Date:           Saturday 15^th July 2000

Place:          Kingston Lacey Cricket Ground

Following defeat to Corfe Mullen the previous week we were up for this top of the table clash. I lost the toss and we were sent in to bat in the searing heat. I being the nervous type decided to have a wander around the boundary accompanied by Paul Rendell and Terry Manning. Fitzy (Andy Fitzjohn) was merrily pushing the ball around for one's and two's whilst Jonsie (Clive Johns) on the other had had faced two maidens on the trot, not a normal feat for Clive. I remember saying to Rendy that Clive seamed to be a bit on the cautious side today, of which Rendy's reply was "Don't worry he will crack a four any minute". Well next over after 5 dot balls I was thinking, " where is this 4 coming from", and then smack through extra cover to the boundary, Clive was off the mark. Then what followed was a partnership of pure class, which was not just appreciated by us but by all the spectators as well. In fact that partnership yielded 199 runs which is a record opening partnership for the clubs 1^st XI. The power coming from Clive's bat (well mine really) who amassed a staggering 160 runs with some awesome hitting was matched by the delicately placed single's from Andy with 51 runs who unselfishly gave Clive as much of the strike as he could. Eventually a wicket fell and Fitzy managed to drag himself off where he duly collapsed in a heap on the boundary 2 stones lighter, shortly followed by Clive who casually lit up a fag. Well that's cricket for you!!!!!!!!!!