And so the 2021 season finally resumed on a quintessential English hot and sunny summer’s afternoon. Bures had a strong side out, with a fine blend of youth and experience, and were confident of adding a second win to the record for the season. Twinstead, conversely, have recently lost a number of their stronger players who had been drafted in from further afield, so arrived with a weakened side of only 10.

The Chairman duly won the toss and rather cautiously put the opposition in to bat, which turned out to be a bad mistake in terms of the cricket itself, although correct in term of the result.

The Colonel and Freddie M opened the bowling and were both quickly into their stride, swinging the ball prodigiously, and troubling all the Twinstead batsmen unfortunate enough to face them. The Colonel, despite playing with a serious injury caused by manoeuvres in the washroom (see photo below), took 3 wickets in no time at all and with Freddie taking a fourth, Twinstead were left struggling at 22 for 4. The Chairman decided that it would be prudent to change the attack and brought on Magic (Mystic) Ralph and George (Boyband) Erith. Ralph did his best to ease the pressure, but George, despite bowling consistently (in his own half) took another wicket, and facilitated a run out, which meant that we were well into their tail, and it was left to Charlie A and Olly T to finish things off, both taking 2 wickets.

With a target of 70, and with a strong batting line up, the result was never likely to be in doubt, but Rupert T again did his best to keep it interesting by shouldering arms to his first ball, and was clean bowled. (There must be a moral there somewhere!) Mark B opened for the first time ever and got things going with James E, until a little over confidence from Mark led to a mighty swish, and the ball sailed high into the air to be well caught at mid on. Enter Olly T, and despite some momentary nerves in the pavilion, these were quickly settled by a bottle or two of Rose, and of course some fine batting by James and Olly, scoring 29 n.o. and 32 n.o. respectively. This ensured the Bures victory was wrapped up in only 10 overs. The pitch, as ever, played beautifully, but it was noted that there were a number of alarming cracks on show all round the boundary!

So a disappointing day in some respects as it was over too quickly, but a win is a win, as they say, and it is amazing how a few beers and some congenial company quickly puts everything to rights.