Surreptitiously acquiring the gingerbread latte using a compliant minion (or generous girlfriend) and the service parking area meant Scribe was in good time today (missing the Haywards Heath jam). Now don’t get me wrong, the Costa gingerbread latte is the nectar of the Gods (if not quite a Taylor Street Barista’s vanilla latte), but it also the worst sports drink imaginable. I found this out (again) during football. Which was fast paced. While I wasn’t. Scribe was carried by his equally inadequate team to a crushing defeat, courtesy of some Wakeford headers and Phillips volleys.

Kashy won the toss and even gave it some funny swaying to and fro, pretending he couldn’t decide whether to opt for [all together now] PLAN A. It was never really in doubt (until we tried doing it).

Young “Spam Mits” Kernan (so named for the ludicrous amount of excess palm meat slapping around the ball while he was taking catches on Thursday night) was the first to take a scalp, caught neatly by Kaptain Mandu. Laingers’ (former) employee not getting much against us again (which is probably a safe career decision). C-Unit and the O-Dogg bowled tighter than a pink Joe Gatting t-shirt up front (Mmm. GHETTO HEAVEN indeed. Amazingly he is not as amicable with Dorothy as he appears). Going somewhere near 1s for the first 20. In fact Honey Monster only conceded his first boundary in his 11th over. This at a ground where there was only half an outfield behind him.

Carl would bring some heat today. Think he might have been a bit angry cos the grey was really showing and he couldn’t get the locks trimmed in time. And they are a full half a centimetre long at present. Hippy. He bowled 2 early, 1 lb. My favourite was one that ripped up into the opener’s forearm and slammed back down to remove middle. Scribe is much happier watching those than playing them.

The game would settle when Danny Alderman joined skipper Mark Newell and heavy League experience they did bring. We had 1 very good shout turned down on Newell off Carl. I thought it was hitting, but the umpire looked long and hard and didn’t feel sure felt it wasn’t going down leg. Good umpiring I’d say, close, but he had doubt. So fair enough. But boy did that one cost us.

Many moons would pass from that particularly tight period of the game and accompanying us on our quest were the deliveries of Chief Riggam and Jack Parsnips. THE BEAST would remove Alderman with a classic Rigg lb after they’d put on about 60 or so together. Then Chad “didn’t make it as a wise man, couldn’t cut it as a poor man stealing” Barrett would come to the crease. He got a few and batted well.

The main issue was Newelly. He was really very good indeed. One of the best knocks we’ve suffered against us, giving us no chances and when he went for the big shots he converted with aplomb.

We were 5 wickets in for a very long time. This was distressing for Scribe who loves a league point, and we had none. Thankfully a little flurry at the end gave us 6 points. And left the Salty C-Dogg counting another 5 wickets to his name. THE BEAST would have another 1 at the end.

So to tea. A solid processed products spread at Bridges. They’re renowned for it. Tea ladies with team shirts. All good stuff.

Gouldy went out to face Chad Kroeger with the Faith Dogg. Gouldy liked the idea of this, having slapped a few cuts against him earlier in the season. Unfortunately he would pick up his “first ever first baller” trying to play a cut/run, gently, chest high at gulley. Not good shot selection in truth. And scream he did, by a man living in a tent in the undergrowth on the far side of the field who was both very confused and very confusing.

Jez came in and played a couple of shots. Then they put 3 gulleys in and he played the same shot as Gouldy. That didn’t seem supersmart shot selection either. But he claimed not to have seen what happened to Gouldy.

Rob “Big Gun - Look at Me! Look at Me! - I score all the runs!” Wakeford then joined the foray. He would nick off to the keeper on very few indeed, but the ball didn’t stick and he was a given a second chance.

Faithy would get what looked to Scribe to be a good Chad nut that hit the ridge on the track, though he was more self-critical. But it was a bad time to lose the 3rd wicket and though runs were flowing, Bridges were looking a bit on top.

Azbo joined Wakeford and they looked solid and strong (like Az used to look under 100kgs before he found cardio and the ladies' tee). Azbo is certainly due some luck and some felt today would be the day for him to make a big contribution after he played a couple of pure shots. Sadly Wakeford could not get the green eyed monster out of his mind when he saw Phillips stroking (stealing his) runs. Enough was enough and Wakeford ran him out. “I want my hundred!!!” Wakeford screamed at the far end. Dropped early and a run out under his belt, he’d better make this count.

Kashy came in, but it wasn’t really his day. He was bowled by one of the smattering of teen Bridgesers.

That brought Scribe to the crease. Scribe does a fine line in nerves. And with 120 or so to get there was plenty of pressure on display. Thankfully, like Horsham before, Wakeford and Scribe would bat pretty well together. Easing a 50+ partnership onto the score. Scribe would leave when we needed 60 odd after playing a bad shot, trying to turn one that should have been hip high, but being a bit unfortunate that it kept low. As Ian Farrell stuck his finger up and Chad Kroeger got excited I thought of Les Lenham and thought “This is How You Remind Me” to hit everything through mid on. Yet I have failed you. Woe is me. 28 and gone.

Very annoyed was Scribe too. We were under control, but now 6 down it looked more tricky. Thankfully Wakeford would complete yet another sumptuous ton (highlight for me was his pulling of Kroeger, lots of it, some better than others, but always aware where the fielder was. But there were plenty of highlights, Rob was awesome and only partially deserving of the chirp I've given him in this report) and Carlo would play some great drives to eat a huge chunk of the total before playing a silly shot, getting bowled and coming off furious. We hope he keeps the rage for tomorrow.

Jack Snips would see us home. Good player, young Snips, bowled a good spell, quiet lad and a good bloke. Good to see.

Scorecard.

Anyway, Nomads win! Yay! Sadly we lost a chunk of lead again, but hey. We’re back on it tomorrow. Not sure if short format specialist Scribe Jnr will be called to the fore for that full format report. Time will tell.