On Sunday 25^th May, 11 playing London New Zealanders, a scorer and umpire set off to West Lavington in Wiltshire, for our annual clash against the question mark clad outfit that is Wiltshire Queries. The day promised much after everyone managed to pitch up on time - even after the newer members of the club admitted to driving round in circles for much of the morning - having printed out Swanny's directions... and then used them.

After agreeing to a 45 limited over duel, LNZ won the toss and elected to field on what was a soft, hairy green top. Lee and Gale took the new ball and ambled in from each end determined to let the conditions do the work. Both showed off their net bowling skills with a very tight line and length. Very effective too as the first ten overs only yielded a run rate a fraction over 2. Gale took the first 3 wickets in his 6 over spell for a measly 13 runs. Although unsuccessful himself, Lee played a timely role in one of Gale's wickets by replacing ryanedwards.com in the gully and immediately taking a brilliant catch off a thick edge. This failed to inspire 'The Dog' though and he remained wicketless for the remainder of the day, though only conceding 12 runs from his 5 overs.

The change bowlers followed up the openers with some fine one-day bowling. Garth Deck who bowled out his 9 overs for just 25 runs was unfortunate to only be rewarded once. Brett Radford, fitting the all rounder billing superbly, did well to take 2 for 21 off 6 overs at a time the opposition were looking to wind up. Richard Holden, as ever, forced the batsmen to play their shots and came away with useful figures of 1 for 33 off 8.

Then there was ryanedwards.com with 2 for 22 off 7.  Figures flattered really, by the straight and square boundary riders the captain was forced to deploy.  Twice hit into another postcode the comment was passed by Garth Deck at backward square that ryanair.com might be more fitting. ryanedwards.com sought small revenge though when he asked the homer hitting batsmen to "receive my glare for just two seconds" when the ball hit a small twig on the pitch, ballooned up and gently hit the batsmen on the right nipple. He was then banished to fine leg after telling Mr Gale "age is a terrible thing" after the former Otago pace man pulled up lame at the start of his second spell with a pulled hammy.

The Queries innings was brought to a close at 130 when David Chapman-Smith threw down the stumps from the boundary at long on to run out Queries' last batsmen. The batsman rightfully felt a little aggrieved after the throw, directed at the keeper, took a vicious second bounce and hit stumps at the bowlers end.

Debutant Chapman-Smith then donned the pads with Swanny and opened the innings with a very well composed 32. Of particular note was the front foot swat over cover, played to anything remotely short of a length. Swanny was forced to depart much earlier on after being fired LBW before the bowler even had a chance to inhale for his appeal. That brought LNZ's second debutant for the day to the crease; Rob Patrick. After a tentative start Rob hit his straps with a number of cover drives and pull shots before falling for 22. Burge, after captaining superbly in the field, came and went without much commotion.  This opened the door for Dog Lee at 5 to come in and steer the chase home. Chapman-Smith was the next to go, 50 odd short of the target.

After losing an hour at tea and sensing more rain, Perkinson and Lee then took to the bowlers to end the game as quickly as possible. It was round about this time that Queries started scraping the bottom of the barrel in search of wickets. After their good natured jibes were silenced by boundaries at both ends one Queries player resorted to dropping his dacks to his knees during an awkward dive at cover - it was the full moon and his clumsy attempt to stand up from all fours that incited a raw from the club house, which was probably audible at stonehenge. But it was possibly enough to induce one final breakthrough as Perkinson fell 10 runs short of the target for 20. This left Brett Radford to carry on the charge and finish the game in the next over or so. Lee finished not out with a solid 20.

A special thanks to Dan Lyle our non playing reserve who scored for the full 90 overs then helped drink the top shelf dry in the pub across the road, before being kicked out somewhere round midnight. He wasn't alone though; Burge, Dog and Chapman-Smith stumbled out shortly afterward. Although good sports, I've a feeling the bar hands were glad to see the back of us - the Governess hanging out the window giving us the fingers as we drove out confirmed as much.