Elstead Spectaculars 2012 Cricket Tour, Isle of Wight

Friday
Being the second year we have done this and having survived the first mostly in one piece, we thought that a little oversea action was called for this time around. After beer talk of south Africa and the west indies died down the sensible talk of Mr Green led us to the Isle of Wight, giant leaps in small steps I think he said!

With only ten players we packed our family wagons full of neurofen, lucozade and gear (cricket before anyone asks) got our rough guides and passports out and headed down to Portsmouth. Mr Lee and Young were over excited on the ferry but after their first taste of local ale things settled down. Hotel, local bar and a decent Italian (restaurant) were waiting for us and as ever with all tours, first night madness led to too many antics to bother you with here.

Saturday
A lot of hangovers emerged at breakfast but before long we were off to Cowes CC. A very windy pitch, a opposition made up of 9 players and a very frosty atmosphere met us upon our arrival and after Mr P Lincoln had put us through an old mans warm up we were off.  Put into bat we  mixed up the order and saw newbie T.Lincoln earn his strips, pushing his brother down the order. Carter as ever looked a class act (if a bit more touchy this year about his hair) but P Lincoln let himself down, out for a fine-able golden duck. Whilding played a magnificent 19 overs for 21 runs living up to his new reputation as the "handsome, shame he's bit slow" one. As Devitt was still suffering the after effects of black sambucas Bartlett and Young had to show the more established batters how to do it with class. Carrying their bats with a respectable 30 and 22 respectively, Elstead posted a decent 220.

As Cowes took up the batting and umpiring we started to see how friendlies where played on the IoW. Great fielding from James Little even when wearing the "disco sensation" wig saw Elstead peg CCC back. Lofty grenades from Green, snappy efforts from Devitt, swingers from T Lincoln, "wrong'uns" from Young, a few charmers from Whilding and Bartlett's whispers all made for entertaining and inclusive bowling. Little and P Lincoln even got involved although the majority voted for Lincoln to stay in the gloves for the next game.

Best to keep some of the detail aside but CCC won the game on the penultimate ball, congratulations where passed around and the Elstead boys needed a beer. We found one in Cowes along with a big party, just what we needed and off we went again, 53 sambucas anyone?

NickB