The Racqueteers v Winchester Nepalese XI, Thurs 27/5/21.
We arrived on a lovely summer’s evening to a sadly under-prepared and extraordinarily green wicket at River Park.
Not to be deterred, we did all we could to organise the ground and logistics to play our inaugural fixture against the most enthusiastic and friendly Winchester Nepalese XI; It was a pleasure to welcome Luke to our team.
Fielding first on the soft, slow track we soon took control with ever-lively Danger clean bowling 2 for only 11 in his 4 overs and Racqueteers debutant Luke also picking up 2 for 18 in his 4 over spell. With some swift work behind the stumps from G and two excellent run outs from Jules & Luke and the Nepalese wickets continued to fall.
We leaked perhaps 15 too many runs towards the end of our twenty overs (the opposition had been only 36 for 4 after 9 overs) though it was great to share in Jules’ joyous celebration of his first clean bowled scalp at the end of the innings.
Our reply to the Nepalese 114 was considered and controlled with both skipper Mike F (26 not out) and the Prof (25 not out) getting retired and setting a solid base.
However, in the rapidly fading light our middle order struggled to make too much impact on the soft wicket and seven Racqueteers wickets fell before an entertaining & positive unbeaten cameo from Danger (aka Angus) brought us close to the total… but alas we fell 9 runs short in an exciting climax at nearly 9pm!
Any disappointment about the (slightly unexpected) loss to a most affable – and talkative opposition – was quickly forgotten in the lovely surroundings of the King Alfred garden where well-earned sausages and beer were enjoyed as the evening drew to a close.
We hope to get back to our winning Racqueteers ways when we travel to total county of Berkshire to the picturesque Chaddleworth next Sunday.
Hope that captures it ok, chaps!
Mike F.
The Racqueteers Cricket Club 
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