Academy Survival Weekend...part 1!

Part 1....Saturday, saw the academy away at Maltby in the 1st game of a double headed weekend, knowing 2 wins would make survival certain. With the skipper away at a 100th birthday (he looks good for that age!), Simmo was back in charge. Vice skipper Lister left in charge to sort transport, warm up and win the toss! Into the field on a windy cold day.
The ever experienced Ian Davey took the new cherry, wind behind/helping his in-swing, and was on the mark straight away, with good flight and guile. T Hancock came in from the other end, looking every bit like a good 1st team bowler in the very near future, causing problems straight away. 1st strike went to T, having just being snicked down through 3rd slip, bowled the classic in swinging Yorker to hit bottom of off stump...far too good a ball for his few years as a bowler! This was the start of his charge, getting a 2nd snaffled by Simmo at 2nd slip. Davey like a true pro bounded in for 10 over’s, very economical and very unlike not to get any wickets...even with his extremely well “disguised” slower ball...can you bowl a slower ball when you don’t have a quicker ball?? T came to the end of his 5 over spell, replaced by a different looking Daniel Walton.....must have been the light making his hair look brown?? The brown fox had problems “gripping the newer ball!” and he short spell, proved unsuccessful. On came the new spin twins, Muralister and Ben “Stuart” fielding at the other. The runs dried up quickly with the ball drifting in the strong breeze, and turning a long way, but slowly, and dampish deck. Jonny “Dobby” showed good potential and pouched 2 down leg side off Murrili...both given out by the umpire without raising his finger, but just nodding his head, then waving the batter off! Runs were proving hard to come by, with wickets slowly ticking along. At 7 down, the 2 men at the crease employed a new tactic, and starting hit the ball to the boundary! The odd bad ball, along with some good clean hitting, boasted the maltby score towards the end. T came back on to do more damage, with another good 5 over spell, ending up with 4 for...his best senior figure to date! Well done fella! Maltby ending 179-9, with a very close run out not given on the last ball...could yet prove crucial! Murrili ended up with a good 3 for too. Highlight of the 1st half, was provided by our experienced opening bowler...after bowling a good deliver, blocked, but still creeping towards the stumps, the batter stopped it with his bat...followed by a several large appeal from Davey, and then a “why isn’t that out??”...to which the reply came “he’s allowed to do that”.
Good tea enjoyed by all.
Priestley and Winter opened the batting, but with the 2 opening bowlers giving nothing to hit, and bowling long spells, the score board only ticked over slowly, eventually claiming both openers who battled hard for little reward off the bat. The brown haired Walton dug in and batted in an attacking but safe manner, reached a very well deserved 50. Lister supported him well, but both eventually fell, Danny boy trying the most enormous heave possible! With 14 over left, score 80 odd for 4, change in batting order, and weekend skipper into the middle, with a sudden change of plan hitting his 2nd ball for 6, it was now game on. Josh “muscles” Jones seemed to take this as his mark to start playing his shots too, just more graceful than Simmo, who eventually holed out at cow corner, just for a change this year, for 26 off 17 balls. Callis joined Muscles at in the middle and also got on with the game, both picking gaps and running well. Priesters kept everyone calm and explained how it was only a run a ball, then helped the youth try and count in down with their fingers and toes!30 off 30 balls, became 10 off 10, then Callis missed out on a full bunger thinking about a paddle sweep?? Fiddler came in and found a leg bye getting the big man back on strike. A 4 through midwicket was greeted with a massive cheer, followed by a 1 off the last ball, showed cricket wisdom way beyond his years! 3 off the last over, with Josh on strike, momentum with us, far too easy for josh who crunched the ball through the covers to take us home with balls to spare, and earn himself another 60ish not out! Josh Muscles Jones hero of the moment!
A great win, a good team effort, and an excellent example of how to chase a score down.
Without the run out on the last ball of their innings, and with other results in the league, meaning we need 1 point on the Sunday at home to Warmsworth to be sure we stay up. Early to bed for the youths ready for the big day!!
Part 2 to follow!