The day of the match at new fixture Princes Risborough did not start well. One member had forgotten to remove his availability from the list and consequently, while expected at the Tabard at 11.45 prompt, was, in fact, somewhere in deepest darkest Somerset attending a wedding.

A man down and, more importantly, a car down, The Pilgrims’ first challenge was not, as is usually the case, to win the toss but actually to work out how to fit 9 players and kit into one-and-a-half cars (the half being Xero’s).

But no further problems ensued and, having arrived at the ground with ten players, Juggs went out to the middle for the toss and came back with news that we were to have a bowl at our new rivals.

Much encouragement was taken from an early wicket when their number two spooned a catch to square leg off a shortish ball from Xero. Alas this confidence appeared misplaced as their opener and number three proceeded to put on around 130 for the second wicket, with some excellent stroke play on a pitch which, while offering some swing, movement and inconsistent bounce, was fairly slow.

A couple of overs into Hansie’s mammoth spell of 13, the frustration was beginning to show as your humble reporter shelled a possible edge, one of the very few chances to have come Pilgrims’ way from two good batsmen. Thankfully, I was able to make up for the mistake a couple of balls later stretching for a looping bat-pad from the same batsman, gone for 56.

This was the first of a short flurry of wickets as Juggs, having signified his intent on the mid-on boundary with a sliding dive to stop a certain four earlier in the game, took what can only be described as a spectacular diving catch a couple of yards in from the boundary dismissing their number two for 75, a candidate for catch of the season if ever I saw one.

A couple from Hansie saw him take the wickets of Imran Khan lbw for one and a young colt by the name of Greaves with a cracking delivery turning from a foot outside off to take out middle. It has to be said that a tearful Greaves had to be consoled by his father during tea – Hansie was suitably ashamed!

An excellent straight one from the younger Younger saw the last of the wickets, their useful looking number four on 29, which meant father and son were paired in the middle for the home side. Some coaching ensued from Dad – “Play straight” being the main mantra as Fields Jr racked up a quick and very impressive 54 not out and Fields Sr an unbeaten 16. The moment of the day was a toss-up between Fields Jr’s obvious delight and amazement at his maiden half-century and when, as Dad took a swing and a miss, the ironic “Play straight, Dad!” was heard from the non-striker’s end!

Shortly after this, on 252-6, Princes Risborough declared and tea was taken.

Mention must be made of the bowling of Omlette, Boris and Juggs who all bowled with some considerable pace and swing, beating the bat on numerous occasions. On another day, with better catching and more luck with the edge they all would surely have taken wickets.

The tea was excellent with a good variety on offer – many thanks to the home side for this. With all suitably refreshed, Boris and Egon strode to the middle with the Pilgrims chasing 253.

With a depleted batting line-up, and two opening bowlers who looked usefully accurate, hopes were not high as Egon succumbed early for two playing and missing at a ball on off stump. In came the skipper and after notching three fours in quick succession he played across a straight one and was bowled for unlucky 13.

Omlette then, having begun to look settled, was given out lbw to Khan for seven which was the cue for yours truly to stride out. A couple of boundaries later and a silly shot played to a much more intelligent bowler saw me walking back for 17.

Wortho (or Willow, as I suspect he will be known next time he plays), a compatriot and friend of Boris, walked to the middle only to walk straight back, out stumped for no score. With around 20 overs to go, backs, at this point, were very much against the wall, even more so when Col Juan went for the same score and Boris missed another straight one agonisingly close to what would have been an excellent 50.

It is therefore left to congratulate Xero and Younger Jr for seeing out the remainder of the overs between them with a sterling rearguard effort – Col Juan described it as “worthy of the George Cross.” Neither’s wicket looked particularly at threat save for a diving miss by the keeper off Younger Jr and a high drop at slip off Xero. Their excellent defence provided The Pilgrims with, in the circumstances, a highly creditable draw, finishing on 125-7 and left skipper Juggs with his unbeaten status as Captain intact.