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Huncote got their league campaign going after a convincing 39 run win in their first home game of the season. A few changes were made from the side which lost last week: DK, Larry & Frazer all replaced by Mitch, Eddie, Geoff and Paul Knibbs. For the second week in a row TK lost the toss and was put into bat, back from his second ball duck the week before Jamie showed good character in facing the first ball again. This time the bowling was less than good and 3 wides and a single made up the first over, the second over wasn't much better with two runs coming from it both extras. Then in the third over Jamie hit an uncharacteristic four with a short ball being dispatched for four in front of square, meanwhile the other bowler had found his line and bowled two maidens in a row. Matt then hit his first six of the game a weak pull shot just made it over the boundary and the innings was looking like gathering some momentum. One run from the following over followed by a big six from Matt proved to be the end of that bowler for now after being hit for 23 runs off 4 overs. The new bowler was tight and kept Matt at bay for 4 overs all maidens then in the 14th over the new bowler coming down the hill trapped Jamie LBW, Jamie was trying to pull a ball which never bounced and Stan raised the dreaded finger out for 8. In came Al and four overs later he was on his way back after only adding two runs to the total, he top edged a sweep straight up in the air and their stumper took a comfortable catch. Next was the turn of the returning stumper Mitch. Matt was scoring again now and after two good looking fours from Mitch, he tried one too many shots and was caught an mid off for 8. With a mini collapse on the cards the skipper TK came in to join Matt, after a little chat and only a few overs till drinks Matt suggested we stay here till the end or at least till drinks. That was the kiss of death for Swordsy who the over before tea was stumped for the second game in a row. With the score now on 60 - 4 a promising start looked like being ruined by some bad shots. Eddie came in to join TK with the job of getting the scoreboard going again, a few slow overs followed before Eddie hit a lovely cut for four. This seemed to trigger TK into life and with a change of bowling from the bottom end, with their skipper coming on, TK who was on 1, hit a six which filled him with confidence. After 28 overs the score was 65 for 4, in the next 7 overs TK and Eddie put on 47 runs with fours being hit all over the ground. Then Eddie tried one too many cuts and hit the ball straight to cover who took a juggling catch, Eddie gone for 18. Stan came in to join the skipper and 38 more runs were put on before TK went for one too many shots and missed the ball to see his bails dislodged for 46. A good captains innings to get the team on the way to a good total. PK went in and him and Stan took the score up to 171 off of the 47 overs. A good all round batting performance, putting any doubts from last week out of the mind. Huncote went out to bowl with Stan off the field due to illness so Frazer took his place, the boys looked confident after getting a good total to defend. The first six overs went by with out much action just the score going on at 3 runs an over. Somner bowled down the hill and Knibbsy up the hill, then in the 7th over a flick off the legs down to fine leg the batsman came back for two but a good throw from Knibbsy had the batsman short of his ground. Then in the next over Knibbsy who was having problems with no balls clean bowled their number 3 before getting their number 4 caught by Matt first ball. With spirits high fielders were sharp and bowlers charging in with all their effort, but the new batsman looked good and 24 runs were scored in 6 overs before the Knibbster struck again bowling the opener for 17. It wasn't long before a change of bowling Eddie replaced Knibbsy from the bottom end and with Somner looking tidy from the top not much was being given away. Eddie started with a maiden and in his second over went one better with a wicket maiden the number 5 batsman trying to sweep only managed to lob the ball over Mitch but alert as ever Al Sommer swooped round the back to take a good catch. Then a few overs later their best batsman tried to cut Eddie only to find the big hands of PK ready to gobble up the catch to send any Cosby chances of winning out of the window. Then followed an annoying partnership lasting 12 overs going along at 2 an over. Somner who had come on for a two over blast from the top was replaced by Knibbsy and the skipper came on from the bottom for the last 6 overs of the match. Finally in the 39th over Knibbsy broke the deadlock with a double wicket maiden the first was trapped LBW and the second bowled to secure a 5 wicket haul for the Knibbster. For the last few overs nearly all the fielders were gathered round the bat, the game was not in the 42nd over with Mitch, Al, Geoff, Stan, PK, Matt, Eddie, Jamie & Somner all gathered round the bat and TK bowling the batsman didn't look confident. The first team were back and watching cheering every ball. The over started with a dot ball then a single to get the lesser batsman on strike, a sharp chance eluded PK and the batsman ran a two another two was achieved with a push into the legside before a dot ball. The last ball of the penultimate over TK charged in and slipped in a well disguised slower ball, the batsman didn't pick it and the middle stump was hit. Huncote had won and everyone was cheering and congratulating each other. This was a good all round team performance but with three key players missing next week the game away to Ivanoe looks like a tough encounter.
Huncote Innings
Did not bat : Paul Knibbs, Geoff Farmer, Carl Sommers. Huncote Bowling
Catches : Al Sommer, Matty Swords, Peter Kirby Cosby II CC 132 ALL OUT |