Hathern Old v BOTWCC 2nd XI
Saturday 16th May
It came as no shock to anybody there that the rain was going to have some effect on the day's play at Hathern this week. It had rained plentifully over the last few days and come Saturday, nothing had changed. So, it was another soggy day at Hathern. In the absence of skipper (late) and vice (not playing), Sonny Warne got the day off to a bad start by losing the toss and being asked to bat by the home captain.
Things started steadily with Steve Neal and Custard at the helm and although the muddy pitch gave little away to the batsmen, a few runs were knocked on to the slow moving tally. We didn't have to wait too long though before Custard gave it up and brought in the excited Warne for his first knock at Hathern. He'd been there a few times but had somehow never managed to get a bat. Even at number 3!
So, in he came full of the usual Warne optimism and settled himself down for a long spell at the crease. Which would have been great had he not had to face a ball. Burton oldie, now a Hathern favourite, Adey Rush, bowled him a peach of a ball that cut away from the line of the bat and knocked Sonny's off stump to the ground. So, Sonny still hasn't had a bat at Hathern. No doubt he'll want revenge at Towles Fields later in the year.
Little else happened other than the usual fireworks off Lanky who came in at 6. He looked more comfortable with the bat than we've seen for a while and hit a very confident and impressive 33 before he made his way back to the clubhouse.
And still, Steve Neal kept his wicket in tact. I fact he did so right until the end of the innings when, after having lost an over to rain, he walked off with a score not out in the region of 60 (TBC). Burton were 150 for 9.
Well done to him and Lanky for their efforts and, truthfully, to all for a reasonable score on a very wet pitch.
After tea, Burton went out to claim a few scalps with the ball and hopefully defend their 150 total. At least that was the plan.
JC and Penton opened but to little effect (Penton bowled like a retard by the way). The Hathern openers played shots to all parts with little or no respect for the bowlers. Not that they needed to, the bowling was loose and inaccurate. Most shots dispatched were little more than they deserved. And so it continued until Hathern reached their target of 151 with enough overs available for another game.
One bright moment was seeing club newbie Colin bowling. And given the Hathern bats had blatantly slammed other bowlers, they gave him some respect, unable to spank him around the field. It just shows that an older head is actually quite useful. Even if the older body is struggling.
So, with another sound beating under the belt, Burton can now look forward to playing Braunstone at Towles Fields next week.
Ho hum.