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Last updated 31-Jul-2009.
Match Report
The seconds lost their second game of the season despite a fine bowling and fielding performance at Hook.
The home side got first use of a very good pitch and after a good opening 6 overs from Tooley and Fraz, started to scoring easily at a healthy rate. It could have been very different as Tooley bowled by far his quickest and most accurate opening burst of the season having both openers in trouble. (rh opened in Silver most of season)
At drinks the openers were still together 150+ on the board and 300+ looked certain.
What happened next was at first hard to believe and then a pleasure to watch as we took 10 wickets for 75 runs in 23 overs, after being ignored for 8 weeks the skipper turned to Floyd Jnr whose burst of 4-29 in 6 overs was met with proud beaming smiles of delight from Floyd Snr and the travelling support. It would surely have been a 5'fer but for bowling age restriction.
This left Tooley to clean the tail finishing with 3-50 but deserving of far better figures. 1 wicket each for Senior, Fraz and myself restricted the home side to 235/10.
Good teas!!!!
Young Ian Farley joined Graham to open and both looked comfortable until a good throw and hesitation led to Ian being run out. Evs batting at 3 looked in no bother until a fantastic stumping by their keeper. Sam soon followed again run out to a direct hit at 1 stump from 25 yards. Graham (22) was batting patiently before bowled. 43-4 in 17 overs as I looked to play my 3rd or 4th get out of jail free card of the season. Alas not this time as we continued to lose wickets regularly though Fraz (14), Senior and TOOLEY!!!!!! while being egged on by the throng smashed a superb 6 out of the ground attempted to give the score a lift. So 104/10 and a 131 run defeat which sounds far harsher than it was.
They were not a great bowling side as we all bemoaned, however they were a fantastic fielding side which led to our batting demise. The pitch was easily best away one of the season so no excuses there. To be honest on the way home I reflected with Senior how proud I felt at how we stuck at it in the field and it was weird that I felt no real dissapointment at the defeat. Why?......because the first time this season we looked a real unit and this despite the fact that we had to make 4 enforced changes everyone gave 100%.
Big thanks to Sandra for scoring and for all the guys who stepped up this week. A warning that selection is going to be tough next week, those not available this week must be aware of that.
The next three games shape the whole season as we play 3rd, 4th and 5th. It's all up to us now and how badly we want promotion!!!!!
