Braunstone Cricketers v Burton on the Wolds - Second XI

Sat 6th May 2006 - Braunstone Cricketers

After almost a week of blistering hot sunshine and pink noses and shoulders country-wide, the first day of the season saw playing conditions dip to that more expected on the first day of the season.

It was wazzing it down.

However, both teams were full of adrenaline and raring to go and barring the very real possibility of wearing waterproof and wellies, the match got under way.

Steve Neal had won the toss and with his bowling-rich team elected to field. Not a bad decision it turned out as club new-comer Shane Marshall took out one of the openers in the very first over. Things did settle down for a few overs after that and as the rain continued to fall the pitch slowly deteriorated, making runs very difficult for Braunstone to come by. That is not to belittle the bowlers, all of which bowled well and gave little or almost nothing away. The pick of the bowlers had to be Rob Morley who bowled his 12 overs including 9 maidens (yes, 9 maidens) and took one wicket for just 7 runs. Not surprisingly these figures top the averages after the first game, especially with an economy rate of conceding a mere 0.58 runs per over. (Other figures below.)

It wasn't all plain sailing of course and in-keeping with tradition there was some calamity in the field when Steve Neal and Kelvin Creasey went for a ball top edged high into the covers. Both had eyes on the ball and a complete failure to communicate meant only one outcome was possible. Collision. And the ball hit the ground with a desperately wet plop. It wouldn't be the same without a bit of silliness, would it?

Throughout the session the Braunstone batters sadly had little to offer on this day (to be fair, they were short apparently 5 regular players) and wickets tumbled steadily until they were eventually all out for 79 in the 44th over.

By the time BOTW went in to bat the rain had stopped and the pitch was drying up nicely. Steve Neal and Mark Russell opened and the tempo was set right from the start with Russell dispatching the Braunstone attack to all parts. Neal (10) was the first and only wicket to fall having gloved one to the wicket keeper and in came Mike Tagg. The wisdom and experience of the senior batsman was apparent and he backed Russell up with style and grace as Russell continued his attack of the Braunstone bowlers. He reached his 50 in the 23rd over and slapped a beauty through mid-off for 4 next ball to win the match, with BOTW reaching 83 for 1 in just 23 overs, winning the match by a handsome 9 wickets.

Not a bad start to the campaign and especially good given the playing conditions and the fact that the match could quite easily have been called off before a ball was bowled. Bowlers had bowled well, those who needed to had batted well, there were no dodgy issues or decisions given in a very good spirited game enjoyed by all (from Burton anyway).

One down, 17 to go.

Next week away to Whetsone. See the Home and News pages later in the week for directions to this ground.

BURTON MATCH STATS

Full ECB Match Scorecards shown HERE

Grant Penton 7-5-06

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