After 5 games, 3 losses and two abandoned wasn't the ideal start for Nob Hewer's Merry Men but those 3 losses have come against the top 3 teams in the league. The fixtures were now swinging back to our favour and first up was Springfield 2s. Better availability this weekend meant there were 7 changes from last weekends hammering against Rayleigh, meanwhile there was a debut for Taidgh Kinsella.
Springfield won the toss and chose to bat, and after their openers had seen off tight opening spells from Sam Bowen & Issey Croft, it was the experience of Olly Cheeseman who removed Springfield's classy 14-year-old opener LBW. Taidgh Kinsella was brought on down the hill bowling with good pace, hostility, but most importantly accuracy and quickly removed their other opener & No.3, with balls that came back down the Totham slope. Cheesey completed his spell, as economical as ever 10-2-30-1, and Sam Bowen returned taking a sharp caught and bowled to open his account for the day. The captain brought himself on for his first spell this year and we continued to build pressure. Taidgh returned for another spell down the hill, and bowled yet another batsman, finishing with 10-1-39-3. Sam Bowen began to reap rewards of the earlier pressure as Springfields lower order struggled to get going, eventually finishing with 4/45 from his 10 overs. Springfield's innings finished on 194/9, Issey the other wicket taker in the final over to add to two difficult catches at cover from Sam's bowling.
Teas: Still BYOT, after running around after a sick puppy all morning, Thorey arrived late with a hastly gathered meal deal. Chicken Tikka & Onion Bhaji wrap, sounded odd, and proved to be. Saved by two top quality pork pies, 3/10.
Our chase started poorly, as the captain lost his off-stump second ball. But what followed was arguably our best partnership since Harry Cooper & Tommy Hawkridge against Stock 2018. Tommy Hawkridge joined Liam at the crease at 0-1 the pair then pumped 26 boundaries between them taking the score to 151/1 before Tommy eventually fell going for another six for 71 from 68 balls. You would think with just 44 runs to win & 8 wickets in hand, we should chase it pretty comfortably, but it wouldn't be GTCC without a hint of a collapse, as Fuga was given out LBW first ball, and Liam's innings ended on 79 form 76 just 10 runs later. Cailean & Sam ticked away at the total as Springfield strangely left the field back, Sam generously letting me bat for 2 balls while Cailean scored the winning runs at the other end.
So, first win of the season ticked off, Great Baddow away next week presents a great opportunity to make it 2 in 2, and I'm sure we can start to climb into mid-table safety. So far the league looks pretty tight, with just 30 points separating bottom to 4th. We still need to work hard for every point available but unlike 2019 the team has a much better spirit looking ahead.
MOM: The 151 partnership between Liam & Tommy.
