2nd Team – League Fixtures
2nd May Shelf/Northowram Hedge Top (A)
A crazy game of cricket on the first weekend of May away at Shelf/Northowram Hedge Top as our 2XI went from having a strong stranglehold on the game to losing by 52 runs. In the first 20 overs of the game, we had our hosts for the day in all kinds of bother, not so much in terms of wickets taken, but some tight bowling, even with a short boundary on one side of the ground, meant that they were only going at 2.5/3 runs per over. Simon, executor in chief with 2 for 22 from his 14 overs. Unfortunately, cricket can be a funny (and cruel) game and the opposition numbers 7 and 8 faced 21 balls between them and scored 70 runs. This really accelerated their scorecard to beyond 200, when we thought we’d be chasing 150/160. Matty and Rob with two wickets a piece with Tyson taking three wickets in 15 balls at the end of the Hedge Top innings, meaning we’d be chasing 219 to win. A below par score on a ground of that size, especially with the short boundary.
Unfortunately, we lost a wicket in in the first over and wickets then continued to fall at regular intervals, but we remained up with the required run rate. A 54-run partnership between Jonathan and Dave steadied the ship after we’d been reduced to 44-3, but with Jonathan, Richard and Rohit the only players to make double figure scores, we were well short in the end with Dave left unbeaten on 53 not out at the end of the game.
9th May – Greetland (H)
When your side collates six ducks in one innings, you know you’re not going to have the greatest of days. And so that proved as a weakened 2XI fell to Greetland to suffer their fourth league defeat in the row and most definitely leave us looking upwards in the league table at this early part of the season. A few missed chances when we were out in the field on a desperately cold May afternoon meant that we were chasing 60 or so more than we should have been, but that’s cricket. Not overly blessed with bowling options. In a reduced over game, Hampy took a couple of wickets from his 13 over spell with Mike the pick of the SBCI bowlers with 2 for 49, bowling leg spin with a ball that needed a lot of drying in between deliveries. The extremely occasional filth of Dave had three wickets in one over and then his next two overs went for 23 as Greetland racked up the runs. Skipper for the day Keast with the only other wicket to fall.
In reply, most welcome half-centuries aside from Mark and Mike, then there wasn’t a great deal to write home about as only Jonathan (15) and Simon (22*) recorded double figure scores as we slipped from 111-3 to 124-7 and then from 164-8 to 166 all out. Lovely to see Mark and Mike in the runs and they each recorded their first half-centuries of the season.
16th May – Mount (A)
Unsure as to where to start to unpick our visit to Mount CC on 16th May. It was cold, it was wet, we possibly shouldn’t have started our reply (chasing a revised target of 153 in 30 overs) as it was raining, but it’s another defeat for the 2XI. Highlight of the day was the senior cricket debut for Dylan Larkin, who fielded extremely well and scored 4 runs against some quality opposition bowling. Well done, Dylan. On an interesting and very green wicket, we won the toss and unsurprisingly, elected to bowl. Rob was the pick of the bowlers with 4 for 75 as Mount built on the strong start given to them by their top order. Wickets also for Simon, Tyson and Aqeel with Rohit helping Aqeel to his wicket with a sharp bit of work behind the stumps.
Only five players made it into double figure scores when we batted, not helped by the inclement weather and an outfield that would have been more suited to a rugby field than a cricket pitch, as we limped to 100 for 9 in our 30 overs for another disappointing day at the office.
23rd May – Upper Hopton(H)
A disciplined performance both with the bat and ball saw us gain our first league win of the season at the 6th time of asking with a hard fought and narrow win over Upper Hopton. Skipper Illingworth maintained his 100% win record with regards to the toss, but for the first time this season elected to bat on a lovely spring day up at the Astleys. Richard Gould (70) was the mainstay of our innings with useful contributions from Tyson (21) and Liam (36*) as we battled hard to reach 162 for 7 off our 45 overs against a very handy Upper Hopton bowling unit. We are also blessed with our own more than useful bowling attack and Hampy and the captain kept it tight for the first 28 overs of the innings without the rewards their bowling deserved. Aqeel and Rob saw us over the line taking 5 Upper Hopton wickets between them for just 28 runs. Some decent footwork from Jonathan gave us a run out and Keasty also effected a run out to get rid of their set batter, who might have been in a position to get our guesst for the day to an even closer position than they finished on, as we snook home by 9 runs.
30th May – Bradshaw (H)
We made it back-to-back wins in our final league match of May as we chased down Bradshaw’s 224 inside 40 overs to give us a much-needed boost going into the Crossley Shield game on the following day. It was very much youngsters to the fore with the ball and the not so young ones with the bat that brought us the victory. Fielding first, our guests for the day got off to a flyer and were going at seven runs an over as their opener took full advantage of being dropped on at least five separate occasions to make 114. Tyson bowled well without reward and whilst Rob had four wickets, it was Jack and Lucas who stole the bowling headlines. They bowled 12 overs between them, only going for 51 runs at a time when the Bradshaw opener was hitting the ball to all parts. They, along with some good ground fielding, managed to bring the run rate down and with wickets falling at regular intervals (142-3 to 219-9) we knew we’d be in with a chance of winning the match, especially with the outfield being really quick. A further mention to Jack who took two really good catches to help Rob get to his four wicket haul.
Despite the 225 runs needed for victory, we knocked these off with the minimum of fuss, losing only two wickets. Mark and Jonathan each recorded fabulous half-centuries as we kept up with the run rate, only losing our first wicket when the score was on 154. Jonathan’s was the second and final wicket to fall with 18 runs required. Liam and Tony saw us safely over the line with the former smashing 43 from 31 balls to seal the deal with wickets in hand and 38 balls left of the match.
