Bishop and Rooke Check Mate Totley in Four

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Published by sealy on

Date: 
6 Aug 2011 (All day)
Key performances: 
Harry Liver 5-30
Owen Bishop 74
Ben Rooke 65

Be fair .....that headline is almost as good as the result. Totley 210 ao / 4ths 211 for 4
Away again in the third division on a ground that has seen better days. Another appalling track...I'll stop there.
Won the toss and put them in but no quick inroads as Totley's seasoned openers put on about 80. Rookey, Stevo, Harry and Varls all came close before Harry bowling to the Liverliest (don't you like that??)end finally bounced out the pair as they flailed to Sealy, secure under the high ball. Priesters (R.) bowled a decent spell. The ground fielding on a lightning fast dust bowl was tremendous and Totley finally went aerial. Rookey returned and he and Sealy picked up wickets even if the ball had pieces of the A61 embedded in it. Harry mopped up the final 2 to claim his second fivefer of the season and give us a chance of a Max. Although we conceded 210 the second half was a decent effort as they were set for about 250 at one point.
Bowling and fielding through a deafening Meatloaf Tribute band followed by a Lonnie Donnegan Tribute and a Classic Rock Covers Act on the neighbouring field was hard going though running in to a ZZTop riff put some swagger in to Harry (Mullet) Liver.
After tea Bish and Varls carried on from last week giving us a steady start. We were rather below the 5 an over needed though. Fortunately Rookey upped the ante and Owen increased the aggression too. Totley suffered under the pressure and three or four "big" overs brought the rate down to about 4.
These two young men were brilliant, both registered their third fifty of the season in a stand of 131. After they perished Harry and Sam Oates supported by Josh at the death saw us home comfortably by 6 wickets with 15 balls to spare.
We have knocked off 398 for 7 in the last two weeks and now lie joint second with three to play.
Having the priviledge to captain these lads in these back to back victories has given me as much satisfaction as winning titles in the First Division back in the day. They are a credit to themselves and the club.