Although it was looking very gloomy around Shirehampton - but that's just stating the obvious - the Old Boys got to don their whites for only the third time this season. Spirits were high and I think everyone was just glad to be back on the cricket field after previous matches had been rained off. Captain Jo won the toss and decided we would field first, the method in his madness being that it would get brighter as the evening wore on. (??)

The MCC opening pair bounced their way to the middle, swirling their bats like a couple of gladiators entering the Coliseum and took no time to batter Anth out of the bowling attack. Not that Anth was bowling badly, it just seems that no matter where he put the ball they were intend on trying to smash it out of the ground. JS Smith at the other end was probably having one of his best bowling spells ever for the HOBs and was unlucky not to claim a wicket when the usually reliable Zographou shelled one square leg. Still, he only ended up going for four runs from his four overs which helped to put the brakes on an innings that looked to be spiralling out of control and reach.

With both the captain and Stu Adams keeping the batsman at bay with some full pitch deliveries the break though came, a quick single that was never there was taken, Serj wizzed the ball in over the stumps and Fillingham did the rest leaving the opening bat a yard short of the crease.

55 for 1 very quickly became 59 for 3 after Clements took a good catch at mid-wicket off the bowling of SJ Smith and then another suicidal run and brilliant fielding from Barrett had the scorers marking down another run out. This brought a very destructive batsman to the crease who took a liking to Ed's bowling, smashing him for three consecutive sixes that not only cleared the ropes but also the 40ft trees on the edge of the ground, the Shirehampton Road and part of the Shirehampton Golf Course. As they say in tennis; 'new balls please'.

Anth was back on, this time bowling down the hill which seemed to make all the difference, picking up three wickets for two runs in two overs with the most peculiar of these wickets being that of the destructive batsman. Playing a ball off his legs he managed to step back onto his wicket and dislodge one of the bails. With only Davies appealing down out fine leg, the umpires came together, saw that the leg stump was pushed back and concluded that indeed he was out - hit wicket. Barrett then clipped the stumps with his next delivery, this time the bails miraculously didn't break! Davies claimed a wicket of his own after a sharp catch from Serjeant at cover and then a smart piece of fielding by Clements saw another batsman returning to the hut having been run out.

At one point looked as though HOBs were going to be chasing down 150 plus but with some excellent fielding and tight bowling we restricted MCC to 100 for 8. A special mention must go to Clements not only for his catch and run out, but also a fantastic diving effort that stung the figure tips and, like a baby giraffe on skates fielding at mid-on, he belly flopped over the ball, slid along the ground resulting in the flashing of his arse crack to all and sundry!

So, 101 to win in 20 overs was the target, Serjeant and Clements padded up first, Serjeant soon into the swing of things, standing and admiring a beautiful cover drive to the longest boundary. Unfortunately both batsman assumed the ball had gone for four and were punching gloves in the middle, it hadn't and no runs were made. Clements was then clean bowled in the second over bringing Davies to the crease, the dependable Volvo and Serjeant the psychotic Maserati. Phil took one bowler apart, smashing him for 18 in one over and out of the attack but just as the partnership was getting going, Davies was run out. Serjeant called a quick single but Ed was a little slow of the mark and a direct hit saw him trudging back to the pavilion for 12.

By now their best bowler was into the attack and took no time at all in cleaning up both Trahar for 1 and Serjeant for a swash buckling 36 (much like Pieterson got stuck on 158, Serjeant can't get past 36 - three times now!). By the time that Jon had ran himself out, the Old Boys were 74 for 5 from 15 overs, needing 27 from 30 balls but then disaster struck with the loss of 3 wickets for 2 runs. First captain Smith missing a straight one, then Fillingham, facing a bowler who'd fought in both World Wars was cleaned bowled by a delivery that bounced three times. He looked about as thrilled as a man who's just been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Sam Lambshead was next to be cleaned bowled by the 'Battle of the Somme' veteran and HOBs were now lumbering on like a clown's car, with square wheels and bits falling off. Barrett and Adams were the two new men to enter the fray.

Three required from the final six balls with two wickets in hand, surely we can't lose this one….can we? Dot ball……..a scampered single……..dot ball……..another scampered single but Adams is run out……..Zographou to the crease at the non-strikers end, Barrett on strike needing two to win from the final two balls……..OUT, Barrett cleaned bowled and HOBs lose for the first time in 2007.

A thoroughly disappointing end to the game if you're a Hobber, 99 all out, losing by just one run. Barrett, Clements and Jon Smith all picked up a vote for man of the match but with 7 votes it goes to Phil 'if only he'd run that four' Serjeant.

Finally, to quote a fellow Bristolian in John Cleese; 'I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand.' - Maybe this should become our club motto.