As people arrived from breakfast the covers were off, the sun was shining and to a lot of confusion,Buzz the joker was wandering around the clubhouse injury free.
After the initial hellos, the club bags got put into the changing room and a practice session started. A scene only associated with a professional cricket game started on the Dereham outfield as muscle man milky hit the ball into the air for reporters to chase after, dive and drop on a repeated occasions.
Skipper Stu tossed up with Dereham,skipper Buzz and a decision of a hard batting session for the Dereham boys was to begin. After the first ball of tour being as bowled closer to the A47 than the Dereham cut strip, the game got underway.
A steady partnership of 111 from Dereham skipper and first teamer Buster, Reporters breathed a sigh of relief as Simmons trampled the stumps, followed shortly by Buzz- using his pads to kick the ball onto the stumps. A steady batting performance against a never ending Reporters attack saw a good spread of wickets between a bowling attack of Simmons, CJ and Rogan. A total of 249 shone on the Dereham scoreboard as the boys headed into to tuck into a famous Dereham spread.
In reply the RR innings faltered early with Paul "boycott" Lewis played a rare attacking shot and got caught at backward point, quickly followed by Watso. A steady rebuild to our innings ensued between Skipper Wiggo and Candy man our innings got back on track and we went into the last 20 needing 139 with 7 wickets in hand.
Contributions came from the Milkman, and Rogie, who showed uncharacteristic glimpses of bravery after being hit on the toe by the trundler. The initial impact brought a reaction only to be compared with being hit by a sniper, and Rogie hopped his way out towards cover, screaming obscenities only suitable for airing after the watershed. Whilst out his crease the ball was returned to Wicketkeeper pike (playing for the oppo) where Jake had to be physically restrained from running him out (it would have been unsportsmanlike).
In the 36th over Simmo joined a beleaguered Rogan with the score on 178 - 72 needed off 9. Some lusty blows took us close and we are arrived at the final over needing 16. Skipper Buzz threw the ball to Jake and that was enough of an invitation for the in-form Simmo to smash the required runs needed to win by 4 wickets.
A great win from an unlikely position at half way and tour starts with a bang.