VPCCL League Match vs Phoenix Management, 1st August 2006, Victoria Park

London Fields lost to Phoenix Management by 27 runs
Phoenix 174/4, London Fields 147 All Out.
by our midweek correspondant, Chris Skinner

London Fields 8-Aside team finished the season as they started it - being whacked around pitch 1, before restoring some pride with the bat. As with almost every team we've met this summer, Phoenix were a friendly, competitive side.

Opening the bowling, Pete bowled with real venom and deserved his 2 excellent wickets. The 2nd batsman he dismissed trudged off appearing relieved it was all over. At the other end Rick bowled well but without luck, as was the case with most of the rest of the attack. The other wicket takers were Ty and Chris, the latter dismissing one of the most curious players we have ever come up against - every time he scored a run (and he scored 45 of the damn things) he bellowed out his tally for all to hear. It was like being sledged by a Countdown contestant.

Set a target of 174 to win in gloomy conditions, their opening bowler ripped through our line up - clean bowling Jason, Nick, Steve and Chris. Will stayed firm however, and with support from Ty (15), made a fine 50. This gave Pete the opportunity to hit a quick 21. When he was dismissed, Will was allowed to return, only to get himself bowled on 53.

We scored 147 from our 14 overs. We may have lost but it seemed a target we appeared way short of being able to reach at the start of the summer. We have used 20 different players, 4 men hit a total of eight 50s, 13 have taken at least a wicket, and one assaulted a pit bull terrier.