Saturday July 31st 2021

A disappointing week for our teams with only the 3rd XI securing a win, the 2nd team holding out for a losing draw but the 1st XI and 4th XI being beaten.

Being asked to bat first 1st XI, skipper Ben Shaw, after his majestic innings last week, and Savin Perera opened the batting against a very pacey Cavaliers attack. 36 was on the board before the first wicket fell but there then followed a collapse down to 59 for 5 and suddenly a score of under 100 looked a distinct possibility. Paldip Sidhu, who was top scorer with 37, and Josh Wilson then put together a good partnership of 35 and this was followed by an all too brief spike in the run rate as Mav Pamphile hit a cameo 23 off 14 balls. The innings closed as the last wicket fell in the 46th over with the score on 148. The reply from the Cavaliers was little more than a procession as they reached their target with 8 wickets and almost 20 overs in hand. The 1st XI remain in 10th place in the NPL with games on both Saturday and Sunday for the next two weeks.

The 2nd XI took on 2nd placed Kimberley at The Strand and asked their visitors to bat first only to see them pile up just over 300 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. Alex Lawrence took the most wickets with 3 for 70 and debutant Matt Hill claimed 2 for 35. With the reply at 7 for 3 the game looked to be done and dusted but some concentrated batting from Andrew Mooney 64, his first 50 for the 2s, with 9 4s, skipper Ali Lee 54, his first league 50, with 4 4s and 4 6s, a rapid unbeaten 34 from Mason Tolley with 8 4s and 30 from Alex Lawrence took the score up to 220 for 7 wickets from the full 48 overs and gave the determined 2s a well deserved losing draw and 9 points to leave them in 8th place in the league.

The 3rds made the trip to Burnt Stump Park to take on the league’s bottom side Ravenshead who have recorded only one win so far this season. After deciding to field first the 3s set the ground alight with a great all round bowling performance that saw skipper Chas Simkiss take 3 for 15, Tom Shields 2 for 12 and James Binnie 2 for 30. All the other bowlers picked up wickets with one each for Harjit Singh (who only conceded 8 runs from his 6 overs), Ben Goodlass and Peter Bateman. The home side were dismissed for 116 and the victory came pretty quickly after only 26 overs with Brendan Ryan, making his 3rd XI debut, top scoring with an unbeaten 34, Patrick Ryan hitting 27, supported by Pete Bateman 23 and, making a very welcome return to the game, Martin Shoemaker with 22 not out. The full 20 point win moves the team up to second in Division H of the league.

At the University the 4th XI took on second placed Long Eaton who decided to bat first after winning the toss. They recovered well from being 72 for 6 wickets at one stage to reach 154 for 8 with wickets being shared around between Sam Henson, returning after injury, with 3 for 35, Charlie Crofts 2 for 27 and one wicket each for Joe Gibson, Zail Gill and Lucas Rhodes (his 50th 4th XI wicket). The reply started badly with both openers being dismissed cheaply, Carl Knight being run out and then skipper Sam Randall falling to leave the score at 21 for 2. A lot was then resting on the shoulders of Finlay Meakin to take the team forward but he was desperately unfortunate to be caught out for 37. Wickets then continued to fall on the bounce before the team were dismissed after reaching 100. The team remain at the foot of the league but should take pride in their efforts and in the way they conduct themselves.

Graham Shaw