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2nd XI vs. Pinner (Away)

Ah, Pinner. Park pitch of dreams, where boundaries disappear down the steepest of slopes, where fielders trip on ruts made by dough-nutting joyriders. Skip won the toss and after the hugely successful batting-first policy against Alexandra Park, opted to bat first again. Fortunately, this time the batsmen turned up.

Mark and Kamlesh bristled with intent but found the going a…

Abridged version:

MA won the toss, took a split second to work out that the side was stronger batting than bowling and opened with KV. MA batted steadily, KV gradually wore his bat down stopping the ball. The run rate fell below zero. AP bowled tightly, CECC lost the will to live. KA, DJ, WB, KP, SD, KH, JW, JT & SU made a few runs and went back to sleeping on the sidelines. 147 AO. 

As MA had predicted - CECC were stronger batting than bowling. AP only needed 26 overs and…

Kamlesh didn't. And nor did this writer. I imagine there are only two clubs on the planet that have a second, separate pitch in Mill Hill. But despite our familiarity with this concept, we still decided to travel to the Hatch End of the world instead.

A deserted car park. An unmarked wicket. Sight screens out of position. It was too quiet.

The captain calls and says 'where are you'. 'We're here' I say. The captain says 'great'. Then the vague recollection of another ground…

Back in the distant mists of time, the shining pate of Gianluca Vialli presided over the first Premiership starting XI to consist entirely of foreign players. Back on Saturday morning the hirsute Mark Anstee ran his finger down the team sheet, turned the page over and wondered if he'd been given the opposition's.

It's not quite the same as Man Utd borrowing Lionel Messi for Wembley, but having three ex-AP players in the side added a little frisson to proceedings. The fact…