After overnight rain and a hearty breakfast at Giovani’s, the 2s arrived at the Hill to take on South London’s finest Addiscombe.
With the wind picking up (and not just due to Will Owens 2am kebab), Tom (The Giraffe) Coates lost the toss and the Hill were having a bat.
Despite the early loss of Will Owens, after playing the 3rd best straight drive of the day, Richard Bennett joined the out-of-form JC, taking the score to 48 before JC offered up a simple caught and bowled. Captain Coates joined Benoit at the crease but was soon undone by the extra bounce from Spurs Legend Barry Linkeker.
Massimo Campanale arrived, fresh from a flight after a 5 month spell travelling the world with his newly matched hinge date and he and Benoit batted beautifully taking the score to 122, while also unleashing the 2nd best (RB) and best straight drives of the day (MC).
After losing Mass and the trebuchet Adam Oliver who ran past the Spurs spinner, former skipper and future UN Peacekeeper Joe Porter entered the field before a controversial dismissal involving a no balled catch and a run out, saw him return to the safety of the home dressing room. He was followed by Fullciks, who wasnt even in the wide angle frame for his run out; a clean bowled Exworth and finally Bennett, who batted with patience and style for his ‘66 as Hill posted 185 off 52 overs.
After a good tea, involving the traditional Hill favourites of Chicken nuggets, Hill entered the field aiming to use the overhead conditions and excessive wind to their advantage. A positive start from Addiscomce saw them reach 27 without loss, before the return to form bowling of ‘Phil’ Murton and ‘Grant’ Fullicks (1-20 off 11) reduced them to 40-3. A mini recovery from the opposition saw them reach three figures before another mini collapse saw three quick wickets, including a once in a lifetime run out from Will Owens.
With wickets falling, skipper TC got the team together, after demonstrating that a future career as a ‘camp’ motivation coach is there for the taking. Further wickets meant Hill needed just one more for victory but the Addiscombe tail hung on for the draw.