Headley 258 for 7 (Chapman 167 not out) beat Badgers 191 a.o. (J Pickering 8-32)

The match started at 1.00pm and unfortunately this reporter was late.  Luckily, however, sources tell me that James Midmer won the toss and elected to bat on the premier Headley strip in the centre of the square - the only one where you can't hit a leading edge for six.

George Tyson, who was quicker than Mike in his dealings with the opposition, departed early for 4 and it was left to Chapman and Josh Pickering to build the innings.

This was done with little fuss, and although Pickering never looked in the best of touch, Chapman, meanwhile, was slowly ridding himself of fast-food cricket and back onto the steady diet of Alpen and brown toast - cricketing parlance for a high left-elbow and minimal use of the bottom lever.

The former skipper reached his 50 in quicktime, and a whopping total looked on the cards before the Badgers gave the ball to the Tadworth 1st XI opener who immediately generated good village pace off no more than a shuffle. The Headley pair were initially surprised by the new bowler, and indeed Pickering fell to a ball that swung late; however Chapman soon found the extra pace to his liking - although 'Flash' Gordon Banks and Gareth 'Elvis' Noble may not have done.

Pickering senior departed soon after to an ugly mow and Hopper almost outdid him minutes later. The Headley innings was suddenly rocking and when Mitch Pickering lobbed one obligingly skyward, the skipper's wish for 200 plus was looking dodgy.

Still, Chapman remained, and looking in increasingly good knick, he was soon passing three figures and launching an attack on some genuinely flighted off-spin bowling. Chapman notched his 150 in rapid time and with the scoreboard ticking over serenely, Midmer sat in his pads and once more resumed his pre-occupation with when to declare.

A few Chapman boundaries later, not to mention a memorable flick over square leg for six from Henry Elburn, and Midmer had seen enough.

Headley 250ish for 7 declared.

Henry Elburn was on the money straight away, but unfortunately luck was not with him, in fact it was nowhere near him. Waller was not quite so accurate at the other end - perhaps weighed down by a late sandwich call-up - but, as he usually does, produced enough good balls to manufacture the breakthrough.

Headley then stalled. The Badgers finding a rhythm and both Elburn and Waller going for a few runs towards the end of their spells.

Midmer, who is fast becoming a non-playing captain specialising only in screaming catches, tossed the ball to Josh Pickering, and, after getting some rusty deliveries out of the system, the leg-spinner/off-spinner/ and very occasional seamer took 8-32 in a little over twelve overs and turned a once finely balanced match into a bit of a hammering. Indeed there were a high proportion of 'bowled neck and crop' on the Badgers scorebook.

Hopper offered some less well-flighted, very occasionally spinning support at the other end, and Banks was very game behind the stumps in the face of a variety of spinning deliveries from Pickering; and was finally rewarded for his efforts with a routine caught behind off Hopper - a cue-ended 10ft skier from a rank long hop, albeit a faster rank long
hop.

On reflection it seemed as though the match was won largely by Chapman and Pickering. But on further, more considered reflection... actually no, the match was won by Chapman and Pickering.