Headley 264- 6 (Hughes 73, Midmer 59*) dec beat Park Hill 160 a.o. (Waller 4-4, J.Moss 2-45, S.Moss 2-34)

Although risking the team’s performance statistics for the year Headley took the opportunity to rest a number of players and release them for domestic chores. The side  was still relatively strong on paper and skipper James Midmer was looking to win the toss and set a target. Having failed to win the toss Midmer was pleased to have sewn doubts in the Park Hill skipper’s mind who chose to let his bowler’s toil and let his batsmen understand the wicket. More mature sides will see through Midmer’s Alex Ferguson like mind games!

The regular opening pair of Moss major and Pickering minor once again failed to deliver after a promising start. The Park Hill opening bowlers soon realised after having been despatched to all corners that pitching the ball up would give them more chance of wickets. With the openers gone and Pickering senior back in the pavilion things were not healthy at 28 for 3. Adam Hughes and Grant Waller commenced the rebuilding process judiciously at first picking off the bad balls and stoutly defending the good ones. Waller then chose to despatch the good balls as well and raced to 48 at which point the boundary edge pundits where predicting the outcomes. Sellers at 48 were the winners as Waller fell for the well flighted and directed off spin delivery. He was replaced by Gareth Noble whose tea preparation activities had clearly left him drained as he lobbed up a full toss to the wicket keeper. 

Captain Midmer joined the fray with still some work to be done. He and Adam Hughes continued to prosper with increasingly erratic bowling. Discussions on whether Hughes would get his maiden Headley ton were again premature as he edged a delivery to the keeper for a splendid 73 runs. Anjai Patel was the next beneficiary and joined Midmer in the boot filling phase of the game. Several balls were despatched into the undergrowth surrounding the Heath and umpire Doran was making regular visits for replacement balls. One final lost ball was enough for Midmer who called the innings to a halt with his personal tally at 59. Patel’s 42 not out was a welcome return to runs for the Headley webmeister.

The total of 264 allowed Midmer a relaxed tea knowing he had enough runs to give display his stable of bowlers. The talk at tea centred around Elvis’s state of mind. The failed cake making, the absence of his trade mark BLT’s and the tame surrendering of his wicket clearly suggested angst at Gracelands that morning. 

The Park Hill openers got of to a steady start and dealt with Angus Noble’s pacey but short deliveries fairly comfortably. At the other end Alan Clarke belied the 50 year gap in the ages of the opening bowlers by serving up a variety of offerings that simply baffled the batsmen. The breakthrough came in Noble’s final over with the constant advice of pitch it up finally getting through and the opening pair despatched in the space of a few balls. 

With the openers gone Midmer turned to the unlikely pairing of Moss majors leg spin and Moss minor’s off spin. Moss major’s first delivery was of the filthy variety and having pitched it in his own half of the wicket Moss was surprised to see the batsman smash it straight back to him for an unlikely caught and bowled. Having retrieved the ball from his gut Moss continued to impress and disappoint in equal portions with his now trademark head down leg spin. Moss minor was not going to be beaten in the ability to delivery the full variety of quality and filth. Between them the pair of Mosses picked up 4 wickets to leave the Park Hill side teetering at 64 for 6. A solid partnership allowed Park Hill to recover some respectability with the number 6 batsman in particular filling his boots to amass 50 plus runs. 

With Midmer getting a little frustrated and not sure if he would get home in time for Heartbeat he turned to Headley’s “go to” player Grant Waller who nonchalantly claimed the final 4 wickets to leave Headley with a comfortable victory.

Former skipper Philip Chapman was unable to comment on his rumoured recall to the Sunday side, his agent said there will be something on his twitter page posted during the week.