Great Totham were in good spirits when they won the toss for the first time this season & chose to bowl. James Hay & John Chadwick opened up & despite both being hit for a 6 apiece, restricted the opening batsmen within the first 4 overs. Not only that, but also 31-3, all catches, after 4 overs was an excellent start. The next over saw the first bowl of the season for the returning Olly Cheeseman, who had lost none of his skills, despite his wonky finger, then James Pook, who both took a wicket each. Hay & Chadwick finished their overs, Cheeseman & Pook bowled most of theirs & Woodham Mortimer were struggling, in the 70s with one over to go. However, after 11 overs of excellent, tight bowling Pooky decided to make a game of it. Following advice from wicket-keeper Nick Phillips, Pooky pitched the ball up just outside off stump a few times. Only later did it emerge that the communication bewteen bowler & wicket-keeper was misunderstood, but by this time Woodham Mortimer had reached 95.
Great Totham came out to bat with confidence. Phillips, Joshua Chadwick & Pook had scored 169 runs this season & not been out once. But 13-3, with all 3 top batsmen out, did not bode well for the rest of the innings. John Chadwick managed to bat properly for the first time & with James Hay got the score into the 40s before trying to hit to the boundary only to find the bowler's hands. Olly Cheeseman then showed why he is not just a bowler, hitting an excellent 33 runs, to get the team to 79, only losing by 16 runs. Despite the disappointment of losing, it was difficult facing the quality of spin bowling that Woodham Mortimer employed & Great Totham were pleased that the bowling & fielding they showed were much improved.
No game next weekend, so a chance to watch the test match.
