UEA II B XI 211-9 (T. Vehvilainen 70, N. Wimberley 39, D. Littlehales 26, Chubb 15)
UEA II A XI 212-5 (C. Rooney 70ret, C. Metherell 39ret)
This was a good friendly between two teams of mostly 2nd XI squad players. I opened the batting, and just wanted to do better than the last (and only) time I played at the UEA when I got a goldie. The A XI had a 1st team fast bowler who was getting a lot of bounce off the pitch, and from the other end was a good second-teamer. There wasn't any swing or real movement though. I got off the mark pulling this fast bowler round the corner for a single, then hit the second-teamer for four to fine leg. Next I drove him for 2. then in his next over I smacked a square drive through point for four. At this point I'd scored all the team's runs off the bat, because my opening partner was getting bounced every ball from this 1st teamer, who doesn't like him. Unfortunately, he got out for a 20-ball duck to this fast bowler, and he wasn't best pleased.
Now I was facing the quick bowler, and he beat the edge of my bat four times in succession- but then he strayed onto my pads and I flicked him for a single. He was then taken off having bowled his spell. Then they brought on a medium pacer, and I popped his first ball straight to cover. I couldn't believe it. I'd done the hard part, got through the opening overs and then thrown it away, leaving us 53-3.
Fortunately Wimberley and Vehvilainen had a good partnership- these two guys are proper second team top-order batsmen unlike me, but when Wimberley got out we collapsed to 156-7. Vehvilainen, who is half Finnish, played very well with the tail to get us up to a competitive score.
We didn't have much luck in the field and Rooney, another first-teamer, batted very well before having to leave. Then Metherell, the second team captain, saw them to the target.
I was pleased that at least I didn't get a duck and I played the opening bowlers pretty well considering, but I am annoyed that I threw the innings away against the bowler who was most like the standard I face in Devon. Still I guess it was an alright start to the season.