Kevin the Fulking Kestrel had a short life. Brian wasn’t sure what caused him to be found on the astro turf, feathers everywhere. Was he attacked by a buzzard? Was he shot? Was he poisoned? Was he actually dead? Most kestrels, if alive, wouldn’t just take being held by the talons and thrown into the grass catcher. Most living birds of prey would resist this. Yes Kashy - he is definitely dead. Sadly Kevin the Fulking Kestrel will just be consigned to the compost, to be recycled back into the land.
 
There was some good news for Keith, some female company in the scorebox:

“Well Keith, I hope you’ve had a shower.”
“Yes, but there will be none of that. She’s X’s mother”
“That’s OK mate, don’t let that stop you.”
“Hmmm… No. Her husbands a lot bigger than me. And he’s a butcher.”

Fair enough.

So the MNM had to win this game, much like the rest of them really. Kash flipped the old double header and we decided to bowl first. Scribe had contracted the niggles from Lord Green but a combination of Asda’s strongest painkillers and some Pakistani horse oil made sure that there was very little neuron activity in the offending area.

We began well with Scribe and Carly striking to remove both openers. Webber played some good shots off the back foot before being caught at point. A good partnership from Newell and Norris got Bridges up to 93 before Norris was dismissed and on a slowish wicket batters got in and held their ends up. Newell was rewarded with fifty and their keeper was not out 46 at close. Kash ended with 3-43, Scribe 2-26 and Grandfather and Riggdogg one a piece. Three Bridges finished 196-7.
 
Tea was wonderful and musing about how Riggy would have got on in the 100 meters final made the mood light. Apple and rhubarb is a great combination. The spring rolls are a winner and I like brie.
 
The MNM faltered slightly at the top of the order with the Ginger warrior trapped LBW to Alderman.

At the other end Prince Seymour Albert worked hard and got a start before getting out and Wakers got in and got out caught on the rope. Kashy fell to a similar fate caught by a diving man in the deep. Resistance was given by Lord Green who displayed once again that he has the loosest wrists in the south playing some rude shots. Greeny showed that his new relaxed approach is the way forward and has proved that this is the best way for him to operate. He is a happier man and a happier cricketer this year. The two go hand in hand.

Anyway when Greeny was dismissed for 50 we were 110-4. Not especially pretty. An innings of substance was required and young Phillips was the man to provide it. With a run rate that was creeping up Az got stuck into the Three Bridges bowling attack playing shots all around the wicket. And with each run his chest pushed out just that little bit further. The lesser spotted slog sweep was even sighted at one point! The familiar back foot pivot, the squaring up after the shot has been played, just to reassure the bowler that the bat is bigger than the ball. It was all there.

All he needed was a partner, and fortunately between Shephard (who really counts for two as his hair is so big), Simon and Jimmy Mac (who I thought kept very well by the way) he found one or three(?).

We managed to get home in the last over and gain another victory. We remain top with a game in hand and are setting the pace.

Scribe gets the feeling this might go to the last game of the season to be assured and we must keep winning or at least getting good points scoring results.

Brighton and Hove next week and ghost writer will be in place for this as Scribe is going for a dirty weekend in Berkshire. 20Twenty finals as well on bank holiday Monday. So a busy weekend for the MNM. Both at the SCMG and support is as always welcome.