Match Winner!

It's been a funny kind of day. Ordinarily I would have been cycling over a hundred miles of hilly lanes in the Etape du Dales but I forgot to get my entry in this year, distracted as I have been by work. That's probably just as well as I'm not nearly fit enough to have enjoyed it. Last year I bombed around and even cycled the 15 odd miles out to the start and then back again at the end. I've really got to start getting some miles in.

Working again today but I did take some time out to rest the brain a bit. First, a couple of hours this morning to watch the test match and see a devastating bit of bowling from England rip New Zealand completely apart. I'd not seen a ball of this enthralling match before today but at least got to see the pivotal session. Second, a couple of hours this afternoon to watch the boys in their first team cup game against arch-rivals Guiseley. Right through the junior ranks the games against Guiseley were always tough and competitive and usually closely fought. They are a strong side and this game was set to be no different.

I arrived just in time to watch Forrest go into bat at no.9 and score a brisk 12 not out to help us get to 144 from our allotted 45 overs, possibly not quite enough runs being the general consensus. That seemed to be confirmed as the opposition cruised comfortably into the sixties for the loss of two wickets, and in good time too. The captain then changed the bowling, bringing first Forrest on at one end and then Roam at the other. As soon as my two lads were bowling in tandem the game completely changed. The runs dried up and wickets started to fall.

Forrest has almost become a specialist batsmen these days so it was great to see him given the ball today, the first time this season indeed. After a few loose balls in the first over he found a rhythm and became virtually unplayable with his quick off-spin. Meanwhile Roam, with his left arm swing, kept it very accurate and managed to remove the key man, the Guiseley overseas player, shattering his stumps. That opened things up for Forrest to rip the rest apart. Our opponents were rolled over for 95, Forrest taking 6-20 off 8 overs and Roam 1-13 off 6. I was a pretty proud dad!

Here is Forrest leading the team off at the end, with Roam to his right (our left). It was quite a brotherly double-act. There was no other shot I could possibly blip today.