A great game for the Egham 4th XI against Kempton yesterday. Playing at St. George's College on a flat pitch with small boundaries, we put Kempton in to bat feeling confident of restricting them and chasing a target. We started off bowling tight, but they started getting away from us in the second half, eventually setting an imposing chase of 274 off 45 overs.
We batted brilliantly, with a new player scoring 96, as well as a 30 from one of our openers, 63 from our number three and a useful 20 from the skipper, before we stumbled to 9-down, with 10 runs needed, bringing yours truly out to bat. We scored a few more, including a gorgeous 2-not-out from myself, and I was left facing with 4 needed to win. Cue the bowler sending it down leg for four byes, giving us the win by one wicket. Cue celebrations, despite a little disappointment at not getting the winning runs off my bat.
I bowled okay, taking 1-32 off 8, but am struggling badly for fitness thanks to a knee injury, stuck bowling in the late fifties rather than approaching 70mph, which is more than a little frustrating (although I was able to crank it up after my captain decided to take me off due to fitness concerns, just to show him, cue me overhearing, "Do you think Ed's annoyed that I'm taking him off?").
All in all, a very memorable cricket match played in excellent spirits. I look forward to a high-scoring return at Kempton's football cricket ground.