It was another glorious day and what better way to finish off the evening than a game of cricket in sizzling conditions, resulting in the application of suntan lotion, hats and sunglasses. After a brief discussion between the captains, our skip Jon decided, sportingly, that we would field first as MCC were still waiting for a player to turn up. How very little Jon knows, we were also a player short so a toss was the only option, which he lost, so the Old Boys took to the field anyway.

After a steady start by the openers against the reliable opening bowl pairing of Brown and Lambshead, Brown got the vital breakthrough with a great delivery, which nipped back and hit the top of off stump, resulting in the breaking the 'clubs' bails. With the score at 40 for 1 and both Brown and Lambshead bowled out, a double change of bowlers in Adams and Smith was required. Adams with the next breakthrough, a couple of wickets, clean bowling both victims - It could have easily been so much better but for the normally safe hands of Lambshead dropping two similar catches in three balls fielding at long on. After a couple big sixes, some untimely misfields and two other difficult catching chances put down, the onslaught subsided with the retirement of their opener Crabtree for a very decent knock of 54.

Tidy bowling from our 'death bowlers' Barrett and Davies was needed if HOB's had a chance of a gettable score, they dually obliged. Davies taking the fourth wicket in the final over to restricted MCC to 124 for 4 from 20 overs. The Old Boys were wondering how important those dropped catches and misfields might be?

The innings started with the captain deciding to mix up the batting order to ensure those that hadn't batted recently a chance of some time - although some very brief time - in the middle. An obscure cricketing moment occurred with opener Clements facing, the ball beats the outside edge of the bat and shaves the off stump but the bails remain intact and the ball evades the keeper resulting in a bye.

Was this a crucial moment in the match and was our fortune about the change? Apparently not, the Old Boys soon found themselves 19 for 3, and this on our 'lucky' pitch! But, with plenty of overs in hand to turn the game around, Smith and Davies initially rebuilt the innings before Davies was caught brilliantly at square leg. Smith continued, this time partnered by Brown who was unlucky run out by a direct throw from the deep, a quick fire 26 including a six over deep square and some brilliant offside shots. Next in Adams and by now MCC had unleashed their quick bowler. After one 'cock' bye and a couple of 'body hits', Adams was lucky not to lose his teeth, fending one off that reared up. Another mini collapse, the captain eventually falling for 40, Adams clean bowled for 16, followed by a first baller for Trahar.

It was now down to our last three batsmen - the last over with 4 to win. A quick single……….Barrett caught in the deep for 7 including a massive 6 over long on……….a dot ball……….a decent lbw appeal turned down by umpire Lambshead in which a leg bye was scampered……….1 to win from the last 2 balls……….Zographou facing, shaking like a shitting dog……….The ball beats the bat……….beats the keeper……….a scampered single……….but no, Pearce was slow off the mark and was run out for 3 resulting in a tied game, 124 all out.

A great game to participate in, plenty of excitement for the spectators and a fully deserved man of the match for Brown for his bowling and batting efforts.