Following last weekend’s sunny start to the Giants’ season, the typical English weather returned as the team travelled to Oxted & Limpsfield, one of several new fixtures in this anniversary year. This week we had a mostly fully fit team, which was nice. Although matters weren't helped by Tom W's National Express service across South London being catastrophically delayed by a series of slightly unimaginable circumstances. We did eventually get our XI out, 15 mins after the scheduled start time. With Aayush not really fancying being captain again ("I'm too hungover, it's too much effort"), experienced campaigner Brian stepped up to the mark. With a customary well-negotiated toss, Brian elected to bowl, with a nice persistent drizzle and very grey clouds.

This proved to be a wonderful decision, as Tom S and Nick opened the bowling well, keeping tight lines and restricting the run rate. The ball was hooping around, and there were lots of oohs and aahs from Tom Elks and an expectant, if not slightly cold and drenched slip cordon. Success came early for the Giants, with Nick being rewarded with a well-taken catch by Ketan from one that swung, seamed, and then reared up off the gloves. From the other end, Tom S was bowling his very tight line as always (without the sunglasses this week, for some unknown reason). Wickets continued to fall, with the ball continuing to do all sorts, and after 11 overs the score stood at 42-4. Nick picked up another, smartly taken by Andy, with Tom S picking up 2, with Rory and Tom E doing the work with their bucket hands. However, a partnership began to build - Oxted & Limpsfield's overseas signing, shipped in from Queensland during the week, we presume specifically to play against the Giants, was starting to find gaps in the field, and pick up valuable runs. We did need a wicket, as the score passed 100, with our over rate painfully slow - not helped by the continual need to dry the ball.

Soon enough, and right on cue, Jimmy Andersingh (aka Rohan) made the much-needed breakthrough, another well-taken catch by Rory. The other set batsmen was then bowled by an absolute beauty from Rory's leg-spin. We're still unsure what exactly happened, but the match report writer, standing at square-leg, saw it pitch in the perfect area and knew that it had 'wicket ball' written all over it. However, Oxted continued to build solid partnerships, and despite fine bowling from all, after the 40 overs, they reached a very competitive score of 203-8. 3 wickets for the King of Swing Rohan Singh on his return, including a bizarre stumping from Tom E, two each for Nick and Tom S and one for Rory.

This week also sees the return of the Tea Report, much anticipated by Tom A in particular. A triumphant selection of pizza (no one really got to see or sample the pizza after Seb decided to lead the queue), generously apportioned sandwiches with a very succulent ham and cheese number the particular highlight and a magnificent selection of cake and crisps. Even Tom W and the supporters were rewarded for their graft, frostbite and hypothermia with cups of tea. Tremendous.

In response, Ketan and Tom E strode to the crease, both looking to pick up their first runs of the season. Both looked confident, seeing off the initial foray from the opening bowlers in tough conditions. Perhaps the opposition’s skippers’ choice of new ball from a box in his attic helped matters somewhat, but nevertheless, the two started to build a nice partnership. The attacking shots were just starting to show when unfortunately, Ketan miscued a shot and was caught and bowled, soon followed by Tom E, well-caught in the covers, both for 13.

Andy and Rory were the new batsmen in. These two are perhaps one of the most compelling of Giants partnerships to watch; Andy working himself in, building a solid base, allowing Rory to smite, swipe, bludgeon and generally commit GBH against the poor, defenceless cricket ball. Rory rocketed to 22 off 6 balls, including a 'beautiful' strike past the bowler. The wagon wheel will say it was an on-drive, and let's go with that. Rory brought up an excellent 50 before drinks, and the partnership reached 93, before Rory was pinned LBW for 58. It was very out, matters not helped by him not moving out of the line as soon as it struck his back-leg, hitting halfway up middle. Andy soon brought up his 50 but was unfortunate not to bring up his 1000th Giants run, bowled by the Aussie overseas player, who was plugging away on an excellent nagging line and length for his spell of 1-47 from his 8 overs.

This brought Seb and Aayush to the crease - Aayush soon demanding a runner after a tumble in the first innings, and then proceeding to annoy hamstrung Tom W with his frequent requests and angry shouts of "cap please" and "helmet please," bellowed from the middle. The score was 161-4 at this point, and with 15 overs left, and chasing only 204, you may think that this game is over and finished. Indeed, one of the spectators, not realising the Giants propensity to collapse under any form of pressure (see last week's match report, and any report from the complete Flemish Giants' Almanack, soon to be published by Bill Weston), enquired "why are you all so nervous about this, you're surely going to win."

Some say that you wait ages for a bus and two come along at once. This is mostly the same with the Giants, except that when 1 wicket falls, 10 or 11 usually follow. The inevitably catastrophic run-out happened between Seb and Tom E/Aayush with Seb calling Tom E for one of the worst runs I think I've ever seen. Aayush, giving it the full teapot from square-leg was absolutely furious (quite understandably). Wickets then fell alarmingly quickly (not sure if this feature of the Giants can be considered alarming any more to be honest), with Seb chopping onto his stumps for a well-constructed and watchful 11, Tom S giving first slip catching practice, and Brian being triggered by Bill. The cause of this flurry of wickets was the Giants' kryptonite - an off-spinner, getting it above the eyeline, just putting it on the same spot each time. Cue mass panic. 161-4 became 185-8. This brought Nick and Rohan to the crease, with plenty of overs to come, but soon enough, Rohan edged behind off the off spinner, to leave us 195-9, still needing 9 to win from the last 5.4 overs.

Ben B strode to the crease, still struggling with the impact of his inflamed spine, and having even less grip and control over his bat than last week. It looked ominous. However, both knew it was a simple question of batting time, getting forward to the spinner, and the runs would come. A few wides and byes later, and a slightly aerial blow from Nick, the scores were level. And for the second successive week, we found the winning run, an edge from Ben B finding the gap, and speeding through for a quick single. The Giants had done it again - another one wicket win. It's not good for anyone's anxiety and hearts, but this is what cricket is all about.

Having consulted the record books, out of our last five results, we have won three of them by one wicket, and another by one run. However, all four of those particularly close results were Giants wins. Perhaps some welcome green shoots of mental resilience in our batting? We may still regularly collapse like England, but unlike England, at least we're managing to stumble over the line!

Next week sees a return to Chiddingfold, with everyone reminiscing last year's tied match and the ‘super over’, but also looking forward to experiencing the FrogBox once more. Seb mentioned in the bar afterwards that he wanted a new Facebook profile picture, and Tom S was hoping that some prime-time exposure would enhance his case for Oakley sponsorship this season (other sunglasses brands are available).

Flemish Giants win by 1 wicket (with 19 balls remaining).
Player of the Match - Rory Watson, for his 58 (39 balls, ten 4s and one 6), 1-9 with the ball, and two catches.
Giants Moment of the Match - the catastrophic, but also inevitable run-out of Aayush.

Nick Main – May 2022