Played at Old Wimbledonians ground, Coombe Lane, Wimbledon

By Tim Castle

A record-beating game but not one to celebrate. Our lowest recorded weekend score since the Old Fallopians started playing 11-a-side friendlies in 2003.

Our bowling went well, except that we created few chances and failed to capitalise on breaking their dangerous looking opening partnership. Their number 3, Gardner, didn't look threatening at first but eventually stroked 14 boundaries on his way to 77.

The outfield was very fast, we told ourselves, as we went in to tea facing a 223 target, and we would benefit as well.

But just as the opposition batters had offered few chances, we provided many and the Wimbledonians seized them with glee. Matt Wales was out first ball of our innings with a massive baseball swing that shot the ball up high and then down into the fielder's grasp -- see pictures here...

It was downhill all the way from there as a procession of Old Fallopian batsmen -- though they failed to live up to the name -- trooped out to the wicket and almost as quickly returned, caught, bowled and trapped before the wicket.

Tim Castle and Wales stayed with the opposition afterwards to play a scratch round-robin two-man team game in the hope of restoring some honour, while the rest of the Fallopians drowned their sorrows on the club veranda. Only even at this form of the game we were outdone, bringing up the rear despite taking three wickets in our two-over spell.

A batting performance to forget, but played on one of the hottest days of the year, with excellent facilities and a hospitable opposition. We've beaten them before - by 86 runs in 2005 (see report here) - and perhaps ... one day ... we'll be victorious again.

Actually, it was only 42: (Standing L-R) Matt Wales, Simon Hemelryk, Greg Clifford, Will Hopson-Hill, Puneet Patel, Peter Frisby; (Kneeling L-R) Manpreet Pattar, Chris Sweet, Aman Pattar, Simon Tate, Tim Castle)                    Picture: Joy Hemelryk