Welcome to a new year. I have decided to make the main body of my first post of 2024 fit with the start of a new county championship season being 95 days away. I then have a photo gallery to share – today has been largely bright and sunny and I have been out and about.
TOM SOAR’S CAREER BEST
Tom Soar is not an illustrious name in the history of cricket, and fast bowling was his main occupation (323 FC wickets at 23.82 with a best of 8-38). His highest score with the bat was 95, and it came in a truly remarkable match.
Somerset had batted first and posted a total of 315, Ernie Robson top scoring with 74. Hampshire began poorly in reply and it would have been even worse for them had Somerset keeper Wickham pulled off a stumping chance against Major Robert Poore. Poore survived, which would have felt ominous to Somerset, given that at Portsmouth earlier that season he had already smashed them for two centuries in the match. Hampshire were 62-4 when Soar joined Poore. The pair put on 196 together before Soar was out for 95. Poore was now joined by another army officer, Captain Teddy Wynyard, and just over four hours this pair proceeded to hammer 411 runs, before Wynyard fell for 225. Poore was out a few balls, for precisely 300 runs more than he had scored at the time Wickham missed that stumping. Hampshire declared at 672-7, an advantage of 357. A dispirited Somerset could only manage 206 at the second time of asking and lost by an innings and 151 runs.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
aspiblog 
As usual, a delight to read your cricket thoughts. I do apologise for not replying to your Sunday email sooner but we’ve just spent 2 days on an island with no Internet! We are in the Bandas – I don’t know if you ever read Nathaniel’s Nutmeg, but if not I thoroughly recommend it – and I’ve discovered the delights of snorkelling too. The coral on Hatta Island starts literally at a few feet out from the beach. I need to strengthen my arms and my balance, and avoid panicking!
Theo is working today and tomorrow and Victor and I will go to Banda Besar (means Big Banda) and find out even more about nutmeg, as well as cloves.
We are all keeping well, despite the heat and humidity. Fantastic thunder and lightning this morning on Hatta which dropped the temperature slightly. We’re back in the good hotel on Bandaneira, which has Internet, aircon, warm showers etc….
Tomorrow we return to Ambon, and thence to Makassar for a couple of days. Back on the 17th and looking forward to seeing you shortly after our return.
Much love from us all, and Happy New Year.
AM and V
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