Skipper Stirling has ordered a 7am pool session this morning so its going to be a late breakfast. This isn't quite as simple as it was back at the Regency Park Hotel that had its own pool. Here it is into the convey and a drive through the streets of Cheltenham to the outdoor public pool.   And after jumping in, no-one believes the story that the pool is heated.   Half an hour of reducing our lactic acid build-up and its back to the hotel.   Shower, change and breakfast then a coupe of hours to kill before we make the drive to the delightful little village of Cranham.

The lead car has to stop and ask directions twice after getting into the general vicinity of the village .   Cranham is somewhat elevated and after several winding turns, and with some local advice, we come across the ground on the top of a hill where apparently they thought they had the only flat piece of land in the parish.   Pity they couldn't have bought the fields next door from which-ever farmer owns them 'cos they had to be flatter than this cricket ground.   Lords might have a slope but its nothing like the gradient on this - albeit very pretty - cricket ground.

Our opposition today is going to be a very mixed bunch.   First there is Keith Daniels - the England Over 60s captain who is a resident of the village.   Then there are six local players - bloody youngsters again!! One of them is a member of the Swiss national team.   Not sure before the game if that makes him a good player.....or just Swiss.   Turns out he is pretty handy. Then there are two ring-ins from a nearby village, one of whom was the scorer in our game at Malvern. That makes nine, so Stirling and Paul Thomas (both of whom were due to rest today) make up their eleven .

As the game gets underway, we are batting first and I am down to bat at number nine as i will be keeping today.   I go on the field as a substitute for the first few overs as one of their guys is running late. I'm fielding at fine leg and have to keep swapping sides due to the right-hand / left-hand batting combination. Running up this slope on the ground is exhausting. It had looked steep but crickey, once you are out there its incredible.

Anyway, our batting is fantastic and despite a great spell from Stirling (why hasn't he bowled like that earlier in the tour?) we put together a score of 200 without losing a wicket.  Gill, Jim, Ross, John and Murray all reach 30 and retire. Vince and Dennis also contribute and are not out at the end of our 40 overs. Ross was particularly severe on the young Swiss bowler (Stefan) who bowled with good pace but just gave Ross too much width outside his off-stump.

Afer another fantastic lunch we took the field and soon realised the advantage of local knowledge, youthful exhuburance and class batting . The openers put on a very fast 50 partnership, one falling for 29 and Stefan showcasing his all-round ability with 30 retired off 13 balls. England captain Keith Daniels displayed his class in making an effortless 30 retired and their number three batsman also retired on 30.   At the half-way mark of their run-chase they were 1/136 and it was looking so bad that skipper-for-day Ross exhorted his troops for one more positive showing. The crowd was rapidly gathering as the locals tend to make an afternoon of the occasion and many families had come along for the game and subsequent BBQ. Ross's quote was "Boys, we are looking stuffed. If we can get out of this, I'll run naked through the streets of Cheltenham. Lets at least put on a good show for this crowd".

Returning after drinks we pick up a couple of good wickets but at the 25 over mark they are 3/146 - only needing another 55 to win off 15 overs with 7 wickets in hand.   We pick up their fourth wicket and unfortunately for Cranham they now have the two players from the adjoining village at the crease and they are really struggling. We are starting to get back into this game as they just cant find a way to score against some excellent bowling. At the 30 over mark they are 4/148 and now need 5 an over to win.   Their skipper is running out the change of batting gloves (hardly needed!!) with obvious message to step it up.   But we keep denying them.

We know there are good batsmen to follow - including our own Stirling and Paul (not to mention the retirees who can return) - so our tactics are very much containment rather than searching for another wicket. With 5 overs to go, the score has only progressed to 4/155 and they now need 9 an over.   A wild slash off Ross's bowling has me diving full-length to drop the best catch I have never taken. Ross is dark because I have denied him his first wicket on English soil but I think he is secretly relieved. One of the batsmen eventually runs himself out but its all too late. They finish their 40 overs at 5/171 and we have won the game. We have only conceded 25 runs off the last 15 overs.

Vinnie had bowling figures of 2/5 off 6 overs, Murray Harrison had 0/8 off 5 overs and Dennis Axelby 1/15 off 6 overs.   The team song is sung with gusto in the change rooms and Ross is reminded of his mid-innings promise. He claims he will have to apply for a permit from the authorities so he doesn't scare the local children.   Opinions are mixed as to whether we want to see him go through with this or not.   The evening concludes with the usual speeches, presentations, nice food, good company, cold beer.........you know the story by now.   Damn, I love playing cricket !!