2NDS EXACT BROX REVENGE IN WEEKEND OF MIXED FORTUNE

There was a weekend of mixed fortunes for the 2nd XI as they competed with local rivals Brooksbottom in back to back league and cup fixtures.

On Saturday the side travelled to Summerseat, where the home side won the toss and elected to bat. A tight opening spell from Marcus and Katie was rewarded when Katie dismissed Slater, caught by Brox old boy Boris! Boys and Holt started a revival, and had taken the score to 64 before each fell within the space of three balls with Sail and Ry Marsh claiming a wicket apiece. Qureshi teed off, hitting 4 sizes in a score of 33 from just 17 balls before he was caught behind off Ryan. Sail then whipped through the middle and late order on his way to 4-55 while Ryan also chipped in with 4-47. Katie returned to take the final wicket, the home side closing on a competitive 146.

TSJ's run chase started disastrously, with Aussie Mick departing for a second successive duck. Danielle soon followed, and it was left to Mark Parky to anchor the innings. Partners came and went, though Parky held his nerve and showed no little skill in making his way to 47 not out before the final wicket fell. A total of 87 containing 5 ducks just wasn't good enough, with only Ryan (13) joining Parky in double figures. Qureshi followed his rapid 33 with a devastating 6-27 from 11 overs to secure his team maximum points.

Sunday's game followed a very similar pattern early on; this time Brox were the visitors but again won the toss and batted. The obdurate Bailey, sensibly choosing an afternoon at Crompton Meadows instead of a potentially heartbreaking trip to Southend to see his beloved Shakers, was in full resistance mode, but the returning Farhan claimed both his and Boys' wickets in an impressive spell of 2-25 from 10. Hayesy was allowed to bowl and struck three times in his spell, leaving the visitors 53-5. However a strong partnership of 81 between Richmond and Robb looked to have swung the game towards Brox, before Stoney and Danny Ash ran through the tail, cleaning up the last 5 wickets for just 5 runs to end the innings at 139 and leave Totts facing a very similar run chase to Saturday. The Totts bowlers all performed well, with Ry Marsh only seeing 18 runs scored from his 10 overs.

Totts had made several enforced changes for Sunday, with Danielle, Marcus, Sail and Mark Parky out. George Green departed to his first ball to get us off to a shaky start, and when Boris fell it was left to Dasher, belying his name by dropping anchor, and Hayesy, scoring at a run a ball, to give the innings some oomph. However both fell with the score in the 50s, and when Aussie Mick (who thankfully got some runs this time) fell at 73, it was looking iffy. The two Ryans played some shots, with Stoney hammering 25 from 14 balls before giving it away. Dean, who by now was in an impressive spell of 4-24 took out Ry Marsh, Clive and Fazwaaaaaaaan, leaving the last pair of Danny Ashburner and Katie (yet to score a run for Totts) requiring 9 to win. Both kept their nerve superbly as the runs inched down, until the winning run was struck to great cheers.

A terrific game from both sides, with the 2s earning a much needed first win of the season and scraping into the next round!

Saturday (league) scorecard
Sunday (cup) scorecard

I Will if You Will Biffaward

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