After the two tied games against Fishponds last year surely lightning couldn't strike for a third time? Well, there was a storm brewing in the distance and the clouds in the sky were rain filled but luckily the weather held so it meant we wouldn't be trying to finish the game in pissing rain unlike the corresponding fixture last year.

The two captains couldn't be arsed to walk to the middle to do the toss and to be honest, I'm not quite sure why we bother with it anyway as we (Jo) always want to field first and the opposition always want to bat first. Anyway, we took to the field and went about trying to knock the wickets over.

Caller and JS Smith were the two men who were handed the new nut, Leigh keeping it tight his end while up the other end Jon was like a wayward hound, straying as soon as he's off the leash! Although to be fair to him it was only one dodgy over which included a massive six that went straight into one of the adjoining gardens were an elderly lady was attending to her flowers. Although she seemed to find it funny and threw the ball back, there was a big cherry mark on the wall next to her head, two inches left and her poor kids would have turfing out for a funeral. It was clear to all that the Fishponds opening bat could hit a ball but he seemed intent on given away his wicket and it wasn't long before he sent a cloud-brusher straight up and straight down into Phil Serjeant's hands at point.

The next man looked the part, brand new pads, gloves, bat, etc but the big giveaway was when he took guard and steadied himself to face, holding the bat the wrong way. He soon went without troubling the scorers thanks to a Serjeant / Fillingham run out combo. This was to be the first of five ducks for the Fishponders, Jimmy Osmond mopping up the middle order with three timber splatters. With the game almost won with Fishponds 42 for 7 (they only had 9 players), Captain Smith offered Zographou a chance to add to his solitary HOB wicket and two balls later the bearded Greek duly obliged - clean bowling their last man.

So, 47 to win - not even HOBs could mess this one up???!!!

Zographou and Lambshead padded up and strode out into the middle, and then quickly back into the hut. Niko for a diamond duck (the first in HOBs short history) and Sam for 1. Two down in the first five balls and suddenly 46 looks like a decent score!

Adams and Serjeant went about rebuilding the innings and the score had moved onto a massive 17 when Adams was brilliantly caught behind for 7. Up stepped Jon Smith who made sure he wasn't going to give his wicket away as he'd done in his previous outing, playing very cautiously, blocking the deliveries on the stumps whilst tucking into anything loose like Mike Gatting (or indeed Jon Smith) at a complementary buffet.

Just 10.3 overs were required to knock off the total as Serjeant decided enough was enough and started to go after the bowlers like the Daily Mail at a vulnerable minority group, top scoring with 23 not out.

An early finish meant more drinking time at the Kellaway and a bigger hangover in the morning……