Well here we are on home turf for our final League outing and Baz actually wins the toss and opts to bowl first. Macca and Reedy open the action for us with Leybourne scoring at about 4 an over. Roachy replaces Macca after 10 overs and keeps a tight reign on the batsmen but giving away several wides. He bowls the captain for 22 in his second over – 53 for 1 off 13 and does the same to his replacement for a duck in his next – 55 for 2 off 15.
Reedy gets in on the act with a wicket maiden for his final over, bowling the other opener for 21 – 64 for 3 off 18 and Roachy strikes again bowling his third victim for 5 – 66 for 4 off 19 – things are looking promising. The next partnership steadies the ship somewhat, adding 50 in 11 overs but Oakesy makes the breakthrough thanks to an Elton catch – 116 for 5 off 30. Baz has now replaced Roachy and takes his first wicket with an LBW decision (given by Cookie :O ) – 151 for 6 off 33. He strikes twice in his 5th over, both batsmen being caught by Joey and Leybourne are now 183 for 8. We only have one more wicket to take as Leybourne could only muster 10 men and Baz takes the final wicket, a catch by Roachy and Leybourne have been dismissed for 193 in 38.5 overs.
Bowling figures:- Macca 5-1-22-0, Reedy 9-1-29-1, Roachy 9-0-33-3, Oakesy 9-1-47-1, Baz 5.5-0-48-4 and Joey 1-0-4-0. Roachy’s figures would have been even more impressive if it hadn’t been for the 21 wides Cookie called him for.
We open our batting with Jez and Shaun keeping up with the Leybourne strike rate but having put on 36 Shaun is bowled for 19 in the 8th over. Baz in at 3 deciding to have a “look” at the bowling by smacking his first ball for 4 but then restrains himself for 6 dot balls – the rest of his innings goes 4,4 dot 4, 4 dot, dot, 1 dot 6 and then out caught behind for 27 (woe betide anyone entering the dressing room then :huh: ) – 66 for 2 off 12. Oakesy joins Jez, who has batted very patiently for his 15, but he is bowled for 8 – 99 for 3 off 19 – at this stage we are well ahead of Leybourne. Macca, limping slightly, in at 5 and after scoring 5 is adjudged to have been run out when even the Leybourne players said he was well in – 124 for 4 off 22.
Jez has now started to find the boundary and records his 50 in the 25th over. Reedy in next but manages just 7 from 11 before being bowled -154 for 5 off 27. Elton now joins Jez but alas Jez perishes next over, being bowled for a fine 63 – 156 for 6 off 28. Runs required with overs remaining seem well within reach but batting is beginning to look a bit lean. Kearnsy joins Elton and they add a very useful 29 before Kearnsy is stumped for 16 – 185 for 7 off 34 – just 9 needed from 6 overs, 4 of them given to us with byes. Roachy in next, 7 ball duck, then Elton perishes LBW for 8 – double wicket maiden – 189 for 9 off 36. Joey and Tom to see us safely home but the fairy tale ending eluded us as Joey was caught for a 5 ball duck and we had gifted Leybourne a 4 run win – thank goodness this had not been a “must win” situation.
