Seconds lose. (Is this really news?)

With the first team away at Pak Bristolians, the seconds ‘entertained’ Bishopston fourths in a one way encounter at the field.

In order to avoid a game that might be over by tea, Bishopston batted first against a village team packed with youthful exuberance. The Sheriff selected Taff Russell, Paul Jefferies,  Foxy, Darren Jones and creaking pensioner Mark ‘Cleft Foot’ Stephens.

In bright sunshine, the village managed to contain Bishopston to a mere 215.  Dan Wiltshire managed to bag a couple of wickets.  Foxy also managed to take a running catch which was astonishing since no one has seen him run for years.

To no one’s surprise the Gifford were soon in trouble.  Lewis Jefferies was back in the pavilion whilst the Sheriff bludgeoned 10 at the other end.

Calum Morph failed to emulate his sensational performance from the other night when he hit a four and this time succumbed for one.

There was some resistance in the middle order with Cleft Foot Stephens limping his way to a scratchy 19 whilst Foxy and Wiltshire showed dogged defiance and in Wiltshire’s case pure luck in being dropped by the opposition fielder, the worst drop in the history of village cricket.

Foxy was caught behind off a nick heard by everyone except Umpire Pearcey as it echoed around Stoke Gifford.  In an unusual moment of Sportsmanship, Foxy walked anyway with Pearcey insisting, “I didn’t hear anything” to the bemused fielders. 

With Taff and Paul Jefferies in for the tenth wicket, the end was not far off and when the ageing Welshman guided a straightforward delivery into the wicketkeeper’s gloves that was it.

So it was a close finish in the end with the Gifford on 84, a mere 132 runs short of their target.

With a little more luck and a hell of a lot more ability, the Village could even have won.

Man of the match – Foxy’s fetching red hat.