[Neil Pickup]

An infuriating couple of days... The district boys put in one of the most appalling 60 overs' worth of cricket of the season but still had enough to ease out the U13 county girls - in spite of extras, misfields, overthrows, get-out shots, play-and-misses, dropped catches... you name it.

Today, I came in at 34/1, proceeded to see the remaining opener lose his off stump leaving, and ground my way to 12 before finding a way to spoon a full toss aerially to point. That is now twice this season I've got myself settled and then chucked it away trying to put crap away, and it is immensely frustrating. We made 170 all out, thanks to a last wicket stand of 55, and rotated our bowlers around as Deddington made it to 135/5 with plenty of overs to go. We then gave the ball to our usual opening bowlers and knocked them over for 137 - despite my dropping a thick outside edge (up to the stumps) at 135/6.

The keeper's face mask had its first run out, and I am yet to be convinced.