Khalil Afzal can't play on Saturday due to injury, so after fine form for the stiffs Shaun Marshall steps up to the first team.
Could everyone ensure they are at the ground for 12:30 on Saturday - this is an important game for us and we need to give ourselves the best possible chance. Robbie will be leading a pre-match warm up - so antipodean delights await.
Evening league @ Scotton - We lost the toss and were asked to field, having agreed to reduce the match to a 16 over game. Mark Peachey and Robbie Andonovski opened the bowling, but on a slow wicket their extra pace was used well by the Scotton openers to get off to a flyer - Mark Peachey coming in for some especially harsh treatment to end up with 4-0-37-0. It took Steve Ellison and Jonny Knocker to bring back some semblance of control. Steve Ellison took a good caught and bowled, but unfortunately the skipper managed to drop 2 difficult one handed chances to his left which might have served to further restrict the scoring rate. Scotton's opener continued to strike the ball well, and ended up taking a liking to Jonny Knocker's left arm spin towards the end of the innings, ending up with a well made fifty. It looked like Scotton were on for a 130+ score, but Shaun Marshall came on for 2 overs at the end and produced an excellent demonstration of death bowling.
The skipper's hands still throbbing from his earlier drops inexplicably failed to grab a looping dolly in the last over - something that may be mentioned by his cruel team mates on Saturday should he berate any of them for any missed chances, and Scotton ended up on a challenging 120, making the required rate 7.5 an over.
After his bowling display and form with the bat, Shaun Marshall was promoted to open. We lost Chris Kimberley early, but Shaun had some clean hits in his quickfire 19. The skipper failed to get going and made 9 before skying a tough chance to mid-off, which was competently grabbed by Scotton. Chronic failed to get going before being bowled, but this brought together Robbie Andonovski and Callum McIntosh together. We'd managed a run a ball to this point, but that left a required rate of 9 for the remaining 8 overs - a tough ask. Robbie played with his customary ease and Callum displayed a full range of shots, but despite some good running and hitting we were left requiring 19 to win off the last over. Robbie perished going for a big hit for 47, but Callum batted through for a hugely encouraging 30*, as we fell short at 110.
Scotton ultimately deserved their victory for an excellent batting display, and we look forward to hosting them in the cup back at Dacre on Monday. Scotton put on some excellent spicy chilli back at the Guy Fawkes, and also treated us to a selection of nubile Dutch exchange students, which the team appreciated immensely.
nubiles dutch students??? wish i had gone to the pub now...
ReplyDeletechris k