ByAnonymous, Anonymous
Friendly: LMV 2nd 200, Edmonton 155. LMV won by 45 runs
After some discussion about which Edmonton team we would be playing we ended up with the right result in both senses as we got our season off to a winning start against their Sunday 2nd team. Having been hit round the park for over 300 in our last visit it was good to be on the smaller pitch, against the right standard team!
Having won 75 per cent of tosses last season, normal service was resumed as captain Jonathan Lederman lost the toss and LMV were asked to bat.
Gus Fraser opened with Trevor Woolf and Fraser was soon back in the hut, having been hit third ball, ahem shall we say a amidships, in the nether regions, in the box area or straight on his gonads, your choice, he promptly got bowled next ball, making some excuse about tears and trouble breathing.
Jeremy Harris joined Woolf and they played very sensibly in a partnership of 77, with Jeremy seemingly putting behind him his last two season's aberrations in which he only managed 18 runs in 2008 and 45 runs in 2007 (you didn't think I'd look that up Jez?).
Woolf got the sweep out early and played several excellent sweeps, until one too many ended up with him being out LBW for 48.
Harris went on to score a fine 74 with several excellent shots on both sides of the wicket. Jeff Permutt came in and kept the score ticking over in making a fine 40.
With the Edmonton bowlers keeping a tight line in the last few overs we only managed a score of 200, when 220 looked well on the cards at 20 overs. However, 200 was a reasonable score and a good start from a team not renowned for large scores.
After the usual Edmonton tea, LMV staggered back onto the field where Freedman, a late replacement for Marc Green who had stubbed his toe on the way to Shul the previous day!, and Daniel "I can't move I've had too much tea" Caplan opened the bowling. Freedy bowled really well and his figures of 0-14 off eight overs did him no justice at all. Caplan picked up a couple of wickets to put early pressure on the Edmonton batting.
After Freedy was bowled out and skipper Lederman had a couple of looseners, Permutt came on, and with his usual display of immaculate line and length, turn, bounce, subtle changes of pace and the customary aviator glasses, completely destroyed their batting. Eight overs, four wickets for 25, thank you very much.
Avi and Benj helped out with a couple of wickets each and Edmonton were neatly despatched for 155 with 4 overs remaining. Six catches taken as well, which was a real bonus. Mention to for Mark Spanjar behind the stumps who did an excellent job, with two catches and a stumping. Nearly forgot about Sylvy's catch, Exocet aimed at him at mid-on, which he hung on to with great aplomb, already a contender for catch of the season.