Match Reports

Another long, hot sunny day (is there any end to it?!) as we entertained 'auld foes' Hay-on-Wye at Broadaxe — the square and outfield looking more like a sub-Saharan plain than a Mid Wales playing field. Great work from Merv 'the mower' Stephens again to get us wicket-prepared 👏.

A slightly re-jigged lineup with Will 'Where's my Butler' Bartholomew still completing his injury recovery. Ed 'the Red' skippered again, welcoming newbie Will Horner (introduced via 'the Lump'), returning youngster Joey 'the Stone' Jones, and 'Kim Jong Jim' Chilman hauled in from semi-retirement.

As is his style, Ed obvs lost the toss 🤦 and we were duly invited to stand in the field for the next three hours. Morgan 'Speedo' Speed showed pace and control (2-35 off 9), Joey 'the Stone' bowled his ever-reliable line and length (1-53 off 9), and Charlie 'boom boom' Sankey mixed screamers, left-arm leg spin and off breaks from the same 3-yard run-up — figures (0-57) not reflecting the performance.

Will Horner (0-47), returning to cricket after nearly a decade, and 'Strim' Piggot (0-13 — radar uncalibrated 🤦) supported. 'CDG' Gibbons (0-30) and Luke 'the Lump' (0-38) rounded out a hard shift as W. Price top-scored with a fantastic 110, ably supported by Barry (76*), Evans (52) and Moore (31*). Hay closed on 346/5.

Teas by Sarah C — enjoyed by everyone (bugger all left over for the bait box!). Match kindly sponsored by Presteigne Tyre Services — thank you Nige, Jackie, Liam & Cal 🤗.

Needing 347, 'Ron Manager' Stocker mused whether there was any point batting at all and offered a draw in exchange for free teas — Hay declined. 'Strim' skied one to extra cover for 1, 'Kim Jong Jim' fell for 8, and we were 19-2 in the 7th.

Luke 'the Lump' Jones steadied the ship with a well-constructed 60 👏, before Ed 'the Red' torpedoed his own innings third ball for a golden duck 🦆. Will Horner stubbornly stuck around for 10 overs (5) before a fantastic one-handed stretching grab at mid-off ended his stay.

Joey 'the Stone' Jones then shared a valiant 77-run 5th-wicket partnership with Luke before falling for 34 in the 30th over. Luke edged behind soon after. 'Speedo' (2) and Merv 'the Mower' (0) fell cheaply — Merv very unlucky, caught by an absolute worldie one-handed leaping catch off a crunching off-drive (hats off G. Moore 👏).

Tail-end cameos followed: 'the Kingsland Pimpernel' Sankey (24) including a memorable reverse sweep off middle stump, and 'CDG' Gibbons — clearly having learnt from previous experience in the heat — declining to run at all, favouring a 'stand and deliver' approach for an entertaining unbeaten 20*. 'Ron Manager' Stocker came in at 11 with his old Achilles playing up, scored 6 and predictably heaved at a straight one.

Innings ended 190 all out in the 39th over. Another disappointing result but another great day's sport. Great to have the Hay boys back to the Bowlers afterwards — 🏏🍰🍻 that's what it's all about.

Awards: Champagne Moment — Charlie 'the Kingsland Pimpernel' Sankey for his reverse sweep 🤣👏. Dick of the Day — Ed 'the Red' Rees for the duck and a dropped catch (well deserved, after nominating yours truly last week!). Onwards and upwards — away to high-flying Ross-on-Wye next.