An overcast Tuesday evening at Hayling Park sets stage for The Racqueteers first match in over 10 years. After Westbourne winning the toss, The Racqueteers are to bat first with Grizzer and Jameson Sr. to open. A great duo performance ended somewhat abruptly as Grizzer’s sloggage got the better of him, getting caught from behind after a total of 7 runs. John Pickup next to the stumps looking to make up some quick runs whilst at the crease. As one of the original Racqueteers, JP provided a tactical and consistent batting performance during his innings, as well as narrowly missing being run out by some risky run calling by Jameson, but managed to gain The Racqueteers a few runs before being caught.

Matt Boulton in next, unfortunately short-lived after only facing 4 balls before finally floating one in the air for a catch. Vince Venus now on to join A.Jameson’s long spree at the stumps. A great show between the two saw The Racqueteers a large sum of runs, until Andrew Jameson saw himself walking after fancying his chances against Westbourne’s spin bowler. A good first batting appearance for Andrew scoring the side 19 runs. As The Racqueteers troop on, our run count makes its way towards triple digits with solid batting throughout the mid-order batsman, with recognition going to Vinny for humbly accepting defeat through an extraordinary catch by an out-field Westbourne player and getting a reasonable run count of 15. With the closing overs of the innings approaching Jameson Jr. takes to the stage, as play continues it is quickly noticed that the ability of the youngster was underestimated as he smashes his first ball out of boundary for 4 run, as heads are turning, Josh McMurrugh shortly follows him onto the pitch with 3 overs to go smashing the ball around left, right and centre, racking up 24 runs and a broken bat to his scorecard, before being stumped out. James Grant takes to the field as the last batsman this innings and was a sight to behold as he towered over his batting counterpart Oli Jameson in the closing moments of the first innings. Grant manages to grab even more runs hitting boundaries in quick succession. A fantastic end to the innings by Grant and Jameson Jr. secures a score of 114/8.

Straight into the next innings, with Josh McMurrugh and James Grant to open the bowling, and it didn’t take long until the first wicket falls, once Grant took a rest from his Pony appealing on every ball that hit the pads he delivered a nice fast ball in that couldn’t be hit cleanly by Westbourne’s opener edging it for a instinctual catch from behind by Collier, looked like that Strongbow he necked in the interval hadn’t taken effect yet.

Overs pass and some great fielding performances from Matt Boulton, Max and Andrew Jameson to help minimise Westbourne’s run count. Half way through the last innings Jameson Sr. has a bowl, as fear of humiliation of being outplayed by his son, Andrew manages to pick up the second wicket of the innings with a lovely pitched ball to dismantle the bails. With only 4 byes bowled to Westbourne’s 16, The Racqueteers shone with their bowling consistency in comparison and great first start to the season. Towards the end of the innings Westbourne gain closer and closer towards their target score before Collier plunks another edge out of the air from a good ball delivered by the injured Vince Venus (Self-diagnosed), 3 wickets! With 7 runs remaining off 2 overs, defeat was imminent… Oli Jameson steps up for a bowl to try and see out the match to it’s bitter end, but unfortunately couldn’t pull it out of the bag. The game ends with 9 balls left, a close game with Westbourne narrowly escaping defeat. A big thank you to all the supporters who came down to watch and Ian Grant for score-keeping.

Man of the Match: Oli Jameson.

Overall a fantastic start to the season. Up The Racqueteers!

FINES :-

G.Cottle - Sloggage

A. Jameson - Absent at Fines – Being Outplayed by Son

J. Pickup - Flexibilty Avoidance - Concrete Trousers

M. Boulton - Disco Fielding – Tennis Squinny

J. McMurrugh - Rolling Around in Field – Bat Abuse

V. Venus - Absent at Fines – Self-Diagnosing another injury – Rolling Back the Years

I. Collier - Leading us to defeat – Missed Stumping – Refusing to use the front of bat

O. Jameson - Not declaring himself a bowler

M.McMurrugh - Bowling Avoidance – First badge of the season

J. Grant – Pony Appealing – Capt. Avoidance – Chocolate Arm