I couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive on the drive to Shirehampton with memories of the MCCs bear-like beast of a batsman/bowler still fresh in my mind from both encounters last year. (14 off 3 balls for an MCC victory). The Smith brothers, Stu and myself managed to arrive at the ground shortly after five. With some time to kill, we bonded over a quick game of French cricket which, was stopped by the arrival of some other HOBs and their derisive comments. It felt a bit like being caught masturbating by your mother, embarrassing, but still enjoyable, and I'd do it again.

With time ticking on, it became evident that we were going to have a late start. An articulated lorry carrying the month's supply of pork pies for Ed having jacknifed on the motorway was causing traffic problems.

Still, hope of victory grew even before the coin toss as we realised the big man wasn't there, even if he was replaced by another equally bear-like Antipodean ringer.

I'm going to be honest here, I've left it too late to write this report and can't recollect much about the MCCs innings so I'm going to flesh this out with some little known-animal related facts.

Sandra Bullock is allergic to horses.

Woodlice, like Jon, drink through their arses.

Rhesus Macaques (Monkeys) will pay to look at porn.

The marmot is responsible for over a billion human deaths.

Woodpeckers have an ear at the end of their tongues.

I do recollect that their new big bloke for whatever reason, wasn't up to much with the bat. We still had to face his bowling though…. There was also an amusing moment where I slipped over, miss fielded, threw the ball to Will, who promptly dropped it and threw an air ball at the wicket to miss a run out. Trahar sauntered in around about the 8th over having been sitting in his car since five o'clock. MCC ended up knocking off a respectable 116.

Right, onto the HOB innings. Newcomer Barry opened with spade-handed HOB stalwart Ashford. Worries about the beast were soon abated when he bowled an over that was looser than Serj Senior's arsehole after the London tour. Ashford knocked off 12 before being clean bowled and 'Golden Arm' Adams stepped up the crease. What followed is probably the most assured worry free easy cruise to a HOB victory I have seen. There was none of the usual middle order HOB collapse and no sketchy batting. Adams knocked off a solid 27 not out confidently and Barry put on a textbook display, playing shots that would surely please the regulars of the real MCC. The highlight of the day surely has to be Barry on strike in the 16th over with 2 runs to go for a HOB victory and a boundary needed for his maiden HOB half ton. He calmly reverse swept the ball over his shoulder for four, with what was frankly the best shot I have seen all season. Stick that up your bollocks, KP.

So, a nine wicket HOB victory, taken with ease with more than three overs remaining. I remember sitting outside the club house sulking over a one run loss here last season. This was much more fun.