Romany CC vs Swinton Park CC Match Report

I think it is fair to say we all enjoyed the day – lovely venue, excellent tea, friendly opposition (and the only rainfall was during the tea interval)  – all as usual at Swinton Park – but sadly this year we lost…Romany batted first – on probably the softest, spongiest, slowest pitch and outfield any of us have ever seen… so there was hardly any ” value for shots” – and Swinton Park’s bowling turned out to be a bit stronger than in several previous years.  All of Matt Knight, Howard Elgot and your scribe were bowled – and in the whole innings, only Steve Hardy , 32 not out retired and John Surtees 14 not out in the later stages, made double figures in a Romany total of 95-8 in 30 overs. The Swinton openers took the aerial route from the outset, hitting Matt Knight for successive sixes and after 5 overs SP had half the runs they needed! One opener retired, your scribe came on and bowled the  other one (a visiting South African) and Romany pulled it back a bit. Young Jamie Bielby making his debut for Romany bowled well, as did his Dad, and Howard Elgot,  but Swinton Park reached their target with 5 wickets in hand – there might have been a tighter result but we were generous not pursuing 2 stumpings John Surtees had got against SP’s youngster, and 2 catches had gone down –  Howard doesn’t have much joy with skyers…Onward and upward for Yapham next Sun…