The Jolly Boys Cricket Club

The squad arrive at South Shore with some members of the squad still feeling the effects of yesterdays Twenty20 final at Great Ecclestone.

As usual Will opens the batting but this week Tom is unavailable so Powelly steps up to join him.

And botheration. No sooner has he got started before Powelly has a disaster and hits his own wicket. In fact he's so disgusted he manages to get right out of the picture !

Which means it's Stu Holloway coming in to bat. Sadly there was no repeat of last matches heroics either as he goes cheaply for a mere 3.

Which bring Ogs to the crease where he starts off with a lovely 4... before being bowled. Oh dear we can feel the makings of a traditional Jollys collapse coming on...

But just when we think it's all going to go wrong in comes Jol who manages to settle things down with some good shots.

Well Will and Jol are ticking the score along reasonably well so Dave (who is out injured) tries to teach us some batting basics. Old Dogs and new tricks eh ?

Back on the wicket Will has been caught for 16 so in comes "Cockney" Stu who will also be looking to continue last matches good form.

Play is interrupted by the thundering of an incoming jet which makes Will wonder where he's left his passport.

Undeterred by the noisy interruption Jol hits a single to retire on 25 (though he was diassapointed to have only hit a single - ed.)

Having also been inspired by the might jet engines "Cockney" Stu zooms in for another couple of runs.

Sadly though Coker faces and there's a wicked bounce which just beats the bat and takes out his off stump. Luckily for Coker I pressed the button early so I miseed the wickets splaying apart.

Poor old Dave continues his bad form with the bat. Having had to get padded up myself I missed Ez going in, missed Stu getting bowled for a decnet 13, but managed to get the cameraready just in time to see Dave walking off.

Once again a classic Jollyboys sting operation catches Stuey red handed talking to the Geoffrey Boycott batting advice line. Costly prehaps but it might explain his recent good form with the bat.

Well we're behind the run rate, we've not got many wickets left but the squad are quietly confident that we can still do it.

But it's a disaster for Baz as he too is bowled for nought.

Which means it our last man in. Sadly your humble scribe can only manage a quick 5 before getting bowled off his pads. So with Ez at the other end it's Jol now returning to the crease with 31 runs to get and 4 overs to go.

The lads know they've got their work cut out but Ez is playing intelligently just taking the singles and letting Jol take the strike. It might be a long shot but we're stil in with a chance.

Well the match ends with some controversy as umpire Frosty clearly signals a no ball, Jol steps out of his crease to attack it, misses the ball, is stumped by the keeper and is given out.

Stop Press: After much debate (and the use of an internet search back in the pub) we come to the conclusion that Jol should not have been out as the law clearly states you can only be stumped off a no ball if you're attempting a run. Oh well, the umpire's decision is final but we'll know for next time !

So the teams leave the field with Eye Catchers victorious. And if you're wondering why there are no cpitures of the butties this week it's because we forgot to tell Si that we'd rearranged the match...

So it was a truly tired and emotional Jollys that made their way home after the pub closed !