I had the very good fortune to enjoy a fabulous day out yesterday at Loughborough University watching the international cricket T20 matches between England and Pakistan Ladies' teams. What a wonderful advert for the womens game it was. The first match was won comfortably as expected by England, and for the 2nd game England chose a largely young and unproven development side and pretty much reversed the batting order in chasing a very modest target of 117 to win. As often happens in sport, if you lose focus you can lose the game. With 13 of the 20 overs gone England had been reduced to 60-7 wickets and were seriously under pressure against a team to whom they had never lost. A solid partnership of 40 brought the target down to 17 off 2 overs, but then 2 wickets fell in 2 balls, and we needed 11 off 5 balls with the last pair at the crease. 3 were needed off the last ball and the ball was struck into the outfield. Needing 2 to tie the batter was run out by inches and Pakistan had won by 1 run. Their bench and supporters were ecstatic and it really was a truly incredible performance by a team which for political, cultural, religious, social and financial reasons is so far behind the semi-professional England Ladies team. A very uplifting triumph of the underdog. I've followed ladies cricket on Sky TV for some years but it was great to watch it live, and I've already purchased tickets for my wife and I to attend the Ashes Test on Aug 11th at Wormsley CC ( the country pile of Sir John Paul Getty) and reputed to be the prettiest cricket ground in England. I can highly recommend it for any cricket followers amongst you. The really serious stuff starts next week and I'll be off to Trent Bridge on Wednesday for day 1 of another Ashes series. Just stuffed it up the Aussies at rugby and hope to see us do the same at cricket. Have oxygen, will travel. (That's assuming Air Liquide deliver my portables as ordered)
Dave
xx
