Walton le Wolds v BOTWCC Second XI

Sunday 20th August (was scheduled for Sat 27th May 2006 at Walton, now being played at Towles Fields)

Well, what a day this turned out to be, and not really for any (or few) good reasons.

As it happens, the skipper Steve Neal actually stunned the Burton faithful into silence. Bodies were dropping like flies in a dead faint when they heard (surely it must have been a joke) that he'd actually gone and won the toss.

His decision, and a good one it turned out, was to field and give the Waltons a bat.

Burton opened the bowling with a couple of club quickies, Lee Smith and Geoff Aylett, who enjoyed a spell of some very pacey and tight bowling, despite Lee's succession of wides that kept the keeper, Mark Dipple, on his toes.

Smithy was evetually first to strike having Lou Hayes caught behind of her gloves for 2.

Geoff Aylett continued to bowl a superb spell of 6 overs, 0 for just 7 runs while Lee dipped his bread in at the other end. S Roberts, one of the Walton ringers, came in to replace the down at heart Louisa Hayes and just as he was looking like playing a shot, Lee bowled him a very quick, full and juicy one down his leg side which he dutifully glanced away expecting and easy four runs. He was sadly disappointed though as the ball went like a bullet straight at the teeth of Penton at backward-square-leg who (in fear of his life) somehow caught it and sent the newcomer back to the pavilion for a duck. There was much whooping and cheering and hearty congrats for what was firstly a good catch but more importantly, a very key wicket to have taken.

Spirits were now up. After all, if Penton is catching them in the field then anything can happen.

Lee Smith continued his spell and forced batsmen to waft willow aimlessly as the ball whizzed past and into the hands of keeper Dipple. He actually took 3 catches behind for Lee who ended his 12 overs with 2 maidens, 4 for 27. Well bowled that lad.

At this stage, with Sicknote turning his arm over from 2 paces at the other end, Walton were not really getting anywhere and when Sicknote forced another Dipple catch for the 5th Walton scalp, the visitors were 45 for 5 and looking a little nervous. Then when Sicknote got the next man, Gardner, out for a golden blob LBW (a decision he wasn't happy with, despite being sent packing by an official League umpire), 45 for 6 was an even better score to see on the board. Still, there was a long way to go and with less than 19 overs gone, Burton could not put their feet up and expect to roll these boys over.

After Gardner's unhappy departure, we finally had two genuine Walton 2nd XI batsman come to the crease, with Addison and Apthomas

Credit where its due here, these two lads, not ringers at all, played better than any of the superstars that had fell before them. Addison was clearly a man on a mission and with his side well below the pace, he set about rectifying his team errs, playing some very nice shots indeed and eventually the runs started to pile up. Sicknote had finished his useful 12 overs on 2 for 35 and Rob Morley took his place. Jack Child had replaced Smith and he bowled defensive spell of 7 over 0 for 33. The Walton bats now had their eyes in.

Rob Morley finally took the scalp of Apthomas for 27 with yet another and 5th catch behind by Mark Dipple, but by this time the match had changed. He and Addison had put on a very useful 96 partnership. This was made slightly easier since these lads had got used to the pace of the club's quickies and were then asked to face the less than military medium of Morley and Penton for the last 8 overs. Addison and the well experience D Smith picked these lads off easily and added 62 runs to the total before the innings came to a close. A lesson to be learned there on when to use bowlers and when not to.

Walton ended their 45 over with a respectable 168 for 7.

After tea, things started to go horribly wrong. All the superstars that had been asked to play for the Walton Ringers had failed until this point until one of their opening bowlers, a Notts CCC ringer called I Harding or I Hardy (we're not sure which, but then again, neither were Walton!) bowled a superb spell and took then game away from Burton right from the start.

Pete Roberts was clean bowled for 1 in the 3rd over. Mike Tagg caught behind for 0 in the 7th. Kelvin Creasey, Rob Morley and Geoff Aylett were all clean bowled for a duck and Mark Dipple finally ended his 57 minutes at the crease being bowled for 15.

And this is why so many Burton players were upset.

This lad Harding/ Hardy (whatever) bowled 12 overs, 8 maidens, 6 for 6. This man had no place in the Walton team. He's no club member and should be knocking on the door of first class cricket with that kind of performance. Yet here he was in the lowest division of the Senior Cricket League playing 2nd XI cricket against what must have been like playing with toddlers in comparison to his standard. What he wanted to achieve is beyond any of us.

Still, what was done was done and luckily for Burton, nobody else in the team made any real effort to get wickets. Too many balls were too wide or dropped short enough to miss the stumps by a yard and given that Burton had lost 6 wickets for just 23 runs and the chances of reaching the target of 169 was less likely than rocking horse shit, there was little point at playing any shots and losing the last few wickets to lose the game.

But there were quite a fews over to go. Dipple's departure was in only the 18th over, some 27 overs left and very little batting to hold it up.

Andy Sicknote Simkins and Steve Neal were now facing the barrage and each had the ability to both hit runs or stonewall for the remainder of the match. A mixture of both is what they did. Most balls were left well alone and in their 12 over stand, put on 24 runs before Steve Neal nudged one to the wicket keeper. Sicknote had added a very handy (yet pointless) and patient 21 runs and sadly he went caught behind off the bowling of D Smith.

Burton were now in real trouble, because with 13 overs to go they had Lee Smith and Grant Penton at the crease to fend off the continued attack and save the draw. Penton had only scored 1 run all season and Smith is well known for his impatient slogs and early departures.

Smithy was expecting a fierce attack, since they had been looking forward to his arrival on the square after him taking so many of their scalps. Sadly we were all disappointed with not one ball hitting him in his 21 minutes with the bat. He got himself 6 runs before gifting a very high cow corner catch to Harding/Hardy (whatever) off the tempting spin bowling of Colbeck. Burton were now 59 for 9 off 34 overs and Penton and number 11 Jack Child were all that was left between Walton and a certain victory.

But Walton can shove right off.

Penton and Child did all that could be asked of them. They left anything high or wide, dead batted anything on the stumps and only threatened to get themselves out a couple of time in the last 10 and a half overs. Walton were now desperate for the last wicket to fall and the batsmen were completely crowded by close fielders, but the bowling wasn't up to it. They still bowled too many balls too short and wide that could be left alone. Penton faced 42 balls and only put bat on ball half a dozen times and Child faced 33 and did the same. We all know that if you bowl at the stumps of a tail ender you'll get him out.

But they didn't.

Jack Child and Grant Penton saw it through to the end on 2 and 9 not out respectively and Walton were left with a draw. A very high scoring one for them, but they still couldn't beat Burtons Second XI, even with all their ringers/ superstars.

What a shame, eh?

Had it not been for a couple of their ringers this could have been a very good match, but obviously Walton were scared of us and knew that their own 2nd XI weren't good enough to beat Burton and extras were needed. Walton have now leapfrogged Burton in the League into the 2nd promotion spot and have and easier run in to the season's end too.

And who says cheating doesn't pay? At least we can sleep at night happy that if we don't get a promotion this year, it'll be for genuine reasons.

Next week the penultimate match of the season at home to Burbage.

Match report by Grant Penton 22-8-06

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