the match, leaving the Nashers opening batsmen wondering why he had ever bothered
ironing his kit. And again it was Lawrence in his very next over, claiming his second scalp with a spearing delivery that
beat the batsmen all ends up.

In a match full of pivotel moments, we were about to be blessed with our first.

Rags, fresh back from a stint as a father, was looking for some early success and it should've come in the
form of a safe slips catch to birthday boy Graeme Winch. However, with Winch's mind firmly occupied by cake
and presents, the simplist of catches was dropped and that saw the beginning of an excellent Nashers partnership.

Some 20 overs and 100 runs later the partnership was finally broken by Stroppy Bob Jones, when finally one beat
the bat and cannoned into the stumps.

And it took Jones again to remove the product of Winch's generosity, when he hit deep into the waiting hands
of Lawrence sweeping on the leg side.

Crossbats, sensing the danger men were gone wanted to wrap up the innings quickly.
Gumbley was bought on with immediate affect, taking the most bizarre of caught and bowled's - nobody appealed,
Carter said 'Hows That' and the umpire sent the bat back to the hut.

Fitch was in on the action shortly after when the Nashers were undone by a direct hit whilst attempting
a quick single.

And a second run out was affected when Lawrence bowled a wide outside off stump
and Collier caught the batsmen napping beyond his crease and after a little stand off, he was sent
back to the changing rooms.

Though the wickets were falling regularly the runs were still coming and the Nashers made use of the
full 40 overs to get themselves a reasonable total of 180/9.

Back in the Pavillion, tea was laid on and it gave captain Dunbar some time to consider the Crossbats batting order.

Back on the pitch, the decisions had been made and it was Collier and Spiro to start the run chase.

Looking far more positive, Spiro set about his task, hitting some nice shots to various parts of the ground, before he fell to
his nemesis, the strait ball.

This bought Winch to the crease and feeling he owed his team something, promptly assisted Collier in getting the run rate
up to 5. These two looked as classy as ever, stroking the ball expertly and running comfortably between the wickets.
The impression that the Crossbats were cruising to their third victory must have entered everybodies mind at 126/1 with only
another 55 required from 15 overs.........

This, however, is about the time that we all decided that cricket was a stupid game and winning is a dumb idea.

126/1 became 126/2 when Collier perished to arguably the most legimate dismissal of the match for 41.
Carter was next in and next out, when umpire Gumbley took a long hard look at an LBW shout before finally, reluctantly
giving Carter out for 1....... 128/3.

Wright, sensing Crossbats were in trouble, added 1 more before falling to spinner Burton. 134/4.

Dunbar, feeling confident having earned the oppositions respect after bludgeoning their attack last year, strode to the
crease with victory on his mind. Today, unfortunately, the only thing he earned was his first legimate crossbats
duck and left his team reeling at 134/5.

If this wasn't bad enough, Winch, the anchor, the man with a point to proove, somehow caught this contagious disease and hit out
only to find a waiting deep mid on, giving his wicket away when we needed it most for a hard fought 55.

Fitch and Reeve gave hope, taking the team through to 150 before Reeve was run out and Fitch was bowled. Gumbley and Jones
did their best to score runs until Jones fell trying to hit out and maybe, just maybe, Man of the match Lawrence should've
been up the order a place or two as he was left an impossible task but hit a beutiful last ball boundary off the opening
bowler to conclude the match with Crossbats falling 7 runs short of the target.

After snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, Crossbats will be looking to turn it all around next week against the Blues.

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