Penn Street vs V&A CC

Penn Street CC 191-7 (E. Hulme 68)

beat

V&A CC 182-10 (D. Adams 5-16)

by 9 runs

Saturday saw only our second visit to the stunning Stonor Park, home of Victoria and Albert Museum Cricket Club. High level negotiations mid-week saw the game become an amalgamation of 3 teams with 4 players from Hemmingford Hermits joining each side to make a 12 a side game. Adding to the scorer's nightmare the Penn Street 8 saw the return of 3 "legends" in various states of fitness. 

In the glorious sunshine captain Dave Adams put us in and Alex Woest, alongside Steve Smith, saw off the new ball to allow Ed Hulme to come in at 3 and continue his good form. Having seen Steve slightly miffed at an LBW decision, Ed sportingly decided to pop a calf muscle to allow that most Penn Streetiest of Penn Street players to return as a runner. A tricky leg spinner caused trouble at one end as Ed and Dave steadied the innings before Soti from the Hermits came in and biffed a few to really push the run rate. Ed finally departed for 68 comprehensively bowled, an image perfectly captured on Cally's camera. We finished on 191/7 after 35 overs. 

In-between a stunning lunch of roast chicken and a well needed tea we took the field feeling pretty confident. Whilst two returnees to the line up may have 1000 club wickets between them, neither were able to bowl leading to Sam Saunders and Caitlin to set the standard. Sam struck in his first over with a stunning catch behind the sticks by Jack Mendy which definitely saved Paul Goodchild at slip from extensive facial surgery. Caitlin chipped in with an LBW from the other end - a fine consolation for a broken nail - as we continued to chip away with wickets at crucial times. A late order partnership looked to bringing it down to the wire but a slip catch from Goody (massively embellished in skill and importance to the kids I coach...) left the tail exposed and although V&A fought hard 4 catches for Jack behind the sticks (in gloves he labelled as smooth as glass) saw us home.

Dave Adams ended up with only his second fifer for the club - a cruel statistic for someone who has led by example with the ball and in the field for so long. The ultimate team player. 

Our thanks to the opposition for such a great game in the right spirit. 

Walking off I was reminded of just how life affirming playing for PSCC has been for me and I am very jealous of those closer to the beginning of their career. I wish you all and amazing summer, catch you somewhere down the road 

Goody

PSCC: Steve Smith, Alex Woest, Ed Hulme, Ehsan Usmani, David Adams (c), Abrar Sofi, Sam Saunders, Haroon Nihar, Caitlin Macken, Dhimaj Rislan, Jack Mendy (wk), Paul Goodchild

Scorer: Cally Sutherland