Good evening. Nick Parish resuming duty in the commentary box for the semi-finals of the Open Doubles. I'm sitting outside the hut and in front of me we have Bamford & Rothman taking on Maugham and Chapman (just after Chapman defeated Maugham 2-0 in the singles QFs). Best of three, super advanced.

Usual sort of corner two opening, with misses in turns three and four. Rothman is now playing. He's run hoop 1 and will likely have to roll up to h2 from c2 for a break.

Later we will have Clarke & Fulford taking on the winner of Wicks & Burch v Hopgood and Giraud. That game is too far away for me to make out what's going on, but Giraud is in play at present.

Any questions, email me on nick [at] rebeccaparish dot plus dot com and I will endeavour to give satisfaction.

Ben rolls up, leaving himself a long (two-yard plus) hoop at a slight angle. Runs it to the boundary and has a break.

Around me are various Plate games. Hopefully mine will start soon, which will be good for me and bad for you.

Ben misses three yard return roquet after h2 and suddenly doesn't have a break after all. Finishes near Maugham at h3, who hits. He has a ball on the north boundar between 2 and 6, and a ball three yards NNE of c4 to get going from.

Maugham takes off to the north boundary (which may have been slightly off the boundary) and gets a sort of rush to h1. Cuts it very well, makes hoop. Still lots of work to do, though, with both other balls close to the east boundary. Takes off to the ball near c4 but doesn't get a rush to the ball near c3.

Takes off to ball near c3, doesn't get a rush on that either. Big scoop to h2 coming up...

Good effort (he said patronisingly) but a yard short. Joins up with partner in the middle of the lawn (!) near h5. The obvious shot for Ben and Reg is black (Reg), near c4, at oppo - about 14 yards. Reg is indeed taking that. Misses. Beast will now resume. Has a long rush pointing to h6 and a ball NNW of h2. Rushes level with h2 and is now taking off. Gets a rush pointing at c2. Cuts it to 5 yards west of h2. Stoppo approach coming up. Plays it well. Has straight but slightly long hoop. Runs it to the boundary. Six yard return roquet for a break. Makes it.

That's my cue to go for a hotdog. A nice smell is wafting out. I've learnt this week that my family food motto applies pretty accurately here. "There's plenty for everyone but you've got to be quick."

I'm back just in time to witness Beast blobbing h4. Reg shoots from 8 yards away. Doesn't have it watched and predictably slams into the wire. Doesn't claim it 😃

As well as a hotdog, I come bearing a glass of fizz, curtesy of Martin Murray who is 73 today and buying drinks to celebrate. Happy birthday, Doctor M! I hope I'm still playing in the Opens in thirty years time. Hope there is still one to play in in thirty years time. Martin says that his jumper is 53. It's also Dave Kibble's birthday today, but if he bought champagne I missed it.

Beast has resumed his break. This match has not been top-quality so far.

Lordy. Beast has gone round and finished with a leave. Stopped at 3b. Reg is taking the contact. I can't be bothered describing the position. Suffice it to say that Beast misses a long shot. Ben is now playing. He has a short rush from the EB level with h6 pointing at c2. Yellow is on the North boundary a yard or two east of c2, and red is in c3. Ben cuts the rush to h3 and takes off to red. Stoppo approach coming up (Ben is for h3).

Plays it well. Has straight hoop, maybe a yard. Makes it. Has 3bb.

On lawn 3, the other semi has started. Giraud and Hoopgod overcame Wicks & Burch and are now taking on Fulford & Clarke. I don't give much for their chances. Chris is wearing a navy blue and white polo top. Wonder if those are New Zealand colours as well? Anyway, it's turn 6 and croquet has yet to be taken. Hoppy misses narrowly and Clarke will have first break.

Chris hops up and down following his approach to h1. Plays a jump with hands well down the mallet. Fails it, but luckily for him it's off partner. Giraud is shooting from c2. He's usually a very good shot. Not on that occasion. Chris continues. Rushes partner to h2, takes off back to Alain and approaches from the south boundary. Doesn't like it. Looking at going back to Mamma. Does so. Giraud shoots at oppo balls in c2. Misses again.

Meanwhile Rothman is continuing his break and looks to be stopping at 1b. Presumably he's setting Reg up for a SXP. Well, history does not relate as he misapproaches h6. Plays a scatter but this is still pretty calamitous, especially as he's giving away a lift (super-advanced, remember). I expect Paady to finish with a QP from here.

I am wrong. Paddy misapproaches h1 and runs away. Ben and Reg have a choice of 8-10 yarders. Ben shoots gently. Hits.

Chris is finally away on a break. Now approaching h4.

The mangler has just told be I won't be playing tonight because my opponent is still in his previous game, which I guess does preclude him from playing me. That also means I will away shortly, as soon as I've finished my beer.

Ben is making hoops. Heading for 4b, I should imagine. Chris is doing likewise. He'll have to make a contact leave as he started at h1, not h6 unlike Ben. Ben asks for advice on the leave. A spectator observes that Reg is far too busy doing important things like reading his paper to be dispensing croquet advice.

That's all from me, I'm afraid. Tune in tomorrow morning for the singles semi-finals. Following Reg's sensational elimination today, it's Fulford v Burch and Chapman v Burch. Rob will be hot favourite, but I wonder if Jamie could upset him. We'll see. TTFN.