4s lose three in a row

SHOCK! HORROR! THE MIGHTY 4S HAVE LOST THREE IN A ROW! No one can remember it happening before so it's probably the first time it has ever happened. After going down whilst fielding relatively weak sides in the previous two weeks, the 4s traveled to Ickenham to play Brondesbury, feeling confident after selecting a much stronger side. The customary loss of the toss and offer of a bat brought the free swinging duo of G-Man and Paddy to the crease, before Paddy fell to a quick fire 16. Marc then played one straight to square leg and set off only to be turned back and run out for a duck. Gaurav and Yohan continued the plundering, regularly losing the ball in the thick brambles, and further slowing the already slow over rate of 20 overs in the first two hours ("it's very hot out here", said the oppo skipper - you chose to field!). Yo falling for 33 triggered a mini-collapse with Chrissy going quickly, then Gaurav falling for an exciting 81 from 58 balls. Pistol (13) pumped a few before being stumped, then 4s debutant Jonny (14) had a good partnership with Jimmy, who batted very nicely for 29. Dykie (16 runs, 24 balls, 3 scoring shots) hit some lovely homers, before we were finally finished off for 216 after 42 overs. With an air of anticipation having the new ball in Fergus' hand, Brondesbury started relatively slowly, before their opener, Tarik Islam, after fielding in the heat for 40 overs whilst fasting, exploded, pumping balls to all parts. No one was spared his wrath as he compiled his hundred in double quick time. When he finally skied a catch off Dykie when on 101, the team total was only 117. The Midd sensed a chance with a couple of quick wickets, but their number 5, after a ropey start, got his eye in and continued hitting where Tarik left off. In the end they knocked off the runs with five wickets down. Another frustrating performance from the 4s. Bring on round two. Hopefully the return of Bootsy as skipper for the Twix match next week can reverse our fortunes.