As the sun appeared from behind the clouds, and the covers were removed from the wicket, a strange feeling of fair, but competitive, play soared over the home of Woodhouse Eaves CC(A). With Huncote top and Woodhouse not far behind, both sides were determined to get the result. Ian Crossley, Huncote skipper, was away so Tim Kirby was in charge. Unfortunately he lost the toss, but was happy to bat first on a great looking pitch with not much distance to the rope.

Back from the wilderness was Max Power Swords, and following a well observed minutes silence for the sad loss of a former Woodhouse player, Swords was to be found opening with Tim Kirby. Oliver and Harding bowled the first two overs immaculately, and the third saw Swords find a faint knick to the keeper. The umpire was unsure, but Max knew he was out and wandered off in search of a cuddly friend. No runs on the board and Oliver already celebrating a wicket.

The bowling was still lively, and Schutz had some lucky escapes, before smashing a great shot through the covers. Thoughts of a blockbuster innings were dashed when Harding ripped one, which took the bails from Mr Schutz's stumps. Kirby at the other end looked solid and Haroon Khawaja joined him. Kirby was soon off the mark with a slightly miss timed 6, but was rewarded for going through with the shot when Harding has deceived him with the slower ball. Oliver though soon struck again, as Harding took a smart catch to remove Khawaja for 2.

Brother Pete joined Tim Kirby, and the junior sibling, and opening bat, started to find some boundaries. Pete Kirby looked solid in defence before a terrible mix up saw him stranded, run out for just 2 runs. 37 for 4 and things looking bleak. What happened then certainly changed the complexion of this match, and possibly the season. The new ball was still hard, and causing some problems, so new batsmen James Brewin, decided to change that by depositing the ball somewhere the other side of Leicester. Oliver did not know what had hit him, as shot after shot flew from the middle of Brewin's Kahoona.

One 6 may still be travelling now as Brewin dispatched boundary after boundary, and 18 balls into his innings the visitors were applauding a fantastic, defiant 50. Six 4s and five 6s, but some excellent fielding from Nick Collins, saw Brewin run out for his first attempted running runs. With Tim Kirby still holding firm, Brewin's remarkable innings saw the game turned firmly on its head. The match ball was lost (so was spare number 1 and 2) and Woodhouse were on the back foot with the score well past 100. Mitch Hubbard soon found his stride after some close calls, and the two batsmen now looked to find a big score. Kirby reached his fifty with some fine shots, and Hubbard too was looking set.

Kirby was next to go, for an excellent 80 runs, caught in the deep by Waller off the bowling of Brett Collins. A superb innings by the stand in skipper, putting his side in a great position. Driver hit a lovely four as Hubbard passed a superb 50. Oliver came back to remove Driver for 10, as Mitch finished 57 not out, Adcock run out for 1 off the last ball. 238-8 a decent score and the game was in the balance.

It was now up to the Huncote bowlers and fielders to get the result they needed, but Woodhouse are an excellent outfit and had other ideas. Hubbard dropped a sharp chance off the bowling of Kirby, as Clarke and Godsi looked to get the home team off to a good start. Some nice shots early on saw the scoreboard starting to tick, and something special was needed. It was well worth the weight when it came. Smith was bowling excellently and found a thick outside edge of Godsi's bat and the ball flew high over Swords' head in the gully. The energetic Power defied two knee operations and several weeks without a game to take off and snatch a 1 handed catch high in the air. Fantastic stuff and Huncote right in with a shout.

Number 3 was the danger man, Nick Collins. By now Tim Kirby was steaming in and having little luck, beating the bat on several occasions, and Collins first knicked one past second slip and then drove gloriously through the covers for 4. The field was changed and Swords went from hero to zero (well not quite) as a very tough chance low to his left was spilled. Collins the man to escape and Kirby was cursing his luck again. Very difficult but another brave effort from the Power.

Collins started to look in great touch and a break through was needed. Sommer replaced Kirby who was tiring after his mammoth innings, but Smith struck again as Hubbard took a simple catch off a skied top edge from Clarke. Game on and the two Collins brothers together. Sommer was bowling tightly, and although Nick was scoring well Brett started to look frustrated as Hubbard moved up to the stumps. This proved the case as Sommer bowled him for 12. Nick Collins was keeping the run chase in check and Smith was bowling with good control. A change in pace was the next idea for the visitors, and the skipper was back, with Kirby bowling some off spin. This seemed to do the trick as Waller was caught and bowled for 5. Collins had other ideas though and two huge sixes meant Tim Kirby reverted to his normal action.

Rees was adding good support for Collins, and Sommer was still bowling solidly from the other end. The free scoring right-hander was approaching his hundred when Driver pouched a sharp catch at midwicket, Collins gone for 91, and Sommer again the bowler. Harding kept the runs flowing, as Tim Kirby took another breather, replaced by Wayne Smith. This had the desired effect as Woodhouse, needed around 9 an over, had Rees caught behind. Simpson joined Harding with 4 overs to go, but Sommer soon struck again bowling the home skipper for just 4.

Two overs to go, Oliver and Harding against Sommer and Smith. 23 needed and the game in the balance with Woodhouse 7 wickets down. Sommer was bowling tightly and giving little away, the first five balls going for just 4 runs. Then Oliver unleashed a big 6 over cover and Wayne Smith was left saying "I really don't need that……."

13 off the last over, and a great game was going down to the wire. The field was spread, most protecting the short legside rope. Smith bowled excellently and neither of the two batsmen could get him away with any conviction, a couple of leg byes and a run later and the game finished with Woodhouse stranded 9 short, with 3 wickets in hand. A cracking game and man of the match has to go to Wayne Smith, who bowled superbly throughout, and held his nerve well at the death.

A Woodhouse Perspective (by Mr B. Harding):-

The senior league division one top of the table clash between Woodhouse and Huncote at the WECCA ended in a tight draw on Saturday. Kirby, Brewin and Hubbard Jnr. did the damage for Huncote, and Nick Collins was once more in glorious form for Woodhouse.

On another good batting track at the WECCA, Huncote struggled early as the new ball nipped around in the air and off the seam. Swords and Schutz both went early, and Khawaja was given a life at slip, but fell when he repeated the dose. P Kirby's lean spell continued, a break down in brotherly relations ending his resistance.

That brought Brewin to the crease, and a dizzying spell of hitting that only lasted 18 balls, but brought 55 runs and was probably noticed on radar at East Midlands Airport, followed. After Brewin's demise, another run out victim from some sharp Woodhouse fielding, Tim Kirby (80) and M Hubbard (57) kept up the pace with some well placed aggression, taking Huncote to a challenging 238-8.

Chasing just over 5 an over, some tight Huncote bowling kept the Woodhouse batsmen in check. Godsi departed to a stunning catch from Swords, which brought the inform Nick Collins to the crease.

Collins quickly upped the rate, but Woodhouse continued to lose wickets at crucial times. Rees provided Collins with sturdy support, but the game was still in the balance as the run rate crept up to eight an over.

Collins fell for an excellent 91, and despite the best efforts of Rees, Harding and Oliver, Woodhouse fell nine short thanks to some excellent bowling from Wayne Smith. Smith's two overs at the death cost just three runs for one wicket.

Man of the Match- Wayne Smith

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