Match report and photographs by Tony Bailey
The first match of the 2014 season for the 3rds returned us to the site of a comprehensive thrashing at the end of last season.
However we started with a number of new players and a better looking bowling attack than last time round so hopes were high.
After a warm up (!) expertly co ordinated by the Goon, we lost the toss and Hethersett chose to bat.
Any chances we had to win the game were lost in the first hour as we dropped Paul Reeve twice before Hethersett had reached 50. Both chances should have been held as it soon became clear the wicket had little in it for the bowlers, keeping very slow and low. In addition, one of the boundaries was very short,so anything short and wide could be easily be despatched. Both opening bowlers bowled manfully but allowed the batters too many four balls and it was a bit of surprise when Bryce chipped another one in the air to be caught by Snelling off the perservering Flesher. The spinners came on and applied a bit of a brake for a while but Paul Reeve enjoyed the short boundary for any deliveries slightly straying to the leg side. The new batsman Burrett was becalmed for a while but then got into his stride and began to hit the ball effectively. As we turned again to the opening bowlers, a couple more chances went begging and Hethersett picked up runs at will. Given our poor batting display there last year it was surprise they did not declare and they proceeded serenely to 314 for 2 off the allotted overs.
In reply Simon Jessup had clearly decided to have a go at anything in his half and he batted very fluently. After losing Tom Snelling to a good catch behind , Simon and the evergreen John Olpin put on 60 without many problems and it was another surprise when Simon played on to the spin of Asad Abbas. Matt Hogg also looked in no trouble until he was controversially given out LBW to a ball he though he hit. This heralded a mini collapse where lost 4 wickets and Tom Oxley had to retire hurt for the addition of only 35 runs. However we were able to stumble to 198 for 7 and respectability thanks to pretty friendly bowling and attacking fields.
All in all this was a difficult first game with the team getting to know each other , bowlers still trying to find the right areas consistently and, especially, some below par catching. If we are to do better this year than last we will need to hold our catches.
