Penn Street vs Fladbury

Penn Street 68-10 (M. Reavey 17) lost to Fladbury 71-5 (G. Henry 2-19, P. Goodchild 2-31) by 5 wickets

A combination of youth, experience and vintage hit the long road to Worcester on the first game of Tour 2008. Arriving at Fladbury after a well earned drink at Broadway could Penn Streets batsmen continue their rich run of form on what looked like a hard, bouncy track?

Skipper Reavey certainly thought so padding up to open with Nick Loftus. A good start in the first four overs was sadly ended when Nick was castled by the opening bowler. Reece and Grant soon followed as Penn Street stuttered on 25/3. When Matt was caught at the wicket it looked as though we would struggle to reach 50 but the middle order of Briggsy and spoof loser Sam Clark put on a few before Fladbury unleashed their secret weapon a 90 mph plus six foot South African who tore through our middle order (actually I can’t lie, he was 12!) So it was left to Brian Bate batting like Geoffrey Boycotts Gran or indeed the great man himself to roll back the years and bump the score up to a pitiful 68 all out.

We needed a good start in reply but although wickets fell to Goody and Grant the opener stuck fast and Fladbury eased to the total with six wickets remaining. One final moment of note was the wicket of the 12 year old nemesis who fell second ball to Grant after Goody had unleashed a full pace beamer at his head. Don’t mess with Penn Street kids! So it was off to the pubs and clubs of Worcester where Grant was to meet the love of his life. Maybe.