The Northern Gateway indoor side finally got up and running this weekend with a fixture against Ardleigh. Having worked hard all week for a side, Tim's decision for a dodgy curry the night before played havoc, and ended in RK driving back from Derby to play, with Yeatsey, the two Vales, JH and the one arm bandit Pooky making up the rest of the side.
After being invited to bat with only 2 players present, a full compliment just made it in time with JH and RK opening up. The first over was made up of a series of wides, the second not much better but allowed JH to use the willow to score a few. The third saw him hit back to back sixes, before a misjudgement saw RK run out without scoring, and Mr Vale follow bowled first ball, with Jonny then retiring at the end of the over to leave the score 48-2 from 3, and Yeatsey now batting with Ed. Yeatsey hit the ball hard, not always the best ploy indoors, and the scoring slowed with a couple of LBW shouts turned down. Yeatsey added a 6 before being adjudged caught behind, and in walked the big show. From ball one he hit gaps, and only occasionally moaned about his poorly wrist. Ed was lost to the third LBW shout, and with JH returning then removed quickly, responsibility was left solely on Pook.
The one armed man batted cleverly, using the sweep (indoor shot only pook!) To good effect to manoeuvre the field. Then the moment of the evening, Pook launched at one, and turned round crying about his boo boo, with JH trying to call him through for the run, left stranded in the middle of the pitch. As the good ship Hewer began to come about, all the fielder had to do was run in and remove the bails, he did the first bit, but decided a throw from a yard was a good idea, and missed! Pook made Ardleigh pay, and in going past 50, helped us to a total of 136.
Tea Rating: no teas in indoor cricket, highly disappointing, the pre match roast and sticky toffee pudding was brilliant, but slightly regretted after being Pooks runner!
First ball in the field, chopped on the floor to JH, clean pick up, flick to Pook keeping and bails dislodged for a run out, perfect start! From here we bowled well, restricting Ardleigh to 60 from 6, and as both batsmen retired, we had our chance. Further overs from JH going for 2, and Ed for 6, helped our cause. With 49 required from 3 overs, the game really was ours, but with Mr Vale taking a wicket with his first ball of his second over, the new bat took 2 sixes to aid his teams chances. A run out from RK, and a further wicket from Yeates, saw the Ardleigh opener return, toy with the fielders on the back wall with 2 more sixes and very much game on! Ed took the last over, and 3s didn't looks like they would get Ardleigh there, but with a blood incident, and a suspicious wide, suddenly the equation had got down to 1 from 1, which was easily got.
A new format for some playing and a couple of lessons to learn, 49 from 3 shouldn't have been doable, but we head to the next game in a few weeks
