League Match vs Victoria Park Juniors, 5th July 2008, London Fields

London Fields (109-0) beat Victoria Park Juniors (108 all out) by 10 wickets
By Robin Friend

Saturday saw the London Fields return to their winning ways with a convincing 10 wicket victory over some kids known formally as the Victoria Park Juniors. Losing the toss, Captain Dave Hickey was pleased to be told he would take the field. A Mr Tyrone "Beardboy" Graham took the new ball and did not disappoint, finding bounce, swing and wickets, and finishing with 2 for 23 off 6 overs. The most memorable, a jaffa, tickled the edge of the bat and was caught comfortably by a Mr Paul Teasdale behind the stumps. Mr Simon Lee at the other end was in fine form, taking 3 for 17 and bowling on a length that had the batsmen constantly guessing, guessing wrongly, and finding their stumps rearranged.

Perhaps they had rooms to tidy and homework that needed seeing to, but it was if the Juniors batsman had to be elsewhere. They were in a rush and did not fancy hanging around. Chaps, it is OK to occasionally defend a ball if it means you will be there for the next one.

With the opening bowlers doing the damage a Mr Dave "Taz" Millar and Mr Tony "Teargas" Tedore came on to tighten the screw, only allowing 17 runs to go from their combined 9 overs. The pressure was too much for the Juniors, and resulted in a brilliant run out by Beardboy, who threw from the boundary right over the stumps to break the longest partnership of the innings.

Up stepped Mr Graeme Rodrigo, who having said at the start of the game he had not played for a long time, produced a superb spell of bowling, pitching every ball on a sixpence (or on a leaf in Saturday's case!). With 3 maidens from his 5 overs, Mr Rodrigo deservedly struck with a brilliant wicket that found the edge and was miraculously taken by Mr Robin Friend at slip - who had been struggling all day to see the ball let alone catch it. Mr Arthur "Golden Arm" Smart continued his fine run with the ball, finding turn, bounce, and 3 wickets, which saw end of the innings and Victoria Park Juniors all out for 108.

The London Fields innings did not last very long. Like their Junior counterparts, Mr Friend and Mr Teasdale both had chores and homework they needed to attend to. With 3 fours and a six of the first over, things were looking pretty good. Both batsmen cashed in, playing some awesome shots (hang on, this is written by Robin Friend - ed!) and on occasion sampling a little luck. It was a fine partnership, Teasdale reached his 50 off 36 balls and Friend finished with 47 off 24.

All in all a good day at the office for London Fields.