Sunday 7th August.

With Farnham Royal sending Herro a text at 6.00am Thursday morning the race was on to get a fixture. Hurst were the first to come back Thursday afternoon quickly followed by Burnham, Stoke Green and Finchley. Now why the Hurst game was selected, when in the last 3 years they had scored 300+ and twice around the 280 mark I have no idea but I guess the writer just took the first offered game.

Herro, Will and Ross Collington (making his Park debut) arrived at the ground, which was locked, at 12.45 just as the heavens opened. We gained access to the ground just after 13.00 the rain had stopped but the ground was very wet. Hurst skipper seemed confident about the game taking place but was disappointed that the groundsman had not put on the covers. HOWEVER the game started close to the scheduled start time of 14.00 with Park taking to the field…with Jurgo being congratulated by the majority of the team for deciding not to bat when clearly it was going to rain again....NOT!

Park, traditionally light in the field started 1 down with Pratheesh delayed, saw the opener run out by a good throw from Ross off the second ball and the Curly bowling the number 3 off this 4^th ball….7-2. Pratheesh arrived on the field after the 3^rd over and the runs started to increase. In stepped Herro for the 9^th over immediately bowling a wicket maiden, bowling the Hurst captain behind his legs for 13: 51-3. Now in prior years Welford have eased off at this point and Hurst have taken the initiative racking up massive scores. Well there was no lifting this year with Pratheesh coming on but the runs still flowed. At drinks Hurst had moved onto 108-3 with the other opening reaching his 50 from 4 byes..(don’t ask, it gets worse). Dipin came onto bowl but hurt his shoulder after two overs so was replace by junior Herro. In his 1^st over the opener skied a ball over Pratty’s head, he turned, seemed to make the distance but the chance somehow when down via his hands and then head. Pratty turned up the pace in his next over and neither batsman seemed to be able to cope. Wills next over saw the open get the thickest of edges to Tom behind the stumps who actually stopped his stumping attempt (with the batsman down the track) only to find he was somehow not given out caught behind. Major blackness from both Jnr. Herro's. Pratty now steamed in for his last over (still not at full pace due to the conditions) duly removing the openers off stump for 79. The dark clouds were now coming closer to the ground and with the returning Cale conceding only 5 runs from his final 3 overs things were slowed down nicely. A flash of lightning, the immediate clap of thunder and rain pelting down the players rushed from the field with Hurst guys quickly getting the covers on.

Tea, with a large amount of Egg and cheese & ham sandwiches filled a hole quite nicely but the square was also filling with water and despite the sun coming out. Jurgo went out the square and shook hands with the Hurst skipper, game over. With 33 overs gone and 167-4 on the board, you felt the game was nicely balanced…but hay ho.

Blue stripe…well Shrek did seem to have it in for Jurgo having received the award from him last week; with nominations being dominated by Michael Carter's size and Jurgo’s various misdemeanors including not batting and thus making us all get wet fielding. However; for breaking a fence bar whilst climbing back into the ground..... it did go to Jurgo