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Match Report
Date	28-07-07
Home Team	Kays
Home Runs	119	Home Wickets	5
Away Team	Penn Street
Away Runs	118	Away Wickets	5
Result	Lost
Batting of Note		Bowling of Note
Player	Runs	Players	Wickets
Colin the Guest	41	Nick Loftus	4-56
Huw James	38	Chris Herriott	1-44
Matt Reavey	16	Huw James	0-16
Comments
In what turned out to be the only game of a Worcester tour hugely affected by floods and low numbers, Penn Street fielded a team of 9, which included a guest player donated by Kays and the return of the legendary Basher Bate from retirement. With no choice but to bat first in a 45 over contest, Penn Street got off to a solid start through Matt Reavey and a much missed Huwy James, returning to the fold for his only game of the year. The fact that Huw had not picked up a bat in 2 years passed completely unnoticed by all, as he played with a fluency that suggested he'd never been away. Driving decisively on numerous occasions down the ground on an outfield that offered little help to batsmen, Huw looked set for a huge score when he was bowled on 38. An innings worth at least a fifty in the conditions. The first wicket had yielded a useful 60 in some 23 overs, but the time had come for someone to take things on for the 2nd half of the innings. Matt couldn't do it, caught behind for a stubborn but ultimately frustrating 16. Worse followed with Juppy and Rob Sutherland falling cheaply to leave Penn Street struggling with few wickets left to play with. In the end, our guest player, Colin, proved our salvation as he showed us how best to accumulate runs on such a tough pitch. He nudged and stroked the ball around gracefully for a superb 41 not out with steady support from Chris Herriott who looked like he'd overdone it on the lager shandies (disguised as "tops"!!) the previous afternoon. Our final total of 118 for 5 off 45 never felt like enough, especially with the lack of players, but if there is one thing you can bank on in times of hardship, its that the true club spirit will come shining through. A massive boost occurred at tea with the sight of Winky's unexpected arrival, appearing on the horizon like a knight on horseback, sent into battle. Except for "horse" read Suzuki G-SXR 600, and instead of armour imagine tight illuminous speedos fielding at square leg!!!! With our backs against the wall like never before, the 9 men of The Street rallied like heroes. Much was asked of our only 2 full time bowlers present, Nick Loftus and Chris Herriott to carry us through. Both bowled their hearts out for 15 overs each straight and so nearly got us to a point where victory was a possibility. On the way, Juppy also held a "stonker" at slip, one-handed, which sparked Basher into hysteria and a light jog from gully to offer congratulations!! With Kays 5 down and some 50 runs still required, we started to believe the impossible victory on paper could be achieved. Was it the presence of Basher at gully, hovering like a cross between W. G. Grace and Obi-Wan-Kenobi; immovable, like the hair on his head in the bitter evening wind? Or was it simply the sight of Winky wearing speedos?!! Either way, something special looked on the cards until Kays dug in and batted themselves out of the hole. Huw James and Chris Loftus, our first changers had time for almost 3 overs between them before Kays finally wrapped it up and our dreams of victory were shattered. The much desired "double" over Kays in 2007 never materialised, but our dented pride in fielding 8, had been restored through fighting spirit. Praise should go to Nick Loftus (4 for 56) , Chris Herriott (1 for 44), Huw James, Brian "Basher" Bate and all those who braved the floods and their other halves to keep the Worcester tour rolling on to 2008.