Belmont (120-8 in 39 overs) drew with FZY (170-6 dec. in 43)

By virtue of some wonderful forward planning by the League, this match was the first of 1998 for both teams. Eight months after the last outdoor outing, eight months older all, an immediate crank up to full competitive performance levels was called for. FZY did rather well to get to within one wicket of victory, but how crucial their failure to beat an unimpressive Belmont team will be come the end of the season, no-one knows.

Whitchurch playing fields provided the venue, a bumpy, rutted outfield complementing a slow but true pitch. It wasn't the most glorious of surroundings, but the sun shone, and, unlike the previous soggy Sunday, the match went ahead. There was no evidence of a brutal fitness regime having been imposed on the FZY team in the winter. It looked as though teas had continued whilst the cricket did not. Flossy, in particular, looked heavily pregnant - let's hope the baby isn't born before the wedding in September.

Marksy lost the toss, and Shorty and Anthony strode out to bat, the latter one of the three who had made up the team - Sparky and Clint were the others - which had won the Hertfordshire final of the ECB National Quiz in April. Unfortunately, Anthony couldn't answer all the questions asked of him by the Belmont bowlers, and after half an hour, he was turned round by a ball which straightened to hit the stumps. Shorty and Wisey began to up the scoring rate, until the diminutive one fell to a blinding catch at mid-off.

For Charlie, the winter meant further hair loss, but his eye for the ball remains, and he hit a whirlwind - some would say brutal - cameo of 24. Next in was Reggie, playing his first match since 1996. Well, you can change the chapter, but you can't change the book. After ten minutes of solid batting and enthusiastic running, and with 4* on the board, suddenly he hopped in mid-run. It was the calf muscle in the right leg, and it was the end of play for Reggie, probably for at least a month. Cricket can be a cruel game - only a few months earlier, he had been arranging Chris Coleman's mortgage….

Wisey made an assured 46, and Moishe nurdled 31 valuable runs. The score reached 170 before the innings closed, and, for the first knock of the season, it was a good effort, although the pitch and bowling were on the friendly side. Tea was taken in the sports pavilion, a not offensive but not entirely Kashrut spread, and the FZY boys of course ensured that they were properly sustained for a rigorous afternoon in the field.

Upon resumption, Flossy made the first breakthrough removing the left-handed opener (and father of the no.11 batsman, of which more later) thanks to a catch by Sumo. One or two of the Belmont batsmen looked as though they may be able to chase the runs, but the issue was more whether the ten wickets could be taken. Wisey retired from the attack wicketless, but Flossy extended his haul to three, in fortunate circumstances. After two long hops firmly despatched for four, the instruction to Flossy from the captain was "bowl another one of those and you're off!". He did, and DK took a storming catch on the legside boundary.

Charlie was the first change bowler, trying hard to use the innings to shake off the effects of influenza, joined by Sumo bowling from the opposite Edgware Brook end, who has pushed himself into the frontline attack. Bowling flighted leg-spin, at not a terrible pace, and maybe with a bit of a wobble, he had the batsmen guessing. One survived a stumping chance, Anthony having already taken the bails off in his mind an age before the ball came through, before he was later bowled. Sumo thus learnt quite quickly that DIY is often a good maxim for bowlers. Two fielders did help him out with catches, Jackie and Sub (alias Clint, maybe the first Sub catcher in the FZY scorebook?).

When the eighth wicket fell, with three overs left, it became clear in the middle that only one more was required. The Belmont no.11, pre-teenage in years, had gone home, taken by his dad, who was the opener first out. But, despite the best efforts of Flossy and Charlie, the 'last' pair held firm. There was just enough energy left amongst the fielders to stagger to the dressing room, and contemplate the aches and pains which were to follow the next day….. (not to mention the ear-bashing which would be reserved for the League fixture programmers).

Guest reporter: Dana International (Tel Aviv Times)

FZY (212-7 dec. in 43 overs) beat Newlands (19 all out in 18 overs) by 193 runs.

