SCORECARD

On a sunny, blustery day, the upturned saucer that is Bromsgrove CC's second ground saw a contest not quite as one-sided as the team sheets suggested might be the case. Captain-for-the-day Butcher pulled out all the stops to find a full complement, but even with Butcher Snr and (Ash's mate) Tahir called into the squad to boost the ranks, it still looked a lot more like a IX than an XI.

Butcher won the toss and immediately inserted the opposition, intent on making the most of the windy conditions and trusting the forecast for calmer weather later. Brentnall's opening spell of six overs accounted for Old Doms' both openers: Wright was smartly caught behind by 'keeper Rich Harris for 2, and then Harris carefully positioned Nutter at shortish-straightish-mid-off whereupon Adie duly thrashed the very next ball straight at him.

As Adie limped off, Old Doms' middle order took control, with batsmen 3 through 6 all getting 37 runs or more. This passage of the game was not without controversy. One batsman received the benefit of the doubt for a disputed catch behind off Butcher. Later, the other umpire initially called no-ball to a Rob Green delivery that bounced twice and then hit the stumps - though to his credit he did overturn his decision after consultation with his captain.

The fifth wicket didn't come until the 33rd over, when your correspondent took a blinding return catch that he's hoping to dine out on for many a year. After that, they tumbled: a run-out for Butcher (now keeping wicket), wicket for Guy, and three in the last over for Ash (including another smart catch for Harris over his shoulder, now fielding at mid-off). Guy and Ash finished with three-a-piece, and when Ash next bowls he's on a hat trick.

Old Doms' total of 252 would have been a lot bigger had it not been for the fantastic efforts of Liam (Butcher Jnr) and Tahir Jnr. Liam fielded at third man at both ends for 40 overs, keeping the ball from the rope and returning the ball with energy and endless enthusiasm, while young Tahir deputised for Alf in all sorts of positions for the last 15 overs of the innings. Well played lads!

The tea lived up to Old Doms' usual high standards: the fruit loaf was a particular favourite, the egg butties were to die for, and the builders' tea was the sort that puts hairs on your chest. Good stuff.

Raj and Tahir opened the reply. Tahir, by all accounts decent bat, started with a stroke that would have made a glorious cricketing picture were it not for the stumps splayed behind him. He might like to come back and try again another day. Raj battled on for 14, and Captain Butch played some nice pushes up the hill before getting stuck outside off-stump and tickling one to slip for 18. When Nutt was done by a good inswinger from Tom 'Tank' Perry, it was 57/4 and Rich Harris, on 10, was looking for someone to hang around with him.

Hope came, for a while, in two stands of 53 runs each, in which Harris was buddied first by Rob Green and then by Ash. Runs were certainly there to be had: Rich, Rob and Ash all picked off runs, and it was even possible to accumulate by pushing the ball up the hill and over the rope without undue force.

When Rob fell to make the score 110/5, Rich pushed on - his first 37 of his runs came off 43 balls and the next 37 off just 21. Ash contributed a breezy run-a-ball 13 before falling lbw, and next ball Rich also succumbed leg-before, for 74, as he spied another boundary.

Brentnall came to the wicket, and to shouts of encouragement to 'have a go!', pummelled a couple of balls to the boundary while Alf stood in support at the other end. When Alf was out stumped, the game was up.

Defeat by 79 runs sounds heavy; it's mitigated to some degree by the fact that we fielded only nine men. Still, there were a few in the clubhouse rueing missed chances to make it an even closer game.