Set off to Widnes for an 11;30 am start. I thought, summer has come fast, as the music was turned up to full volume. The sky was blazing blue and the sun was a celebration of yellow, free and bright. The trees rose to the occasion, donning their best verdant hues, and everywhere were the flowers, the scattered rainbow that they were. Parked the car and bumped into Jimmy White, no not the snooker star, Frank White's son who lives at No 12. Good Vibes? Went out to spin the coin. Lost yet again. Another big fine. Hale Barns decided to field on what looked like a belter of a track. Oh, how looks can be so, so deceiving. Myers and Byrne opened and not so quickly took Widnes to 26 before Myers was bowled for 11. In came the spritely Tim Wearden, out went the spritely Wearden. Unsure whether the umpire had given him out caught or LBW, he held both his bat and pad aloft. His bat in case he was out LBW his pad for the catch. The umpire grinned, his finger firmly in the air. Comments were made whether any one had ever seen an umpire give a decision with their finger facing in that direction. McCurdy was next, caught at 3rd slip. Did he hit it? Next was Catterall out LBW 57 for 4. Out strode the "Bossman", the fielding all-rounder. Could he produce the proverbial rabbit out of a hat and set us on our way to a reasonable score? No, bowled by a swinging straight one - out for 10. Then came Berger (Bossman's favourite meal), batting splendidly until caught at bat pad to a fierce drive. All the time Byrne carried on. Few batsmen have been able to surpass Michael "Mikey" Byrne in their ability to make batting seem like an art form. "Deep within every cricket follower’s brain a pulse of sensory pleasure is released whenever you see one of his effortless cover drives" Keene was overheard saying. Such is the cricket spectator's regard for the aesthetic features of his batting. Joined by Mitchell they took the score to 151. Then a moment of madness ensued. Just after preparing some chat-up line speeches for the ladies regarding yet another 100 he was out. A tame effort caught at short mid-wicket for 84. How those 16 runs make all the difference. Women are not interested in listening to people that get 84. Webb in next, could he rekindle his 1990's form. No. Out to a debatable LBW that pitched on middle, hit him in line with middle and was going on to hit middle. What was to follow... I'll tell you what was to follow, two red lipstick marks on either cheek, that’s what followed. I digress. Panda and Kleene took the score to a formidable 168 all out. Byrne 84 and Saddington (the wily old fox) 4 for 43 providing the first innings stand out performances.
Tea was taken at Chinese dentist. A big debate followed. Sweetcorn yes or no. A survey was undertaken 87% No. It was decided that this spontaneous mutation in field corn has no place on the Widnes table. Good luck with your sweetcorn negotiations with HRH Mr Trump.
Hale Barns innings was underway with Kein and McCurdy taking the new ball, seam at one end spin at the other. A couple of tidy overs from Keine unfortunately the same could not be said of McCurdy. The first 4 overs did produce a moment of magic from Berger though, a direct hit with one stump to aim at. McCurdy, following complaints about the copious amount of lacquer on the ball was replaced by Nanda. The change produced immediate results and Hale Barns were reduced to 29 for 5. Two each for Nanda and Cleen and then 50 for 6, Cean getting his third with a delicious delivery, out bowled. A partnership began and the Hale Barns batsman began to rebuild. Thirty runs later and following the introduction of the Widnes premier left arm spinner Mitchell bowling from his namesake end got the breakthrough, caught by unsure, one of our better fielders on the day. Mitchell soon rapped up the innings taking 3 for 15 to go with Clean's 4 for 51. Nanda also chipped in with 2 for 14 off 8 overs.
A good came of cricket played in a good spirit between two equally matched teams.