What, you may ask, did Danno make for breakfast? This was one of the glory days for FZY cricket, a crushing victory over not just any old Shul team, but their main rivals for the League, a team, we were told before the start, which had their strongest batting line-up ever. And a team, we must not forget, which has never beaten FZY! Still!!

Architect of the victory was man-of-the-match Tony Wise, who turned what was looking like a close game ten overs from the end of the FZY innings into a complete rout less than two hours later. His commanding century was the first he had scored since playing in the back garden with his brothers all those years ago, and ended a long and sometimes agonising quest for the three figures. Awesome hitting - mainly in the V above the bowler's head - took him from fifty to a hundred in about half an hour. It was a pity that the four with which he brought up his ton coincided with the team's two hundred, as he was rather confused by the applause and did not take a full bow. However, whether he had the energy to do so is unlikely. A long innings of running up and down on the team's behalf had worn the big man down significantly.

After Marksy lost the toss (again) and was asked to bat (again), an estimate of a favourable score was around 180. The weather was tops for cricket, but the surroundings as scruffy as ever. Sieffy was persuaded to open with Anthony, and they started off at a brisk enough pace for the first five overs, before Sieffy was caught behind, playing away from his body. Anthony was next out, given lbw (although deep square leg thought it might have been caught behind, and stopped to ask Anthony as he trudged off - most unwise), followed by Shorty who was definitely caught behind. When Charlie was caught at short cover (big juggle), the scoreboard read 77-4. What scoreboard? The FZY one had gone missing (so too the stumps, which had to be borrowed from Newlands) and the score had to be vocally announced at the end of each over. Neutral umpires, it should be noted, had been appointed by the League for this game, a Mr J Lawrence from Belmont and a retired Hertfordshire ACU official from Welwyn, who wasn't overly impressed by the facilities (?) on offer.

Wisey and Flossy built up the innings, Flossy battering away successfully for 31 runs. New bat and new boots, he was also stepping into the shoes of his injured brother up the batting order, and he found his form. Not that anyone cares, especially at this stage of the season, but when he was bowled for 31, his batting average stood at 46.00. Moishe hung around for a couple of overs before he too was bowled, but Wisey had begun to put his foot down. And swing. Some of the carries on his sixes would have had Jon Daly purring with admiration.

The Newlands fielding became really ragged. Half chances fell to the ground, the ball always found the gap and heads went down as it all went quiet. Clint was sent out to steal some singles and give Wisey the strike, and for five overs it all went totally to plan. Wisey's hundred came with an off driven four off the first ball of the last over. Exultation in the main stand, grudging applause from the fielders, and a vague look of amazement from Wisey, still concentrating on the job in hand. The next five balls brought 12 more runs, Wisey ran himself out martyrically for 101, bringing Sumo in for a final scamper. Clint meanwhile managed to protect his average, and benefited from four overthrows off the last ball, which gave him his second six for the club.

The tin-foil tea was well-received if not gourmet, made as it was in several FZY household kitchens that morning. Cakes were courtesy of Mr B Marks, who had earlier thrown his sixth birthday party. Double celebrations, then, for his father this particular Sunday. The teatime mood was one of exultation for FZY, but confidence in the Newlands ranks that they could overhaul the target.

Ha! The next hour or so was total bliss for the fielders. Records were set - lowest score against, record margin of victory, most catches in an innings (7) - but far more memorable was the magnitude of the achievement. With the psychological ascendancy established at the end of the first innings, the advantage was rammed home with more than an ounce of luck going their way. Bad balls were wicket-takers, and the fielders were always in the right places.

Wisey was persuaded to turn his arm over from the Beehive Lane end, despite his torpor, opening in tandem with Flossy. They took five wickets between them in ten overs, plus a run out for good measure. Anthony held on to three catches, yes, three (more than the whole of 1997), including one cracker off a driven, rising edge off Wisey. From the other end, Flossy perfected the dismissal he had been working on the week before. You know the one, leg-side long hop guided carefully into the hands of square leg. It happened twice here, it was that sort of game. Newlands may point to the incapacity of their 'star' man, Mr Durban, to play a significant role because of his groin injury. It prevented him from bowling, and then, batting number three, he couldn't run between the wickets. His attempt at scoring a century from the crease failed after five miserable minutes, and typified the plight of his team.

