With two league games called off in May, HOBs versus Hope represented the first "competitive" match of the season for the Old Boys - defending our hard won Construction League crown, secured as it was at the first attempt last season.

I won the toss and chose to bat - perhaps thinking that by some freak meteorological event that it was going to get darker, rather than lighter. In a batting order that seemed to click perfectly through its combinations we posted a very good score against a Hope side which had reduced its average age by ninety percent. Ed and Phil opened up with a solid start, followed by myself and then Andy Barry with a cracking little innings in partnership with Serj Jnr at the end.

In all honesty though, a statistic of 49 extras (surely a record in a 20 over game) was the most revealing as Hope served up an appalling exhibition in the field (trumped only by our own effort a mere hour later). We wound up with 154, Andy top scoring (extras aside) with a well made 36.

We got off to a rollicking start in reply, with Jon knocking back the leg stump of their opener for a GOLDEN DUCK (see here for disambiguation re ducks, golden, diamond etc - I learned something..). Things didn't get better for the Hope-less as Anth and Jon restricted them to around 24 from the first 8 overs. Pretty much game over.

Our fielding subsided into a disgrace thereafter though, as catch after catch went down due to a lack of focus in the field. Three wickets each for Jon and Ed, and a couple for Will disguised an abject second half to the Hope innings from the Old Boys. Better opposition would surely have punished us.

Andy Barry bagged Man of The Match for his stand-out batting display (and catching probably). Fielding practice required by all!