Venue : Leicester University (lower pitch)
Date : 14th June 2003
Opposition : Westonians
Weather : Hot / Sunny

Toss Won By : Huncote & Decided to Field

As the players arrived at the wonderful facilities of Leicester University the chat began with Jamie stating that he loves playing here as he always scores runs (we will find out later if he did?!?). We walked into changing room 5 with Huncote written on the door (very classy) to find someone had left a wonderful smell usually associated with post curry but a few sprays of deodorant and we were ok. 

As we started to get change the team were feeling confident in there wonderful surroundings that today could be a good days cricket. We proceeding on down to the lower pitch bathed in beautiful sunshine where Eddie proceeded to win the toss with great use of the wrist and decided to give Huncote first use of the ball on what looked like a very good batting pitch. 

J W Smith opened the bowling from the pavilion end with the wind going from slightly right to left to aid his quality swing movement. He started off with a slightly streaky over but soon found his line and length. Brewin opened from the other end and nearly killed the umpire with his second delivery which slipped out the back of his hand to much amusement in the field. A few tight overs from the two opening bowlers were rewarded when J W bowled a ball that started two sets of stumps outside leg stump and proceeded to bowl the batsmen's off stump through his legs! 

Stan then took a good catch in the gully one handed off J W again to rattle the Westonians team. Brewin and J W were removed from the attack after their usual 8 overs each. On came the old craft of Stan and Steady Eddie and both continued the trend of tight bowling with Eddie getting an early wicket caught easily in the covers by Brewin. It was Stan's turn as the big slogger right hander came in and slapped one over Brewin who ran backwards to take a good catch over his shoulder. Eddie then struck again with young James Swann taking a great diving catch at point. 

JW and Brewin were then brought back on for their final spells and J W took another couple of wickets one caught by Brewin easily at extra cover but finished off with a wonderful celebration dive (for the cameras only). Brewin then bowled the last bat clean and the inning's was over. Huncote had restricted Westonians to only 114(ish not totally sure). 

Off to tea and a long walk back up to the main pavilion, a good spread with plenty of variety and a nice cup of tea. Young James Swan proceeded to eat 4 chocolate bars which helped with his later performance!! Back to the lower pitch for the Huncote innings. The now usual opening partnership of Brewin and Smith took the still warm and sunny field. Brewin facing the first ball from a young fast bowler. 

First ball very wide, second 4 , third dot fourth 4, fifth 2, sixth dot, seventh 1. Good first over for the Huncote boys with Brewin already reaching his standard double figures for the innings. Brewski then played a delicate edge through the slips bringing Jamie to face has first ball of the match. A good solid defensive stroke or two was followed by the now legendary dangle of the bat which edged straight to the keeper who managed to palm the ball straight to first slip (what bad luck), Jamie out for a duck!! In came the whiley Al Sommer and after a few more boundaries from Brewin came controversy as a ball passed Al Sommer down the leg side and the appeal was loud and positive for a caught behind, without looking at Stan the umpire Al Sommer began to walk but looked up to see Stan declaring not out. 

This caused uproar in the field how could he walk and then return?? Answers on a postcard. All but one of the Westonians fielders decided that the game must go on but one muppet at point proceeded to shake his head in disgust. At such an act of dissent world class umpire Stan gave him an official warning for "Shaking his head" which caused more upset. Al Sommer after a few sensible runs decided to hit a full toss straight to mid-off which brought skipper Eddie Stratford the crease. 

By this time the tenth over Brewin had dispatched the ball the all parts bringing a spinner into the game. Brewin then hit two fours in a row and with his unusual method of counting his score he knew that one big boundary would bring a fifty. But the bowler had much more class and decided the bowl the fatal straight delivery and we all know what happens with Brewin and straight balls!! OUT. But with the score on 78 off 11 overs he felt that he had done enough to secure the game for Huncote. 

Ross Matthew then took the field and exited quite quickly bring James Swann to the crease. He then put on a match winning partnership with the skipper claiming three class boundaries in his not out 18 (all down to the extra chocolate at tea). Jubilation as Huncote had won. A wonderful all round performance. 

MOM : James Brewin (and 15 mentions for the MOM / match reporter), Editor, MOM given to JW Smith, sorry Brewin!!!!

Man of the Match- John Smith

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