Last Sunday brought the N2 Casuals, victims of their tour venue going bust. Amongst their number was a 78 year old, I doubt that any Horizontal would make it onto the field that age and still be playing, unless someone fancies buying Ken a pair of rollerblades. The result of the toss was that WHCC would bat on the top pitch, with Mike and Richard opening. Opening bowler Dodd was naggingly accurate, with Butler at the other end a little more generous, Mike and Richard hitting a boundary each before Richard hit one straight to cover for 7. This brought Amit to the fray, who hit a brace of boundaries from his first two deliveries. The scoring rate dropped as Anil the offspinner was brought on, and with Dodd still going for 1 per over Amit had enough, hit the first four from Dodd and was promptly bowled by Anil for 17. Simon Warren came in at 4, hit 2 fours and was well caught behind reaching down the legside off Thompson. 68 for 3. Hmmm. Chris came in and accompanied Mike as he started to accelerate putting on 40 for the fourth wicket until Chris was out for 15 well caught on the legside (3*4). Glenn then came into the fray, to join Mike. Mike had reached a finely accumulated 59 when he was stumped off Dodd who had turned to bowling spin to cure a no-ball problem which had not occurred at the other end. Barry came in and outscored Glenn in a partnership of 21, run out for 14, 175 for 6, and Simon Bowett came in to join Glenn, and hit the only six of the innings. 198-6 at the start of the final over which was bowled by Raj. He bowled Glenn first up for 30. He then bowled Jimmy for 0 next ball. Next ball to Webster a dot. No hat trick. Two more singles meant WHCC had scraped to 200 from the 40, Simon B 15* with 1*4, 1*6 and Webster a cultured and charismatic 1*.

After a fine tea, which incorporated Spring Rolls and boiled eggs N2 captain Parker opened with Dyer. Amit bowled from the football end and Webster from the far end. Both were unlucky but the N2 openers were accumulating steadily, only just behind the rate. It looked like lbws were off the umpiring menu. Then Glenn came on and it looked like caught behind off a thin edge was also off. Simon Warren’s solution was simple, bowling both openers, and having Shahieb caught behind for 0 . This brought Dodd to the wicket who was dismissive of Glenn’s bowling, forcing Chris to bring himself on. He was rewarded with the wicket of Hawkes, caught behind for 25 off an under-edge. Warren bowled Raj for 1. Dodd kept hitting fours. Simon bowled his eight right through and was only denied a 5-for by a daydreaming Webster at midwicket. Chris bowled Bhatt for 12 and Thompson for 2 and Dodd launched into Jimmy. The rate was around six, as Anil joined Dodd which was the only time they were up with the increasing rate. Chris brought Amit back who dismissed Anil for 10, Ray the 78 year old, first ball, whilst Matt returned to strangle the run rate. Amit had bowled out so Jimmy returned, picking up the final wicket of Butler caught at short cover by Richard. N2 all out for 168 and the team tucked into Mike’s jug, and upbraided Matt for his denial of Simon Warren’s 5-for (8-0-28-4). Had Dodd seen more of the strike in the latter stages and bowled fewer no-balls, it could have been much closer.