Skipper Driver Won the toss and elected to bowl first. There was a harsh northerly wind hitting the Birstall park but with the sun shining down the team was in good spirits. The New young opening bowling partnership of Crossley and Swann took on the experience of Clapham and Jones who had a reputation of always scoring half centuries against the side. Both openers rarely looked troubled and started hitting a few boundaries making use the lightening fast outfield. Sideshow who was struggling with his line and length was replaced by JW who proceeded to bamboozle the two openers with his banana and boomerang balls obviously developed over the winter.

Clapham fortunately for the fielding side had to retire early after scoring 38 good runs including 6 fours. H Carnan joined Jones at the crease at continued ticking the board over. The introduction of Kev Dyke into the attack signalled the first official wicket bowling H Carnan for 28. Tinbergen soon departed in the same fashion for 0. Jones was still there however and as tradition stated he passed the fifty mark. Dyke continued on his way however claiming the wickets of Walker (15) and Merry (3) thanks to a brilliant catch from Crossley in the deep stopping a certain 6. The introduction of Driver into the attack saw the fall of Jones chipping one round the corner where Kev was waiting to take a good low catch.

The catcher turned hero as he claimed his fifth wicket of the afternoon, his first five-wicket haul for Huncote, bowling Findley for 0. A few more runs were added Jex adding 8 and S Carnan 7 before both departed back to the clubhouse after being bowled by Driver. The two batsmen at the end finishing 1 not out, leaving Birstall 171 for 9 wickets of their allotted 45 overs. After a bad start Huncote were grateful for the bowling of Dyke and Driver, who finished with 3 wickets, stopping Birstall going on to get an even bigger score. Also well done to Ishan who bowled well on his Huncote debut.

Tea was taken and another new opening partnership of Knibbs and McEntee took to the field and looked solid knocking the ball around for singles and finding the boundary now and again. This was until the younger of the two skied one to the waiting hands of Clapham at mid-on for Merry’s first wicket of the day. Still a good solid platform to work on as Liam trudged back to the changing rooms having scored 14. Sir Alan Sommer entered the arena looked comfortable hitting a couple of boundaries. Knibbs was next to leave getting trapped leg before right in front of his stumps much to the delight of Merry.

 As Swann made his way to the centre field armed with his new bat not even the most pessimistic of sport fans could have guessed what would happen next. Swann and Webb both departing for ducks both caught by Findley off the bowling of Merry. Crossley was next in; hit two great fours before being bowled by batting hero Jones for 11. Bowling mastermind Dyke continued the trend with another Duck for the Huncote team and another catch for Findley, this time off the bowling of H Carnan. Alan Sommer who was still at the crease got done by a Jones slower ball that on most occasions would have been duly put into the children’s playing area, skying one Nicholls at mid-on. Debutant Joshi scored two fours before he was bowled by Carnan. Farmer suffered the same fate the very next ball playing one on for a first ball duck. This left Driver and an enthusiastic JW at he crease. 

Facing about 15 overs to survive. Things were not looking good. But with John starting to hit boundaries and Driver knocking the ball into gaps the pairing started to eat up overs and took Huncote past the 100 mark. Thoughts then started to turn to the draw and an extra batting point at 125. With just 12 balls to survive and the partnership now the best of the innings. The Birstall skip turned over his river card to find H Carnan, who with his first ball in his second spell rearranged Drivers stumps to win the game for Birstall and leave Huncote 116 all out JW 17* and Brian 18. A valiant effort by the tail, so close yet so far. The middle order batting collapse and most Huncote batsmen getting themselves out through poor shot selection gave the others too much to do. Well done however to a very good Birstall side who batted extremely well and bowled tightly throughout. I’m sure they’ll be up there challenging come the end of the season.

Man of the Match- Kev Dyke

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