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2012 Pre-season starts soon!

After a very quiet and long winter break, nets start the first week of February on Thursday nights at Beechen Cliff School in Bath. Bring it on!

All Time Low

The wheels well and truly came off Hay Hill's season on Sunday as the excellent bowling attack of the Venturers dismantled a decent batting lineup. The result was a record low total of 62 all out, and prompted talk of extra training sessions!

The highlight of the game was when Venturers just needed one to win and Martyn Evans induced a big top edge from Sharma. It seemed to have cleared specialist fielderJack Davies but he dived and strecthed out a hand, and somehow took the most extraordinary catch I've ever seen! To top it off, Martyn then got the next man in LBW and gave us a warm consolation glow as we lost by 7 wickets.

Trying to restore some pride, a 16 over game was arranged for after tea, and Hay Hill bowled and fielded well to dismiss the opposition for 82, but sadly it just wasn't our day and we sank to another miserable score of 67 all out! Oh well, at least it was a nice day in the sunshine...

Good Game, Good Game!

It really was a nice evening playing St Bart's at Hampset. The sun shone, old friendships were renewed, new acquaintances made, and a good game of cricket was enjoyed by all.

Hay Hill won quite comfortably in the end, with Mark Shearman and Martyn Evans taking career best bowling figures, and Kev Okell's one over netting him two wickets including an excellent return catch. Barnes, Evans, Shearman and Williams chased the required 102 steadily at first against some very good bowling before powering over the line with overs to spare.

Well played, everyone. Get well soon to James Povoas who missed the game through illness.

Southstoke Inflict 2nd Defeat

It has been a very successful season, and may yet turn out to be the winningest [sic] in the club's history, but things did not go well last night!

After winning the toss and deciding to bowl, Hay Hill found the opposition openers had decided to come out swinging. The gusty wind made bowling from one end very difficult, and despite excellent bowling from Steve Barnes, Dan Williams and debutant Toby Fitch, nothing really went our way. The batsmen hit lots of fours and sixes some of which were beautifully struck, but every edge evaded fielders and Hay Hill were left with an improbable target of 176.

In an unfortunate twist, the sun came out to accompany Alford and Barnes to the crease, making batting against the dolly drop spinners virtually impossible, even with sunglasses! The resulting slow start and the lack of Steve Walton made the run chase very hard indeed. But, Dan was in no mood for knocking around ones and twos as he belted the ball high over the boundary many times in an extraordinary innings. He had 44* off 15 balls, before trying to maximise his contribution under the rules of retiring at the end of the over in which you reach 50. It had to be done but was slightly counter-productive in the end!

Meanwhile, Mark was trying his best to score quickly but lacking the quality, timing and confidence of his vice-captain. A decent contribution of 27 was ended by a good straight ball from his opposite number when the RRR was about 15 an over. Toby and Matt R got a few more runs late on, but the only way we'd have won that one was if Dan was able to make a hundred!

Good effort, everyone! Special mention to our three scorers Amanda, Suzanne and Larry who had to sit there in that bloomin' wind.

Scorecard to follow...

Team for Tonight

Two more debutants tonight as we take on Southstoke at Kingswood School. Weather looks OK... start time 6pm sharp!

THE TEAM: Williams, Shearman, Barnes, Garratt, Nunn, Fitch, Alford, Sparrowhawk, Robinson, Barber, Crosbie

B39ers game summary

It was another record breaking night for Hay Hill but only after a tricky start. Asked to bat first in bright sunshine, Shearman and Barnes immediately faced the significant threat of a top quality quick swing bowler. Barnes survived but Mark was dismissed playing a pretty ugly shot to the other opening bowler, and Spadge did not last long against the moving ball. So after the first five or six overs the score was not many runs for 2 wickets.

We knew that the 39ers had a strong team out, and so Dan and Steve talked about pushing on to 140-150... but it wasn't long before the sixes started. Steve's 44 before being superbly run out by James Alsop included three huge sixes, and when Walton replaced him, it was mayhem. Fifteen sixes in all: seven for Williams and five for Walton. The total of 186 for 3 was another new record T20 total for us. Sensational batting.

The game did get a bit weird after that as darkness very quickly closed in. Wickets were not falling, and runs did not come quickly enough, and the captain had to try and choose bowlers who would not unnecessarily injure the opposition! Nobody could see the ball long before the game ended in a 30 run win, which was a shame, but it was an excellent performance.

We had lots of votes for the match awards, and the winners are:

• MOTM: Steve Barnes (great fielding as well as batting)
• Champagne: Dan Williams (wonderful clean hitting)
• Comedy: Steve Walton (almost hitting Kev's BMW, and a hilarious failed run out attempt)

It's worth mentioning that Jamie from the opposition deserves the comedy award more than Steve but that's not how it works!

Well done everyone!

At last! A match!

There's been a long, long break, but we're all glad to get out on a dry field again tonight and take on the Bradford 39ers.

THE TEAM: 1.Barnes 2.Walton 3.Williams 4.Shearman 5.Sparrowhawk 6.Robinson 7.Crosbie 8.Mills 9.Okell 10.Powell 11.Garratt

Unbelievable...

Game called off due to persistent and heavy rain during the morning and forecasts of heavy showers in the afternoon... only for it to become hot and sunny in Worcester. A decision had to be made, and it was very unfortunate how things turned out!

Obsessive Weather Checking?

I'm not the only one looking for the latest forecasts several times an hour, am I?

Touring Squad Ready to Boldly Go

A full playing eleven plus our dilligent, dedicated scorer Amanda are ready to head to the SCG on Saturday and try to retain the Ashes!

The replica Ashes urn made by Paul Shearman, that is. And we're not going to Sydney but rather Spetchley Cricket Ground in Worcestershire. But it is every bit as important as England vs Australia in the Shearman family.

THE TEAM: 1.Barnes 2.Walton 3.Povoas 4.Williams 5.Sparrowhawk 6.Shearman 7.Crosbie 8.Robinson 9.Barber 10.Powell 11.Garratt

Let's just hope (once again) that the rainy forecasts are a bit off the mark!