Wisey took a decent catch off a skier, Charlie a catch and a nimble run out, Clint and Flossy a catch each. Charlie and Marksy took two wickets each, Marksy finishing off the innings by bowling the batsman who did not offer a shot. Yes, he actually got one to come back! It WAS that sort of day. David Tropp, who would have bowled the very next ball, thus ended with a TFC ('thanks for coming'), but he didn't seem to mind. It was enough just to be there, to witness history and indeed play a part in it.

Guest Reporter: Arsène Wenger (Paris Match) 

UCS Old Boys (168-8 in 43.4 overs) beat FZY (164-7 dec. in 50 overs) by 2 wickets.

First friendly of the season, and first where the Skipper didn't have to leave anyone out of the team - in fact, only ten players could make it. They included the wunderkind debutant Ben Rurka, an undergraduate from the Bournville area who gave each of his team-mates at least ten years, and, making his second appearance for the club, Jonathan Green. The latter came along a more conventional path, being brother-in-law (and lookalike) of Anthony, and hoping to improve upon his batting average of 0.00. Tav also joined in the fun, making his first appearance of the season.

Marksy won the toss and elected to bat, sending out Anthony and Sieffy - the previous week's opening partnership - to the middle. The main square was the one used, in comfortable proximity to the pavilion, and the pitch was well-prepared and true. There was a slowish start, with none of the urgency of a limited-overs League match. The batsmen took stock, and nudged away at two runs per over. But the match sprung into life after 12 overs, when Silver Lightning and Trigger (alias Marksy and Flossy) rode out to umpire. No sooner had Flossy tied the bowler's jumper around his waist, his index finger was raised rapidly to condemn Sieffy.

So, wunderkind went in to bat, his first match for two summers since he last turned out for the Carmel College XI. Tall and dashing, with the air of a Ted Dexter about him, his early runs came from shots which went, intended or otherwise, behind the wicket. But, assuredness gradually returned, later overtaken by power, with one especially awesome straight six. The boy is a find! (Even though he claims to be a Newcastle United supporter.)

Anthony was stumped for 31, and Ben ran himself out for 36. Shorty though anchored down and looked as though he was beginning to find his form, with 100 runs before the end of May well within his grasp. He was joined by the skipper, for his first knock of the season, which didn't unfortunately last long - bowled for 14. But major entertainment followed as Tav, the eminence grise, waddled out to begin his 18^th season for the club. The distractions of Seville, Vicenza and Stockholm having interfered with his pre-season training, his eye was not yet attuned in the middle, and he spent most of his brief innings trying to give catching practice to the infielders. He was off the mark with a single from a shot which passed through mid on's hands and down his shirtfront before it touched the ground, and he offered a couple more in-the-air blows before somebody spoilt the fun and caught him for 2.

The innings was nearing its timed conclusion when Clint came out to bat…. or was it? UCS mean time, as portrayed by the Eve Memorial Pavilion clock, showed real time, although it was believed to have been altered by ten minutes owing to the late start. Anyhow, the extra batting time enabled the score to be bumped up to a reasonable level, for Shorty to be dismissed (for 42) in the pursuit of runs, for Clint to protect his average further by not being run out, and for Jonathan to register his first runs for the club, and to get the red ink treatment, too.

Tea was standard for UCS, with one local wag commenting on his good fortune that so many ham sandwiches had been provided for a match against FZY. Meanwhile, Marksy passed round a copy of the JC, which contained his hyperbolic article on the previous week's match, speaking of the 'commanding' FZY performance and that they bowled and fielded 'like demons'. Above was a team photograph taken in Devon, and all the players in it were sticking their tongues out.

