Although this was an away match for the Dads, it was still played on their undulating home pitch at Verulamium Fields. At least the grass had been cut and it was less green, but James did sprain his ankle falling down one of the holes in the outfield.
10 and a half Dads finally pitched up and were put in to bat.
James and Tim opened and in the face of some hostile bowling James cut for four, a good start, but then a wobble as Tim was adjudged LBW.
Captain Peter Church in.
James smashes a four, through the hands of a fielder, and then hooks for four.
Peter launches a six back over the bowlers head and then repeats it, in text book style, quickly followed by a four. Cripes, this was going well even in the face of variable bounce, Peter C (who must be over 7ft tall) had to survive some throat balls, and impressive Gardenfield’s fielding.
Peter retires making way for Colin, while James is caught at mid wicket giving it a go, as he knew he was also about to retire. He was replaced by Graham.
Colin, who had spent the winter perfecting a paddled hook shot in the nets decided to unveil it in earnest by hitting three fours, whilst in-between narrowly surviving a run out. Graham was also dealing in boundaries. First, an off drive for four, then coming down the wicket to hit two straight drives, then two smart hooks. Suddenly, he was caught behind off a rip snorter whilst Colin smashed another four before being bowled.
Nigel entered with Jacob, who played correctly when dealing with some high kickers. The two were running well between the sticks, before Jacob was stumped.
Michael in, then five consecutive twos from both Michael and Nigel occasioned a period of phenomenal running, at the death, that could have easily killed lesser men.
135 off 20 overs; all-in-all a Dad’s batting master class.
Colin opened the bowling with a good spell which saw an impressive diving attempt from Michael.
Jacob Winfield was accurate, consistent and unplayable (even by the Gardenfields’ cream); delivering some of the best bowling that the Dads had ever witnessed. He was rewarded with a scorching clean bowled.
Peter C next, found a length to keep the batters quite. Then Michael, with good flight and eventually drama as Nigel pounced with a smart pick-up and throw, well stopped by Simon who threw it back at the stumps for a run out.
Graham’s looked lively, his shout of ‘MINE’, for his second ball caught and bowled, was so loud it scattered the rabbits from the outfield.
James good length wrist spin brought him a well deserved ‘top of the stumps’ clean bowled.
Nigel sent down two overs of fast balls, one of which turned a batsman around who was very fortunate to hit the ball with edge of his bat knowing nothing about it.
Things were going well, backed up by good Dads field placements and fielding
Then Stauvers, resembling Keith Miller in his prime, sent down such a variety of full tosses, wides, spin, cutters and yorkers that so confused the batsmen two of them lost their wickets. The first hooking an off cutter straight into Simon’s gloves. The second paddling a full toss to mid-on where Peter C, running in, took a good low catch.
Gardenfields were in desperate need of boundaries, but, unfortunately for them, Jonno and Tim were due to bowl. Both were fast and difficult to get away. Jonno scored with an unplayable cutter ripping into the stumps. Tim, certain of victory, tried his hand at spin towards the end.

A WIN BY 26 RUNS.
The Dads open topped bus procession will take place next weekend.