We have been playing Rob Noble’s team for 15 or more years, and it is always a pleasant day. They have our mixture of young [yesterday two boys aged 10 and 13], old [Rob], decrepit [Cobb] and extremely capable [a left hander from Essex].

They fielded first because several had to leave early. Dennis was captain [and caterer – with Estelle – for the second week in a row] and we agreed a 35 over game, which as usual turned out to be spot on. Adam Gutch and Rupert Morris opened but could not make much headway against some tight bowling, although Adam looked about to break loose when he whacked his third ball for a big four over square leg, but it was a false dawn….we were ambling along at 3 an over when both were out trying to force the pace. Thereafter no-one really dominated the batting. Bowden hit a few, Chris Mounsey-Thear hit some powerful shots before being caught at deep mid-wicket by their ten-year old [Max], Sunil scored a few, Umar Shariff looked very stylish but couldn’t turn elegance into runs, Sean Mayana bustled for a few, Linthwaite went in and played and missed but carried his bat, Julian Stewart did a fine impression of incompetence by flailing at a straight ball from Max, missing, falling over and then watching prostrate as the ball hit his stumps. Sunil was bamboozled by Max with a slower ball, which Sunil noted and adjusted his stance to whack. He was on the point of doing so when he wondered why the ball had come out of the back of the hand. The reason was apparent when the ball turned and hit middle stump. It is never a point of pride to be fooled by a ten-year-old but Adam Jacot went one further when he was bowled last year by Florence, a 9-year-old girl. Bird N smacked a few at the end and we reached 156. Chris thought it would be enough. It all rather depended on their two best batsman – Olly Battersby and the man from Essex. And Rob Noble’s limpet-like ability to stay.

Lunch was splendid – the finest smoked ham from educated pigs, with gourmet quiches for vegetarians. There was an unfortunate moment at the long table outside when a nice lady married to an opposition batsman wandered over while Robert or Martin or Rupert or someone was pontificating about penile dysfunction; she blanched and returned to her husband clearly unimpressed. We must somehow elevate the discourse at luncheon.

Their batting started at the same rate as ours did. The problem this causes is to put pressure on those who follow. I don’t have the scorebook but what sticks in the memory is a fine opening spell by Chris and Dennis in which Chris had Patrick caught brilliantly by Sunil at third slip, unsighted by Sean diving across; a good take by the keeper Julian to dismiss Rob [glove or bat handle] off Chris; Dennis bowling Olly who was trying to hit out. Sunil bowled well and picked up a wicket [but in his first over Sean missed a catch at mid-wicket which would have dismissed their excellent left-hander]. Sean bowled tidily and would have picked up an early wicket if Dennis had held a tricky one at mid-on – but Umar caught a fine catch off Sean’s bowling in his next over. Martin bowled his trademark line and length, going for less than 2 an over at the pivotal time in their innings, and bowled a decent batsman. Adam caught and bowled the elder boy, a mean but necessary thing to do.

But the turning point came when David Malpas, their generous captain, advanced Max to number 6. He batted fearlessly in his partnership with the left handed wizard [who made 76] , but the latter failed to farm the bowling, leaving Max to face the lions share of 7 overs, which resulted in their falling behind the run rate. When Max was out the left-hander continued to smite the ball but did not manage to protect others who came and went. But still things looked nicely poised with two or three overs to go. Until Denns returned. He sent a fast teaser down, just outside off stump, the left-hander snicked it and there was Sean at fly slip to take a remarkable catch low down. And that was that. The Catchiteers were not helped by some wayward scoring by P. Cobb who discovered that they had only 2 overs to go when the board said 3.

It was good of David Malpas to bat his youth element up the order, too often boys don’t get a bat which must be hugely disappointing. We used to bat a 12 year-old at no. 6, the farmer’s son James Hunt, in the hope that when he grew up he would turn out to be a major player. He is. He plays for Turville Heath. Bastard.

I am in France when we play the Chelsea Arts Club this Saturday, David Maddocks’mighty team. Martin is skip. Please let him know if you can play. Lucinda is catering so lunch will be delectable.