Dorset tour  - won one, lost one.

The headline is that we played three games, one 35 overs and two 20/20s. Won the 35 but lost both 20s.

On Sunday Powerstock and Hooke had two good bats and two good opening bowlers. Miles and Giles in each case. Once we had dealt with them the rest was straightforward. They were well set at 50/0 but ended with only 94 thanks to tight bowling from Graeme, Joe, Jonny, George and Howard, supported by decent catches. Unusually, the game was interrupted while we watched the last couple of overs of the Test. Graeme stood disconsolately on the pitch – a man alone.

Our reply was iffy at the start. Lost early wickets for nothing much. Eventually we got home for 7 wickets, almost entirely due to a good knock of 43* from George.

Monday’s games were at Little Bredy, certainly the most beautiful ground we play. The Earl’s XI was stronger than usual, with a couple of very good and aggressive bats and at least one quick bowler who bowled a very good line just outside off and was hard to get away.

In the first game we batted first and put up only 89. We were far too slow early on, and struggled to pick up the pace. Phil with 38 was the only significant contribution. That was too few to defend and in spite of accurate bowling from Joe, Graeme, Wal and Jack Handford, in particular, they got them in 14 overs.

In the second game, after an enormous tea (three separate people thought they were providing it!) they batted first and scored 161. All our bowlers except Jack were quite badly knocked around. But the reply showed a lot more spirit, and we were up with the required rate until the last couple of overs. Archie scored 44, with some classy lofted drives, Joe scythed his way to 39, George chipped in with 16. While George and Archie were in together it looked as though we would make it, but they went in quick succession to two good catches, and Phil and Leon were left with just a bit too much to do. We ended up 6 runs short. A thrilling finish which kept the crowd (Sid and Doris Bonkers) on the edge of their deckchairs.

A beautiful weekend. We ate dinner outside on Sunday night, for only the second time in 20 years.

Howard