Wisey and Flossy opened the bowling as usual, although there was some debate about which was the better end to bowl from. The first two wickets soon fell, but the third-wicket partnership proved hard to dislodge. Controversy briefly reared its ugly head, however, as the no.3 batsman, solid but particularly unspectacular, nicked an away swinger from Flossy. Anthony successfully took the catch, and absolutely everyone went up for it, but neither the batsman nor the umpire moved. The batsman claimed that he 'wasn't sure if he hit it or not!'

By the start of the last 20 overs, FZY were the favourites, now having made inroads into the batting order, and with over 100 to win, and it looked even better when the eighth wicket fell at 127, with more than ten overs to go. All the bowlers had taken wickets: Marks 3, Ross 2, Wise 2 and Sieff 1.

But cricket returned to prove that you can never take it for granted. A burly Old Gower came to the crease, his behind protruding largely (it stood out from a distance) inside a pair of black tracker bottoms. He wouldn't have looked out of place in rural Devon, and his lusty blows indicated that he may have a big career ahead of him - as a farmer. He swept - and drove - UCS to victory, blew FZY away, and showed no mercy to any of the bowlers All in all, however, an excellent game of cricket, played in good spirit.

Guest reporter: Eileen Drewery (Faith Healing Fortnightly).

FZY (207-7 dec. in 43 overs) beat Kilburn CC (59 all out in 21.2 overs) by 148 runs.

The FZY catalogue of memorable moments in 1998 was extended on Sunday as Tav wrote his name large in the record books towards the end of this match with an all-bowled hat trick. A maiden fifty from the rookie Rurka was just about all else that was memorable from this no-contest, played at Old Habs against opponents of with no discernible ethnicity or ability.

Kilburn were impressed when they arrived. Impressed by the grandeur of the Croxdale Road ground, impressed by the fact that their adversaries had eleven men. Kilburn only had eight to start with, but managed to find another three, who probably wished they hadn't bothered, although Tav for one was grateful. Meanwhile, the mean, and for once relatively lean cricket team known as FZY were all on time, in whites, in form and hungry. It was noted, however, with a degree of Schadenfreude, that Kilburn represented the FZY of ten years earlier - a core of four or five good cricketers supported by four or five enthusiastic but not-so-good ones. If they were lucky enough to play on a proper club ground, a heavy defeat was almost guaranteed.

So it was for Kilburn, and we wish them well, in the hope that, at least in time for the return match in August, they have mastered the concept of 6.30 plus twenty overs, which it took them at least 4½ hours to comprehend this time round. But on the day, the more polished skills of FZY were sufficient to stifle Kilburn, and whilst the competition was less than fierce, at least there was a feelgood factor of superiority.

That everyone was on time was due to the absence of the skipper, who had a pentecostal hindrance. Equally, the v-c was still absent with a gammy knee, so the reins were passed to Clint, for his first match as captain in the Home Counties. His initial act was to lose the toss (10 pence piece, it came down heads up), but was invited to bat anyway by the opposing captain, who turned out to be the opening bowler and no.3 bat as well.

So Sieffy and Ben walked out to face what was surely not the most testing of bowling attacks. In the end, it could have been worse for Kilburn, with only seven in the field, and they stuck at it, even after the 'keeper stubbed his finger catching the ball early on and had to go off to cover point. In general, the tempo was slow, however, but the sun shone, and the wit flowed from beyond the boundary. When Sieffy was out caught in the 15^th over, in came Charlie, to the sort of situation he often dreams about. Although he was back less than 20 minutes later, it was only after butchering 36 runs. There was no sense of cameo about this innings - it was a Hirst and not a Hogarth.

