Energy Exiles provided the opposition for The Strollers to welcome in their new era of independence.  Oh how we could have done with some energy to turn up the heating as it barely got above 12 degrees all day but at least the assembled Strollers stars managed to turn up the heat on the oppo in line with recent encounters...

Having failed to win the toss, Strollers were put in to bat on a flat but green looking wicket.  Skipper Krunic will surely have to discover better ways of ensuring that the 10 Yak piece comes down with Branko’s head facing the right side or else we’ll find ourselves batting on cold damp days and fielding on hot sticky ones all summer (do we still use that word?).

Pleasantries over, Strollers in the guise of Paul, with his name the wrong way round, and Virk J strode out to bat. Good ground was made by both until the latter’s apparent impatience was rewarded with his return to the warmth and shelter of the trees at the side of the field. 

Paul began to bat with ease and joined by the arthritic Aziz, began to make hay.  Only when the latter’s bones began to creak and the thought of calling for a runner crossed his mind, did Aziz do the decent thing and get himself out caught, yes caught, the man who never hits the ball in the air.

In strode Matthews Snr, needing only a few runs to join the elite band consisting of two others to have scored 3,000 runs for the club, a milestone which he nonchalantly reached with a sweetly timed clip off his toes for three off his first ball.  Arthritis and myopia, accompanied by no small amount of poor judgement then accounted for Matthews Snr and required the assistance of the umpire to rebuild his castle.

The subsequently impressive Wells joined Paul and the two began to put the bowling to the sword, Wells in particular finding places on his bat and spaces in the field no other batter matched throughout the entire match.   Paul serenely passed his fifty, resulting in a large “yes, it's a jug” fuelled cheer from the audience and soon after, Wells, seeming to have found a timing and direction to his shots fit for the great man himself (no Krunic, not you, Ian Botham), also passed fifty. 

Oddly enough, both batters were half century virgins before this game but can now consider themselves well and truly inducted into the hall of fame that brings a jug after each game.