BOTWCC 2nd XI v Sapcote
Saturday 25th August 2007
This wasn't a day of many great surprises, but the real shocker of the day was the sun. It shone. And yes, it was flesh pinkeningly hot too.
I know it sounds unlikely, but its true. The sun bore down on Towles Fields with seasoned aplomb and it had only taken until the last weekend in August to do so. None the less, we were all grateful.
To the game, Skipper Morley actually lost the toss and was disappointed not to be able to bat first, but bowling first does rather play to the team's strengths and not too many tears were shed.
Ryan Dawson and Grant Penton took the cherry and as per every match this season managed to keep the Sapcote openers to very few runs. Wickets were proving hard to take as the batsmen were blocking almost everything, chasing a draw in the first innings it seemed. Very curious behaviour.
Penton (12-4-15-1) finally made the break-through in the 20th over when he bowled undoubtedly the most invitingly wide rank long-hop the batsman could have hoped for, but he, comically, only managed to edge it to Mark Russell at 1st slip. Crap balls really do take wickets. Thankfully.
It was another 10 dull overs later when Dawson, who was now back on for his 2nd spell bowled a pearler at the noisy Shane Clarke who thick edged it and forced a very good catch from young Ed behind the pins.
And so the rot set in for Sapcote. Wickets tumbled freely with another 2 for Dawson (12-6-21-3) and 2 for Morley (10-3-38-2). With 5 overs to play Sapcote were 84 for 6.
At this stage the innings was slightly tainted for BOTWCC 2nds as the 2 remaining batsmen went on a wild slogging spree and somehow managed to knock another very useful 50 runs from the last 5 overs, ending their 45 on 134 for 6.
After the break Dawson and Ali Love opened and in the 8th over, having faced not more than a dozen balls, Dawson slapped one through the covers and brought about a stunning diving catch from the pleasantly shocked fielder, bringing Stenning to the crease. Stenning batted well for a while but went for 19, being bowled by a nasty slow delivery that rattled his stumps at the 2nd bounce.
A slightly nervous few overs follwed with a mini collapse seeing Russell hole out for just 9, Tagg for a measly 4 and Burton were suddenly 60 for 5 after 26 overs. The extra 50 runs Sapcote hit were looking like possible match winning runs at this stage.
Enter stage left, Steve Neal and Chris Langham.
Both clearly knew the importance of their time at the crease and played sensibly to keep the runs ticking over at a very steady rate. If the rate continued a win would be on the cards, providing we didn't throw away any more needless wickets.
Langham played an excellent holding role for Neal as he hit runs to all parts and when Langham finally gifted a catch to the same fellow who caught Dawson and Morley being trapped LBW for 1, Steve Neal just dug in deeper.
A dogged performance from the little fella slowly took the game away from Sapcote and he knocked up an excellent 42 runs (not out), accompanied eventually by Sam Shipman (2 not out) hitting the winning 4 runs with 3 overs to spare.
Another win for the Two's.
Well played one and all, as everybody once again made a contribution and lets see if we can carry this forward to the last match of the season next weekend, away at Hickley CC.
1.R.MORLEY
2.S.NEAL
3.R.DAWSON
4.G.PENTON
5.A.LOVE
6.R.STENNING
7.M.TAGG
8.M.RUSSELL
9.C.LANGHAM
10.S.WARNE
11.E.E.STEWART
12T.SHIPMAN