1STS FALL SHORT BUT 2S MARCH ON WITH 10 WICKET WIN

On a weekend which saw the club decimated by the holidays, we just about managed to get two teams out, but this didn't stop the 2s in particular from having a very good day. We had previously done the double fo local rivals ELPM way back in May, but with most of the 1sts away a repeat seemed unlikely.

Down at Croft Lane, a flurry of dropped catches proved incredibly coastly as the home side notched up an impressive 270, with Ian Wade the recipient of plenty of fortune and his usual colossal strokeplay on the way to a rapid 129. For Totts, Russ Brooks was one of the few to make inroads, taking 4-64. The final overs saw some measure of control but the damage was done by then. Shorn of the Doc, Marshy, Kieran and Rick Carr, our batters were up against it, and it's to their credit that they notched up 211-9 in the end to secure a point against expectation. There were good starts from Nick Marsh, Meg, Crabbers, Russ, and Ry Marsh, while Ste Brooks held the tail together with a brave 41 not out to secure a point and indeed one of our highest team scores of the year - if only we could catch and put out a team; maybe next year eh? Credit to ELPM of course who go on their merry way with a fine victory and some revenge for the thumping they took at our place earlier in the season.

Down at the Meadows, the 2nds game saw the return of the Durrans trio, who left Totts earlier this year, but their appearance was somewhat put in the shade by a fine performance from the 2s, who featured the unlikely figure of Dasher Deegan in the ranks! Our relative lack of strength was belied by a super bowling and fielding performance which saw the Millers knocked over for 92. Watty and Farhan took 6 wickets, and the fielding was especially useful, with Stu Batigan taking a leaping one handed catch at 2nd slip that would have graced any amateur game, much less NMCL Division 3. His effort was almost overshadowed by Dasher who just failed to hang onto a similar sprawling effort. A target of 93 proved to be of little challenge to Sail and Mahmood who knocked them off in relatively untroubled manner to keep the 2s riding high at the top of the league.

With holidays still in full flow, next week could see even fewer players available but will this daunt the 2s who are on a Herculean run?

I Will if You Will Biffaward

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