The game from the umpire's perspective ……

Huncote won the toss and elected to bat… About time a Huncote captain realised, when in doubt bat first especially with good wickets. (The days have gone when you could bat second, wimp to a draw and share the points).

All team sheets are printed with Ian Crossley as no. 1, and true to form, in he trotted supported by Swords. Ian knocked 46 before being caught by Scott (just released by the county). The catch was superb, out in the deep, full stretch, diving to his left, caught in one hand.

The warning bells were sounded. This young side from Market Harborough were superb in the field. Fast to the ball, flat throws and with out exception all returns over the stumps. It seems that one or two were county level and four or five district level. They are second in the Everards league premier, happy to have a game, but it was already clear that their management were using the game to give players exposure and practice.

Mainly spin being bowled, most of our batsman got to double figures, with Matty Adcock relieved to hit 17 after a dismal start to the season. By now Tim Kirby  was sitting glum in the pavilion, he had not wanted to bowl today but Frazer Hubbard had still put him in at number 10. He walked in, limp shot….run out….Huncote all out for 150.

Tea

Matty Adcock opened the bowling for us, a little pace shown, and he wasn't that bad. Their batting was as a good as their fielding and it was up to them when they wanted to close the game.

Cameo overs from Danny Adcock and Swords kept life interesting, but to no avail…all over in the 34th over.

A good side to play, professional, fit and talented. Let's hope in a few years we could emulate them.

DK

Another View:-

The day started well when 1st time captain, Frazer Hubbard, won the toss and elected to bat. The opening partnership of Max Swords and Ian Crossley made an impressive start until swords was bowled on 13, Crossley carried on to make a good 48 but was awesomely caught by a machine of a fielder who also made 2 direct hits to run out Alan Sommer and Tim Kirby. Good innings for Matty Adcock who made his first good score of the season with 17 and innings of 19 from Danny Wilson and Danny Adcock meant that Huncote struggled to 150 all out.

Opening with two youngsters showed that Market Harborough Oracles expected to win easy, the opening bowlers, J W Smith and Matty Adcock, kept it tight with a run out by Adders before Tim Kirby replaced him bowling spin. After Tim was dispatched for two six's in consecutive overs he changed to his normal pace bowling but this did not faze the batsmen who still hit Tim for another six. TK then got into the batsmen and a controversial LBW appeal was given and Huncote seemed to have revived themselves and they managed two more wickets from super, super Max Swords spin bowling, one caught by Adders in covers and the other saw Silk get revenge on his catcher at cow corner. But even with the two wickets down Huncote felt they couldn't win with Harborough's inform number 2 at the crease, so when George "Flintoff" Crossley managed to bowl him every one started to believe again.

George bowled a good spell, but was replaced by Danny Adcock and when a no ball from his first delivery was hit for four every one had lost hope. Then a flurry of wickets left Danny on a hat trick and the Oracles seven down. With nine overs to go Huncote needed three wickets but with only fourteen runs to play with. After a good over from Chris Farmboy, conceding only 5 runs, the Oracles needed 9 with plenty of over's remaining. Danny then got out the new left handed bat, with an LBW decision. This left Huncote needing two wickets for seven runs. The new batsman saw off the remainder of Danny's over and the more experienced batsman at the crease managed to ease the runs off Farmboys next over.

Market Harborough Oracles managed to win by two wickets. It was an exciting game enjoyed by all.  My MOM was Matty Adcock, for all his help.

With special thanks to a new and exciting umpire, from Huncote's cricket training academy, Dave Trigger Kirby.

By Frazed And Confused.

Man of the Match- Ian Crossley

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