MARSHY 99 LEADS RUN-FEST AGAINST MACEDONIANS

After a week of rain, the prospect of any play seemed unlikely on Saturday evening, but thanks to some drier weather, the usual hard work of those getting down and sopping up water, and the willingness of two teams to play, Sunday's game with Failsworth started bang on time.

Asif lost the toss and the visitors chose to bowl, which turned out to be possibly not the best decision they'll make all year ... 7 overs into the Totts innings and we were on 78-0, with Doc past 50 in the 6th over, surely a Totts record? KC was providing admirable support as usual, and when the in-form Doc finally departed for 78 including 6 6's, the scoreboard was a very healthy 104-1 with just 15 overs gone. Mace's Paul Rigney was starting to tighten the screw with some disciplined bowling from the Pavilion End, but the other bowlers were sending down all manner of short pitched stuff - never the best tactic at Totts - and when Marshy came to the crease, he joined the fun.

Kieran had progressed to a calm and assured 63 - which included one display of the pyrotechnics we all know he has in him (maybe, one day ...) when he launched a ball over the pavilion, but then attempted to repeat the shot and drove a catch to long on. This then spurred Si into action; after a very sedate beginning, he passed 50 and then somehow got to 99 within the space of 4 overs, despatching 5 6's into the trees. With overs left and his first official Totts 100 beckoning, the big fella inexplicably played a horrible cross-batted shot (which he produces about once every 3 years) and walked off to a whole load of mickey-taking from his teammates.

Watty launched his first ball into the car park and after some scampered runs, the innings ended on a massive 287-6; for the visitors Rigney had taken 5-74, though most of the runs came in a flurry at the end, he'd steadied the innings very well in the face of the early onslaught. Keeper Marriott had also performed as well as ever, even as the fielding deteriorated around him under Marshy's assault.

With such a large total to chase, it was inevitable that shots would need to be played, and Marriott blazed 14 off the first over, before attempting one shot too many and being trapped LBW by Si, who was now proving unstoppable with the ball. Asif took some early punishment but took the wicket of fellow opener Rigney, before danger man Chapman was caught by Doc P, who scampered 20 yards to take a steepling catch off Marshy (we mention this more for the apparent comedy value of the running than the fact he actually caught one). Marshy then proved he was human by shelling a catch off the Doc to general astonishment and abuse from his brother. Big Bird entered the fray and took 3 excellent wickets on the now-turning wicket, and it was left to young Ry Marsh to wrap up the innings - he has some very welcome promise does Ry, his chest-on action is excellent, and his two wickets were good ones.

So a massive win on a day which had promised another washout; the batsmen continue to display excellent form, and with wickets shared round, this was yet another very encouraging win. Next week is the Olympic fun day, the cricket resumes on June 30th with a trip to Westleigh Meths.