After our first breakfast in our new digs at the Angel Hotel, I need to head out for a wander around town.   Partially to get my bearings but also to find a couple of coat-hangers.   We have a formal dinner tonight and our glad-rags are currently on hangers in our room that are non-removable.   Before trotting off I call Bryony on the Skype and have a chat while I am ironing my shirt for tonight.   Must have made riveting viewing for her.   We have been in contact on Skype most mornings (UK time) and I really look forward to seeing her face on the screen. I am missing her more and more each day.

While wandering around town, with the obligatory coffee of course, I ask in a couple of clothing stores if I can have a couple of old hangers. No luck, but eventually found a Pound-Store - a bit like a Crazy Clarks. Problem solved. Then its time for a quick walk down to the gardens. They look spectacular so I'm looking forward to being able to spend some more time there over the coming days.

At 11:00 the convoy sets sail for Redditch - about 40 minutes away.   Unfortunately we leave one car behind as they were waiting at the front gate of the hotel - and the convey left via the back gate.   Then we lose sight of the lead car on a big round-about and take the wrong exit.   Eventually it all sorts its self out and we are all at the ground.   Some of the big-name players we were expecting are not playing today - the exception being Neil Radford. Neil played 3 Tests and 6 ODIs for England in the late 80's.   Today's game is to be 40 overs, retire & recycle at 30, with 7 over per bowler - this seems to have become the standard.

Bill has returned to the side following his injury last week and Stirling has returned to the group following surgery to his broken finger the previous evening. Batting first we are off to a bad start as both Bill and Ross fail to respect the opening bowler who does look like he is bowling fruit but two poor looking shots see us at 2/5 and on the back foot early.   Jim has opened again today and makes a slow but steady 20 off 48 balls.   Gill continues his good form and retires on 33no off 45 balls. Our scoring rate hasn't been great so I try to lift the tempo when I come in at number 8. I've made a brisk (for me, anyway) 16 off 20 balls when I take on the arm of the ex-England player swooping in from mid-wicket and his direct hit finds me short by about 5 feet!   Cooky steps up the pace too and his 27no off 24 balls gets us to a final total of 7/146.   The general feeling it that this is at least 50 runs short on a good batting surface and a fast outfield.

The locals fill us up with scones & cream and all manner of cakes and it is with great resolve that I manage to restrict myself to ONLY three pieces.   We take the field and Gill is to keep for the first 20 overs while I "run" around at deep backward square and deep mid-off.   By the time I take the gloves our opponents are well on their way to victory.   Neil Radford has made it all look too easy with a classy 32 retired off only 25 balls.   Two other batsmen retire as well and the only bright note for me is a snappy catch up behind the stumps as Martin Woodward (now playing against us for the third time this tour) tries to nudge away a quicker ball from Paul Thomas.   Peter Howes, filling in for the opposition, comes in with them needing just four to win and everyone is keen to give him a hard time.   Unfortunately Paul gives him a half-volley outside leg-stump and its all over.   They finish with 3/150 with 8 overs to spare.

We all get spruced up for dinner with our host Peter Jewel (whom we are informed is intending to run for Parliament) and also the Lady Mayor of Redditch, some other dignitaries and players from both sides.   My meal consists of Summer Vegetable Tagliatelle, Chicken Chasseur with vegetables and Lemon Tart.   There is some fundraising items for the local club with some items being auctioned and a raffle during which my roomie Gill manages to win a bottle of Spanish red wine.

Its fairly late by the time we get back to the hotel but we should be able to have a sleep-in in the morning as tomorrow's game - against the Warwickshire Over 50s - doesn't start till 2:00pm.