Firsts squeeze past Fothergills!
Another week, another pulsating game at Crompton Meadows, where visitors Fothergill and Harvey provided decent opposition on a decidedly hostile pitch.
In muggy heat the visitors batted first, and dangerman Syab got off to a flier, smashing the ball to all corners for several overs before falling to a super catch from Pete. Fothergills continued to bat recklessly, with shots to all parts and the ball eluding fielders numerous times. However, the innings couldn’t last like that and Doc steamed in to claim 4 quick wickets to leave the opposition at 99-8. Unfortunately a suspected broken finger forced Doc from the field, and Fothergills late order rallied, smashing their way to 185 before the last man fell.
A challenging target then, and one made much harder by some heavy rain which spiced the pitch up no end. After a flurry of early boundaries, quick wickets fell, including a farcical run out, and this left Doc and Marshy to try and rebuild the innings from 40-3. After a good hour of struggles, the pair valiantly batted on, and suddenly switched gears as the bowling tired. 21 came off one over to leave a target of 50 from the last 10. Despite losing both Marshy (45) and Doc (46), Nelly B steadied things with a tremendously cool 30 not out, and with Asif hitting a 6 at a crucial point to relive the pressure, we scrambled home with 8 balls to spare!
The 2nds had another day of mixed fortunes on Sunday against visitors Springhead. Early rain shortened the match to 38 overs per side, and after 10 overs the game looked all over with the visitors standing at 70-2. Skipper Moriarty applied the brakes, and with a strangelhold at one end, Rob Holt just bowled straight and picked up 7-57 - aided with some good catching, including a lovely one form Rowdy! Mozzer picked up a blinding caught and bowled, and the Totts boys cleaned up to leave a target of 129 - a great effort considering the start.
With several key batsmen missing, the early losses of Jones and Moriarty looked to have sealed Totts fate, but some stout batting and dogged middle order hitting gave the home side hope. Sadly the innings closed at 121, leaving Totts just 8 runs shy of an unlikely win.