The future looks brighter for Ambridge cricket, though Harrison may well be haunted by his deceit; Anisha proves her worth yet again.
Radio Times: Harrison gives it everything he’s got, and Anisha has a tricky case on her hands.
Characters: Alistair, Anisha, Harrison, Rex, Shula, William- Anisha, Shula and Alistair are gathered around a sick horse, Damson. As Anisha is on call and Alistair is already late for the cricket club meeting tonight, he is “shooed off” as his partner takes over. He arrives at the meeting and finds Harrison and Rex fending off questions from Will who’s clearly in no mood to listen to discussion about women joining the team if that is indeed the subject of the meeting.
- Harrison brings the meeting to order and introduces the single subject for discussion, how cricket in Ambridge may be saved. Will is incensed to discover that women have attended “secret” net sessions with the captain. Harrison mentions the interest that he’s had from Lily, Molly, Anisha and Pip. He’s particularly keen on the future talent shown by Anisha and Pip. Will calls out that he remembers Rex giving Pip a particularly easy game last year. Rex is upset by the comment and Harrison calls for order.
- At The Stables, Anisha hears that the two Arabs Aziz and Amir will be leaving Shula’s care. She glosses over the loss by saying that the Elliotts’ focus is likely to be elsewhere for the foreseeable future. As Damson has calmed down it becomes clear that the problem is a deep-seated thorn in her eye. It’s either transport to an equine hospital or removal of the eye immediately. As she doesn’t travel well, Shula decides that the loss of an eye now is the only course of action open to them.
- Harrison is forced to put his plan B to the meeting. He has an email from Darrington Cricket Club regarding the possibility of a merger. They’re fairly certain that “poor little Ambridge” could be absorbed into the Darrington team and that there would be room in the lower orders for some of the Ambridge players. There is uproar. Harrison puts the three possibilities to a formal vote; Allow women into the team, merge with Darrington or give up altogether. Allowing women into the team wins by a majority although Will’s not happy. As the meeting disperses, Rex asks to see the email. Harrison remembers that he’s promised to be home quickly and scuttles off.
- Alistair is keen to watch Anisha perform the enucleation but Shula asks him not to barge in. He tells her that the team is going to allow women and that he has no problem with this in general, he’s concerned that he may see more of his new partner than he wished. Shula points out his life improvements since she’s joined the practice and he has to agree. Anisha appears and Sheila goes to see the horse. She’s concerned that if she joins the team, she may appear to be in Alistair’s pocket more than she had wished. Alistair assures her that it’s absolutely fine by him and that he sees no problems at all. Yes Alistair, of course
Scriptwriter: Keri Davies
Summarised by: David Clark