The Pilgrims got off to a perfect start against Bushey by lulling them into a false sense of security over our ineptness.

Penthouse, after two hours’ sleep, decided that he would take it on himself to lead the team to Bushey, meaning that the convoy pitched up 30 minutes late, looking bedraggled before even starting. But this didn’t stifle his bravado, and on winning the toss, he opted to field, on the hottest day of the year so far. No problems. We’d just blast through their top order with our fearsome bowling attack and sit back and cruise to victory.

And things were well on track when Farmer got one to pea-roll onto their opener’s middle stump. Easy. Unfortunately nobody had told Gussie down the other end, and after honing his radar somewhere around Moggy’s head he was hoiked off. Two overs for 29 – and a huge case of the yips.

Strangle

Gussie had nicely let their two openers get their eye in and before long Bushey were running away with it, scoring at eight an over, and looking set for a mammoth score. But the 2006 Pilgrims are made of stern stuff, and before long Tickle, Clarence and Hansie had put the strangle on with some economical bowling.

Bushey’s two batsmen were sticking around though, and after they had both reached their 50s it looked like it was going to take something special to winkle them out. And something special we got. Hansie took a rocket of a caught-and-bowled that has gone straight to the top in the running for Catch of the Season. Falling like an oak, he got down low to clasp the ball to his chest and then rolled around on the floor, milking it for all he was worth.

Whip

This triggered a mini collapse from Bushey. First Kommander tempted the new batsman with a wide, which he sportingly dollied into Chris Hill’s (what kinda name is that? – ed.) hands at point. Kommander then bamboozled their opener with a couple of trundled deliveries, only to whip down a fearsome fast ball and uproot middle.

Things were looking good. But Bushey are a class act, and soon started hitting out, spanking Hilly to all corners, and ruining averages all round. By the end they had scored 229 in their 40 overs. Pilgrims needed to score at almost six an over, and knowing their reputation for collapsing, that looked like a tough ask.

Fiddle

Things appeared even tougher when Martin Garrett (what?) was bowled fifth ball for a duck. However, Gussie looked like a man on a mission, following his bowling performance. With David Haines (can we do something about this?) holding up his end with some sensible batting and some classy flicks off his legs, Gussie was free to play his natural game. Attack. Before long he had reached a run-a-ball 50, and despite losing David to a dubious lbw decision, Gussie didn’t slow up. Next he was joined by Tickle who was happy to play second fiddle, tickling the ball round the corner and keeping the strike ticking over.

Obviously the Pilgrims don’t like to do things easily, and the run rate had started to creep up towards eight an over, but a string of high-scoring overs kept the Pilgrims in the chase.

Spank

But then disaster struck with two wickets falling in quick succession – Tickle for a handy 28, and Gussie, bowled just six short of his century. What a knock. Suddenly visions of a trademark collapse swept through the spectators. Nobody had told Penthouse though. A couple of balls to get his eye in, and then he started spanking the Bushey attack to all corners.

Moggy didn’t last long, batting with a runner after pulling a muscle, so in strode Kommander having been snoozing for most of the afternoon, still suffering from his exertions the night before. His cameo was short but sweet, but with Farmer now at the crease the Pilgrims only needed seven from the last over. A couple of lusty blows from Penthouse later, and Bushey had been defeated with three balls to spare.

What a chase! What a win! That’s four in a row for the Pilgrims, and long may this winning run continue.

Man of the Match: Gussie