The pitch was damp and green and conditions were overcast. Beechwood won the toss and elected to field. Woody was back at the helm and Beechwood welcomed three new guest players John Knapp, Ben Ridgway and Adam Webb.

Woody and Ridgway opened the bowling but Ridgway soon found conditions too slippery and McCrea took over. Wadhurst made steady progress before McCrea made the breakthrough, tempting the batsman into offering a catch.

Webb replaced McCrea with his left arm spin and quickly put the brakes on the scoring. Hill had replaced Woody and was bowling well. Webb was tormenting the batsmen with his variation and had picked up two quick wickets to mistimed drives. Woody came back for a second spell and bowled very economically, Webb picked up two more wickets and Wadhurst had managed to stumble to 163 for 6.

Freeman and Webb opened the batting and it quickly became evident that Webb was a very high quality batsman. After a very brisk 45 he decided to make a game of things by surrendering his stumps.

Kelly came in and quickly settled but Freeman soon perished, caught at point. Warner came in but soon after he arrived Kelly was stumped, advancing down the wicket. Hill came in and soon left caught behind attempting to pull the off spinner.

Knapp was next in and he and Warner started getting the scoreboard moving but Knapp was soon bowled and Warner soon followed, also bowled. Cooksley came and went and Beechwood were facing an uphill struggle until Ridgway joined Makin and hit a 15 ball 49 and produced some of the most brutal hitting I have ever seen.

Makin perished and Ridgway was caught in the deep with Beechwood needing 9 runs for victory. Woody and McCrea reduced it to 6 before Woody hit what can only be described in journalistic terms as a 'f*****g awful shot' and was caught. It took Woody a good 30 minutes to emerge from the changing room after the match, however, when he heard that the oppo captain had bought him a pint, he bravely managed to appear. Never mind Woods, you can't win them all.

Team: Cooksley, Freeman, Kelly, Knapp, Hill, Makin (w), McCrea, Ridgway, Warner, Webb, Woodward (c)