| Match Report |
The 3s got off to a winning start in Alderholt this afternoon. Stand in skipper, Martin Patterson, lost the toss against an under strength opposition (started with 8, one more arrived at tea) and was asked to bat. He opened up with Steve Rowe, and they slowly built an opening partnership on a slow deck with some long grass in the outfield that meant 4s were in short supply. 10 overs in they had 21 on the board, but started to accelerate and at 20 overs they had reached 55. The only real alarm was a dropped catch by the fielder we were loaning them, when Mungo Patterson put down a hard chance off Steve Rowe. The first 4 didn't arrive until the 14th over.
Maximum batting points were already looking unlikely, but the acceleration started to try to push for 200. Martin Patterson succumbed to a top edged pull shot to square leg for 22 (71-1) which brought new recruit Huw Anthony to the wicket. He fell for 7 on 87, replaced by Andy Trivett. Andy injected some urgency into the running, and he and Steve took the score to 121 in the 34th over. Steve reached his maiden 50, before being caught shortly after for 51. Will may never hear the end of it...
Andy fell shortly after for 18, but James Dorward (14*) and George Ellis (28*) took the score to 168-4 off our 42 overs. Only six 4s were scored all innings, and it was clear that the outfield had a lot to do with missing out on a couple of batting bonus points. Westwood 10-0-40-3 was the pick of the bowlers.
Mike Haslam and Mungo Patterson opened the bowling, and wickets came quickly. After 7 overs, 4 had fallen, 2 to each opener, and the game was effectively over at 14-4. Mungo was turning the ball prodigiously, ending up with figures of 7-3-6-3, Mike 5-0-14-2. James Dorward and Adam Trivett also chipped in with wickets, and James (4-0-17-1) managed to do some damage to brother Nick with one of his more wayward deliveries. Adam's first wickets in senior cricket (1.5-0-2-2) brought the game to a close in the 15th over, with Alderholt all it for 40. Only Sartin with some lusty blows (18) got into double figures before Mungo took a good return catch.
So, the 3s are up and running. There will be tougher tests, but it was an excellent start to the season. |