The previously unbeaten (so we believe) Uni Staff came to Walton on Thursday brimming with confidence and the statement that only Wymeswold had given them any worries.
We batted first and weathered some short stuff from the quickest bowler seen this year. Jason kettle seemed to struggle at first playing and missing but then found his timing and was the pick of the batsmen with 46. His main support coming from Ross Mathews and Jez Clarke, a few others only troubling the scorer by getting their names in the book. The final total 108. This was close to an average score at Walton on a Thursday night but maybe a little lower than we would have hoped but would it be enough?
With some early bounce in the pitch, Ross Mathews was told to dig it in; this he did putting the batsmen on the back foot fending some fierce deliveries away. From the other end some early long hops gave the batsmen some hope but a swift fielding change gave the bowler some security and he settled with the batsmen having to work for their runs. But work they did and they started to progress nicely and would have been looking really good but for some hungry fielding from the home side, stopping ones turning into twos and saving boundaries. One of the staff batsmen was starting to look comfortable until Jonesys first ball clattered into his middle stump. The batsmen asked if it was a slower ball, to which the reply was “nah, sheer pace” and Jason added that it was also a straight one that had been wafted at. From there the bowling and the fielding remained tight but some streaky fours, (in particular a piece of pick-esque fielding from Nick Wells saw the ball go between his legs to the boundary) kept them in the hunt until the last over. Needing boundaries, they were held to dots and singles, even losing a wicket from a superb direct hit from Reese at Long-on.
A good effort from all concerned, the Thursday team spirit living on and bringing the victory.
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08-06-2009, 02:43 PM
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