Report by Marcus Baker:
Everyone enjoys a change of scenery, right? The chance to experience something new. But to play on Parker's Piece, one of the most exposed pitches going around is truly, in the words of John Moore, theatre. Not many club pavilions share a common wall with a Thai restaurant, nor matches played in the shadow of a ferris wheel.
A mixed bag NCI team played host to Remnants and both sides had a day of cloud-reading as the threat of rain loomed in the minds of most. NCI won the toss and inserted Remnants. However, captain Marcus J. E. Baker was not too disappointed as he knew the depth of his batting line-up. That depth was unfortunately fully seen but not witnessed as every Remnants batter had a turn at the crease. Only CJ Barrie (15 off 14 balls), Cam Petrie (27 off 29 balls), Gaurav Patil (18 off 15 balls) and Julius Rix (31* retired off 37 balls) made it into double figures in a final total of 103/9.
With a flash downpour on a pitch that had not benefited from the touch of a vacationing grass-whisper Dave Norman, Baker knew that Remnants total was defendable. The hunt was on for early wickets to put pressure on the middle order and then squeeze them as long as possible. Pete Ames (1/29) and Hugh Myers (1/17) duly provided a scalp each. Barrie (1/16) and Moore (0/16) then both followed the script and provided near-perfect spells which took the game deep. Considering the lack of recognised bowlers it was a truly epic performance. Remnants nearly held NCI back enough to slip past on the finishing line and perhaps with just one more full-time bowler or a couple of catches held they would have done it. But defeat came in the final over.