Tis always a fun game when the terrible 2s back up the day after a function. 

It was no different on Sunday, travelling out to Box Hill City Oval to play on the best pitch you’ll ever play on (according to their curator, who made us feel so welcome). Asking the girls what we wanted to do if we won the toss I suggested might be an idea to bowl first, to which Squeakypants replies “Yeah, that or bat, either way.”

Win the toss (have been practising) and elect to bowl and supportive team mates congratulate me by hiding in boys toilets to try and scare me when I re-enter rooms. Doesn’t work as they are too eager and I spot an eyeball peeking through the crack in the door. Hoping that fielding skills are better than hiding skills. Sammy La, Squeaky and I zinc ourselves up in white zinc. Wiggles opts for the skin colour zinc which prompts everyone to ask why she is wearing foundation (white it up next time Wigs!). Bobby and Jenna open the bowling to the dulcet tones coming from the hill, of the marching band playing Wild Thing.

Good omen to start the day with the umpire taking Bobby’s cap and asking “you’re the one holding a big cup on your club’s website aren’t you?”  Good to see the umpires keeping up with the EMP goss!

A tight first 12 overs, Box Hill 0/10, then we pick up a wicket, good catch by J-Fo. Pommy returns to site of her helmet breaking and looks a bit hungry with a chunk taken out of her lid, but has good hands none the less. Bobby sensational, 4 overs none for 2. Super sub Kearneys rock up and Flem and Sammy team up to mock us city girls (soft, we are apparently). Jane ‘Marshmallow’ Neil hardens up to bowl 9 overs on the trot, picking up a lazy 3 for 16. Reens takes a skied catch (never seen someone look so frightened under the high ball!) and admits to never being so nervous under a catch, her heart rate backing this up. Empy well on top in the field, and eager to stay that way. Captain is a spot too eager and ends up running into umpire, legs go everywhere and umpire politely enquires if any of my zinc got on his pants. Empy too busy laughing to continue play for another 5 minutes.

SuperReens in a Super bowling partnership with Jane Neil picks up a good wicket, should have been on a hat-trick but for worst LBW decision ever seen in life (it was the umpire that I didn’t dally with maybe that was the problem?). Batter knows she has got away with one, even having a chuckle, but Empy keeps the pressure on and picks up another wicket soon after. Reens picks up new batter first ball showing she truly was robbed of a hat-trick (will this be another 49 debacle?). The marching band is back and Squeaks says “come on Bombers, everyone marching in”, Reens in her delivery stride cracks up laughing, bowling a full toss. Monnie Brasher makes an appearance and cries of “Aunty Dotty!” can be heard ringing through the ground. Aunty Dotty does her best to put the batter off, sneezing just as the ball hits the bat, lucky it wasn’t an edge to 1st slip. Box Hill try and pick up pace in last few overs but T-Bob and J-Fo slow them down, Sally Sundries top score in total of 112.  

We need to get their runs in 36 overs to get bonus point and give us best chance of finishing top, Squeaks and Dotty get off to good start, 50 run opening stand a nice way to begin. Squeaks shows her intentions early hitting a massive 6 (only maxi I have ever seen on Box Hill City Oval), Dotty gets sick of running 3s and Marshmallow and Squeaks team up. Meanwhile on the sidelines Wigs is practising physiotherapy on Lou’s shoulder (feels great thanks Wigs!) while Reens has to wait 45 minutes for a massage. Squeaky makes a 50 and raises the bat to Empy and Mr. Squeaky on the sidelines nice moment. Empy takes 12 runs off first over after drinks to secure bonus point, top spot and a big confidence boosting win going into last few rounds.
Decide to have a drink after the game but apparently barman/curator doesn’t want to serve me, and gives me a send off which would bring him up in front of the disciplinary committee if happened on a field. Oh well, off down the highway to savour another victory!

Votes
3 - Umpire Steve for being classy when I was not
2 - Squeaky for notching up 5th half century this season, will be disgrace if she doesn’t top averages for the comp.
1 - Whole Empy team for top notch performance with ball and bat and mouth (too many good calls to remember)