Shorty was circumspect by comparison, but with Ben he pushed the score along. This was clearly going to be more than the usual 150-170 score usually attained on a Sunday. The race was on between the two to become the second batsman to reach 100 runs before the end of May. Side-betting was intense (even without the skipper), but eventually both failed, Shorty only two away from the milestone. Ben reached his fifty - he looks the part and can strike the ball hard and far - but he was also dismissed in the midst of a mini-collapse. Lawrence, making a welcome guest appearance, played a couple of delicious nine irons before first he and soon after David Tropp were out. It was left to Clint and Paul Jayes to take the score past the 200 mark, the captain gallantly giving up his wicket in the last over to allow David Kay to open his account for the season. Paul ended up on 9 not out, a personal CB, before Clint declared the innings closed.

Lawrence also made a declaration - that the tea should be scored as 9 out of 10. The master of tea marking was back at the long tables he knows best. Kilburn left a few of their sandwiches and cakes, but FZY cantered through their allocation, helped by not one but two of the Segal brothers, who just happened to be visiting the ground during the tea break! Condolences were nevertheless offered to the Segal family - Sumo would have been playing in the match but for the unfortunate passing of his father during the week.

Wisey opened from his favourite top end, in tandem with David Tropp. Four overs from the former were all it took to put the proverbial wind up Kilburn - he only took one wicket, but beat the bat almost 23 times. At the other end, there was something about the absent Flossy in DT's bowling, as his two wickets were catches (Rurka, Jayes) in the ring from not necessarily the straightest of deliveries.

It seemed that all of Clint's bowling and field changes were coming off. Brilliant and intuitive it may have seemed, although nobody remarked upon the fact at the time. Tav took over at the top end for his first bowl of the season, which was initially a mixed bag. But he was soon hopping in to a rhythm, and begun to trouble the batsmen. When the fourth Kilburn wicket fell, it was clear that the match would not last the distance, even with Tav and the even more wily DK bowling.

The scoring rate was briefly enhanced by a blitz from Mo, the second batsman in consecutive weeks to top score against FZY wearing dark track suit bottoms. He ended up with two thirds of the team score, being 40* out of 59.

But he could only stand and watch as the dénouement came about. Charlie, who had to go early anyway, was brought on to facilitate a prompt finish, and duly broke the stubborn sixth wicket partnership. Then, Tav struck. Not only did he take a hat trick, not only was it all-bowled, but all the batsmen were wearing different coloured shirts. A white one was followed by a red one, and then by an AC Milan football shirt. Ironic, of course, that the latter was founded in 1899 as the Milan Cricket and Football Club. Evidence of the subsequent divergence in fortunes in the two sections of the club were given not only by the Kilburn no.10, but also by the fact that Italy finished bottom of their qualifying group at the 1997 ICC Trophy.

Tav, who had waited 18 years for this moment, took it all in his stride. He probably realised that the Old Habs bar wouldn't be opening. There had only been one previous hat trick for FZY - David Brickman against Olympus. Amazing, one wag remarked, that he had been allowed on the field for three consecutive deliveries. An amazing day indeed.

Guest reporter: Justin Langer (ACB Website)

FZY (161-9 innings closed in 42 overs) drew with Casual Nomads (137-7 i.c. in 38 overs)

Phew! It was a winning draw in the end, but this was a spirited effort from Nomads which certainly reminded FZY that League medals are not such a formality that they used to be. Despite the huge victory over Newlands, there are other teams now gearing themselves up to greater competitiveness in the League. If one were to equate FZY to Brazil and Newlands to Holland, then Edgware Wanderers are the Nigeria of the League and Casual Nomads the Morocco.

It was FZY's strength in batting depth that eventually gave them the better of the scoreline, but Nomads' better players all came off in this match, and they only narrowly missed the winning draw themselves, even looking like they would overhaul the FZY total at one stage. Thanks to a late rally in the field, however, getting going when the going got tough, it was the champions who took home the points.

Warm and sunny were the weekend conditions at Old Habs, for once excellent timing on behalf of the weather, which had been wet during most of the week. Shows the spiritual value of having Moishe in the team, I'm sure. Nomads arrived early, and were seen to be performing all sorts of gymnastics in the outfield before the start of the match. This sort of thing is not usually on, even before League games, and it was a signal of their determination to succeed.

