ON yet another bright evening, Walkham played host to The Entertainers at the Memorial Field and though the resulting match wasn?t close, it did do credit to the away team?s nomenclature. Batting first, The Entertainers used up their full 20 overs building an innings of 135 based on solid performances by Coulton, Walrond and Butcher. Opening the order, Coulton was ill-served by Jones, caught and bowled by Partington-Smith for just two. But if Walkham thought to gain from it, they were mistaken as Walrond partnered Coulter in a stand that topped fifty. Coulter was eventually removed from the wicket from the bowling of Tynan, whilst Walrond retired not out on 29. Marsh, batting at four was out cheaply, caught off the bowling of Moule. In at five Mathers opened a few mouths with a huge six off Ward?s slow bowling. A few balls later, Ward served up another inviting delivery that Mathers couldn?t help but gobble up only for it to sink into Smith?s safe hands. The consensus was that Mathers? cheap departure saved Walkham twenty runs. For the remainder of the innings, The Entertainers relied on contributions from Burt, bowled by Vincent for 13, Westlake, caught off the bowling of Curry and Gill, caught off a Tynan delivery, all sandwiched around Butcher?s 21, the latter stumped off the bowling of Partington-Smith. Walkham started well, Hills and Smith combining to effect a belligerent stand. Hills, true to form, was the more active of the pairing hitting four boundaries including one maximum and when he retired not out on 25, Smith was still solidly knocking singles. Batting at three, Ward joined Smith just in time to watch the latter stumped off the bowling of Burt for 11. From then on, Walkham?s innings failed to do justice to its bright start. Ward, batting with his customary caution, did manage to strike two maximums and a four in a not out score of 26, and Moule hit two fours to end up not out on 12. But with the demise of the elder Curry for just five, Partington-Smith caught off the fierce bowling of Mathers for four, and the younger Curry bowled by Coulter for a duck, Walkham never looked like matching the visitors? score. All told, Walkham managed exactly a hundred from their twenty overs, a full thirty five behind; they had entertained, but failed to match the opening performance.
