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Midhurst, July 24 '10 (away)
The glorious setting of Cowdray Park was the venue for the 1st team's latest venture in their tour of the grounds of Regional North 1,
the castle ruins and surrounding polo pitches lending an atmosphere of elegance to the proceedings that the rag tag assembly of 'Parish
players would find hard to emulate in their performance on the pitch.
Resigned to playing with only 10 on a weekend of shocking availability (no Jimmy, Richie, JD, Paddy, Charles, AJ, Josh or several others),
'Parish were further hindered by the delayed arrival of Mr Darryl, who completed his magical mystery tour of West Sussex in time to join his
team in the field after about an hour. Playing with 9 wasn't exactly what was required on a day when 'Parish were bowling first on a flat
track with a large and lightning fast outfield against a team with a strong batting line up.
With the odds stacked against them, Dangerous Dave and Turkleton opened up and Dave's extra pace posed a few questions for the Midhurst
openers, but his radar wouldn't allow for a period of sustained pressure, and it was Glyn who struck first, pinning the right handed opener
LBW. Dave bowled the other opener and despite the free scoring start, there was just a chance that the lid could be kept on the innings
as Darryl took the field. Glyn finished his spell with 1-42 off 10, not noteworthy figures in the normal course of events, but remarkably
economical in the context of what was to come. Inzi Drew took over from Turkleton and hopes were raised further that just maybe the travellers
could keep themselves in the game when he took a wicket with his first ball, Charlie diving forward at point to claim the catch.
But that was as good as it got for 'Parish as the Midhurst middle order opened up and started smashing the ball to all parts. Despite Dave
taking a good catch, running back from mid-on to beat the sprinting MC to the ball, there was little respite as the score mounted and skipper
Lee "better than Ian Healey" James had few bowling options to try and stem the flow of runs.
It was Bambi Petty, making his first appearance of the season, who ended up as the most successful bowler, picking up 2 late wickets as he was pressed
into emergency service as the 5th bowler at the end of the innings, Inzi taking a catch at point and Lee completing a smart stumping as the
Midhurst batsmen looked to continue their onslaught. Their final total off 300-6 was impressive, although 'Parish noted that it wasn't as bad
as the last time they visited this part of the world and conceded far more against Easebourne in 2008!
 Dave and Darryl opened up and looked to run everything as the Whiteparish reply got off to a lively start, Midhurst having fielders back from the
first over protecting the boundries and offering ones and twos pretty much everywhere. The scampering was working to good effect until Darryl
tried one quick single too many and was run out by a direct hit. Turkleton was occupying the guest number 3 spot for a second week, and he continued where
Darryl had left off, running hard with Dave as the scoreboard ticked over nicley. At 60-odd for 1, and Dave in particular looking in good touch,
thoughts turned to the possibility of maximum batting points for the first time this season, but Glyn's dismissal triggered a mini collapse as Inzi
followed him back to the pavilion and then Dave was run out for a pugnacious 34. Charlie offered a glimpse of his potential with a swift 20, but
it was left to the veterans of the side to prop up the sagging innings.
MC and Sharpy were both making their first appearances for the 1sts this season, and MC enjoyed a couple of leg side full tosses served up by the
young spinner before the bowler had his revenge with a quicker ball that Mike barely saw before it clattered into his off stump. Lee went quickly,
and Sharps decided to employ the long handle with Sir Geoffrey of Dear and Bambi as his remaining support. Chipping the ball just over and just short
of fielders with impeccable placement, Sharpy also rolled back the years with some trademark front foot shots to reach 28 and secure the 150 before he
ran out of partners and the innings closed with Whiteparish having gathered only just over half of what their hosts had managed.
A stuffing in anyone's terms, but at least the 8 bonus points meant it wasn't a completely wasted trip and the return of some of this week's absentees
should hopefully mean a stronger side being available next week for the visit of St Mary Bourne to the Whiteparish Oval.
Summary
Midhurst 300-6 (Bambi 2-20)
Whiteparish 152 all out (Dave 34, Sharpy 28 not out, Charlie 20)
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