Back in our normal tour location in Boscombe, Dorset. Chloe's first to the bar ...

... getting one in for her sister. What's in that bottle (1) ?

Mike celebrates taking possession of the brandy bottle !

What's in that bottle (2) ? Washing up liquid, probably. Al's way past caring at this point.

Game on (at last) ! In a very wet and soggy Broadstone Park, we finally start a game. After a couple of early wickets (so quick the camera was still in the bag), Adam and Alan begin compiling a decent partnership

If I give this to my Dad later, he can bowl with it - it's about as soggy as the real ball !

Back in the middle, Al's still nudging ...

... and nurdling ...

... while Adam gives it an occasional thump ...

... although the ball is still nipping around a lot.

A study in nervous anticipation. The only game of the season for Ben and Monish, on a soaking wet mud strip.

Alan finally bites the dust for 26, so Mon has to face the music. His MCC-honed technique clearly hasn't suffered from his lack of recent match-practice !

At the other end, Adam cruises serenely along.

Still keeping it out - somehow !

A celebration, probably simply for not wearing one on the chin as much as the four runs he made !

Ben's turn now - this is the only photo of him, his stay was brief and ended in (appropriately for the weather) a duck.

Max knocked up a quick 18 to steady the ship, but as the man with the camera there are naturally no photos of him ! Ling senior then strode into the fray - I think we've seen that shot somewhere before ! This one made contact as the ball disappears back over the bowler's head. However, Mike also didn't last too long.

So we're now about 140ish for seven, with very few overs to go. The wicket may be wet, but that doesn't seem to be enough and now Broadstone bring the opening bowlers back on. So it's quite handy to have an occasional opening batsmen coming in at nine. Tony starts confidently enough.

The extra pace from the quick bowlers actually ended up making scoring a bit easier and Adam leads the way as they put together a quickfire stand of 37. By this time it's getting really dark and everything was getting a bit blurry.

Obviously, everyone's thrilled by the action out in the middle !

All good things come to an end - bowled in the last over for an excellent 86.

There are no photos of the Broadstone innings - obviously Max was on the field !! After initially making headway against our opening bowlers, the home side got stuck in the mud (literally) as Mike and Tony took the pace off the ball and both dried up the scoring while taking a wicket each. When the rain finally got too heavy, Broadstone were struggling. Officially a draw, but we reckon we had them on a Duckworth-Lewis win !

In the end, the excitement is just too much for some small people ...

... and some bigger ones too ...

... and in fact one very big one !