Marksy lost the toss - near the end of June and not one successful outcome for FZY yet this season. As is commonplace given this year's League rules, the toss winners preferred to field, and so Anthony and Charlie went out to face the bowling. The start was slightly delayed by the non-prompt arrival of one of the two neutral umpires, both over-60 and local goyim. Not sure if they were impressed or not, especially as, during the tight finish, they had to recalculate the required Nomads' scoring rate several times.

The first hour belonged to Nomads. FZY were struggling at 55-4, having lost Anthony, Wisey, Charlie and Reggie for low scores. Echoes of the cup final last year? Well, the outcome was rather more positive on this occasion, due in the main part to Shorty, who has got into the groove this season well and truly. He was unlucky that the innings did not last two more overs, as he surely would have extended his 86 not out into three figures. In some ways, his innings was reminiscent of Wisey's hundred against Newlands, not least how he turned a relatively ordinary personal and team score into something a lot more substantial just in the last few overs. A few balls from the end he hit one of those specials - seeing that the longs off and on were a few yards in from the boundary, he went for the big shot…. and it landed between the fielders and the boundary. Just short of a six, of course, but worth more than two runs just to see fielder/bowler recriminations!

Shorty was aided in his innings rehabilitation by Sieffy and Flossy. Sieffy, totally coincidentally, got himself out two balls after his family arrived but, except on tour, there is little chance of Flossy's fiancée causing such distractions. So he was able to provide the ideal foil to Shorty, at first digging in, then taking singles, and then allowing himself some shots of his own. The hundred was posted, and a reasonable score now looked likely. Soon, Shorty reached his fifty, to a loud ovation from the watching crowd. This compared favourably, of course, to the loud-mouthing of the Nomads' keeper, who voiced his unsolicited opinion on many things, most of them uncomplimentary so far as the batsmen were concerned. He succeeded in winding everyone up, whether that was his purpose or not.

In a pulsating crescendo, Shorty opened up and the scoreboard began to rattle along. Flossy's dismissal, caught for 12 four overs before the end, precipitated the second mini-collapse of the innings. In the frenzy, Clint was lbw and Moishe was run out, for the second and third FZY ducks of the season. So when Marksy, on 1, was sent back by Shorty, slipped, fell, and was run out whilst still on his backside in mid-pitch, it was a case of 'quack, quack, oops!'

Sumo came in for the final over or so, face one ball which he hit for three, and then would not cease telling everyone of his 300 runs per 100 balls strike rate. Nobody was listening, however, being more keen on congratulating a weary Shorty on his priceless innings, worth over half the team's total. Puffed and dehydrated, he took a well-earned shower as the rest of the team turned to their tea. It was another fine Old Habs spread, accompanied, unusually, by an Argentina v. Jamaica football match on the television.

The resumption also saw a strange phenomenon - the return to the run-up of Reggie Ross. Asked to open from the bottom end, his five-over spell was not full speed, awesome Reggie, but he was there or thereabouts and showed signs that he could, maybe one day, wrench back the seasonal top wicket-taker title from his brother. There was no apparent reaction from either of his dodgy legs, too.

Unfortunately, neither he nor Wisey could break the opening partnership, an annoying combination of the aforementioned noisy wicketkeeper and his classically straight-playing colleague, who was also not averse himself to engaging the opposition in verbal combat. Wisey, whilst enjoying the challenge, had no luck, and the new ball bowlers had only 12 overs between them. For a while, at the beginning of Flossy and Charlie's spells, the batsmen were completely dominant, and the target looked well within their grasp. It was hard to see how either would get out. Not until the 23^rd over did the first wicket fall - Flossy hit the stumps - and the second followed in the next over, ct. Marks b. Sherrard.

