Bossingham called correctly and put the Wood into bat and we opened with Gee and Big J (brother of Big T). They got us off to a good start, hitting several boundaries, before Big J was bowled in the 6th over for 12 – 22 for 1 – bringing Shaun to the crease. This proved to be a very successful partnership, adding 78 to the score in 15 overs, but alas Gee was the next to go, caught in the slips for 45 – 100 for 2 off 21. Shaun did not last much longer being adjudged LBW for 49 two overs later (definitely jug avoidance by the pair of them ) – 114 for 3 off 23. This left Tom and Kearnsy at the crease, Tom dropping anchor while Kearnsy hit out as much as he was able. Tom perished first, being caught for 3 and we were now 121 for 4 off 29.
Blackadder up next but he was also caught having added 6 to the score – 129 for 5 off 33. Big T joined Kearnsy and this pair had added 18 in 2 overs when Kearnsy was caught behind for 21 – 157 for 6 off 35. Moxo in at no.8 hitting the 4th ball faced for a boundary (duck avoided again ) but Big T was bowled for 12 (obviously not wanting to outdo his brother!) – 163 for 7 off 36. Rob had faced 6 balls for his 3 before being caught next over – 169 for 8 off 37. This brought in a long absent Woodie (“Leeds” Tumber) to join Moxo and apart from a “no-yes-no” run out chance when Tumber set off was sent back, slipped, sprawled and put off the keeper so he missed the ball this pair saw us home, finishing 21 and 8 not out respectively. The Wood finished on 190 for 8 off their 40 overs – a very respectable total for the Saturday team, especially as we had been bowled out for 38, chasing 261, when we visited them earlier in the season .
With carnage happening at Lords, could the Wood produce something similar on home soil? We started well with Tumber and Big T, Tumber taking a wicket courtesy of a Moxo catch in his second over – 10 for 1 off 3. This same combination accounted for the second wicket to fall – 26 for 2 off 9, bringing their captain, Raines, to the crease and a bowling change – Tom taking over from Tumber. This 3rd wicket partnership added 64 to the total, having survived several catching chances and a 2nd bowling change (Gee on for Big T) and it was Gee who struck with a caught and bowled, not wanting to see another chance go down – 90 for 3 off 22. Blackadder took over from Tom and the scoring rate started to rise when Gee claimed the only other wicket to fall, a Moxo stumping – 128 for 4 off 28. Although several other bowlers were tried and Tumber was brought back on we were unable to dislodge either batsman and they saw Bossingham home in 37.1 overs – Raines hitting the winning run off Shaun’s only ball, finishing not out on 80. A far more competitive match than last time, with some decent bowling figures – Tumber – 7-1-28-2, Big T – 8-2-31-0, Tom – 4-0-21-0, and Gee – 8-0-27-2, well done to all concerned.