At 75-2, of course, it was still not such a bad position, but Nomads only had one batsman remaining who could force the pace. And there was one end open. Flossy and Charlie both picked up another wicket and, as Nomads were a man short, a home team victory became a possibility. The visitors had two goals to aim at: an increasingly unlikely 162 to win, or 145 - was it 146? calculators were required - to gain a winning draw on run rate. With Sieffy now bowling, Reece was encouraged to go for his shots, and with some degree of success until he chipped the ball up towards long off. Sumo didn't have to move much, but he caught sight of the ball late. It was in the air for a heart-stopping moment……in it went into Sumo's stomach……. it bounced out……. and he gleefully caught the rebound.

Now there was no chance of a Nomads win, and although there were two overs in which to take the last two wickets, FZY settled for containment. Ultimately, this policy paid off, as the Nomads lower order, featuring long-time ago ex-FZY lower order batsman Stephen Schussman, could not force the pace sufficiently.

But it had been a scare. For much of the match, Nomads had been ahead on points, and only Shorty's batting and a doughty rally in the field saved the day. Good to know that the League is becoming more competitive, isn't it?? A good day's cricket, all in all.

Guest reporter: Fabien Barthéz (La Depeche du Midi Toulousain)

28 June 1998

Belmont (116-4 in 17.2 overs) beat FZY (115 all out in 37.3 overs) by 6 wickets

So last year's beaten finalists are out of the competition already. Returning to the scene of their narrow failure to beat Belmont 2^nd XI in the League, FZY were comprehensively beaten by Belmont 1^st XI. Without Charlie and Shorty it was always going to be a struggle, and the rain which had promised so much for so long failed to materialise. If the match may have been winnable before the start, the loss of the two FZY openers within the first nine balls led to an air of inevitability startled only by the clatter of wickets and later, when Belmont's turn came to bat, by the sound of willow tonking leather.

The game was originally scheduled for the Old Lyonians ground in Harrow, but heavy rain the previous day rendered a change of venue necessary. (Unfortunately) Whitchurch was available, and, despite a heavy downpour a couple of hours before the start, perfectly playable, if a little heavy in the outfield. Still desperately clinging on to the hope of rain interference, which would have led to the match being decided on the toss of a coin, Marksy went out for the real toss. And lost it, again. Six out of six, so what hope was there anyway??

First ball, Anthony turned to leg for a Scooby. 'Good start!', it was remarked. Second ball he played the same shot, but it stopped a bit, and square leg took a good low catch. Anthony's reaction was rather a uncharacteristic strop when he returned to the hutch, throwing his gloves down in a manner that would have made Mark Ramprakash proud. Hopefully, we'll see more of that sort of behaviour on tour.

Wisey survived the rest of the over. Second over, and the first two balls pitched outside off and came in, carefully watched by Ben. Third ball, and it pitched outside off and came in. Ben carefully shouldered arms, and the ball hit the stumps. At a loss to explain his actions to the rest of the team, someone suggested that he must have been the victim of 'Rurka's drift', which triggered off a host of Zulu warrior and 'not a lot of people know that' wisecracks.

Wisey, whose fruitless batting of June contrasted starkly with his fruitful May, played one Wiseyesque drive for four before losing his wicket with the score on 16-3. Not a good start. Thanks only to a fourth wicket stand of 68, worth 60% of the team total, between Sieffy and Reggie did the score pass 100. Sieffy's contribution was a fighting 40, Reggie scored 35, memorable for one over when he twice ran three! Other than that, extras scored 21 and nobody else more than 6. The tail did not wag, cowed by some accurate Belmont bowling.

Tea was the standard Whitchurch fare, although the appetite amongst the losing, visiting team was not as great as usual. Almost, though. Upon resumption, most of the time was spent retrieving balls from the scrubby grass beyond the short legside boundary. Four wickets went down, three of them to Sieffy, and some of them were due to the bowler's guile, rather than the batsmen hitting out. But the seamers were dealt with mercilessly, and it was all over very quickly.

So no Cup glory this year, and FZY were left to concentrate on the League far earlier than would have been preferred. Maybe another time it might rain. We might even win the toss one day………

Guest reporter: Anna Kournikova (Ykaterinburg Gazette)