Thornford 09/07/17

On a warm and Sunny afternoon in Thornford, the home team elected to bat first.  Mark (6-2-5-2) and Will F (5-2-10-1) opened the bowling and both bowled superbly.  Neither gave anything away and both bowled a fantastic line and length preventing any form of attacking play from the hosts.  Scoreboard pressure can be partly to blame for the wickets, with Will taking the dangerous left-hander Rob with one that hurried on from short of a length.  After an enforced change (will only allowed 5 overs in a spell despite looking ready to bowl all afternoon) Will S came on and his late in-swing proved far too difficult to handle – destroying the stumps twice and a somewhat fortuetous LBW in his 3-6 from 3!  At the other end Alec (1-21) was managing to bowl a good line and length despite the difficulties bowling up-hill.  The fielding was complementing the bowling with some sharp stops close in and solid catches – 2 for Ravi and 1 for Will S.  Pete took 2 wickets – Simon running to get under a skier (making sure Mark was on the boundary at the time!) and then stumping the batsman who was managing to find the boundary.  There was time for Paul to take the final wicket to leave Thornford all out for 84.

After tea, Mike M was out before the Wanderers had scored and David followed soon after.  Alec (27) and Ravi (21) put on 40 for the 3rd wicket before a slow procession of batsmen went in and out quickly.  Paul was unlucky to get another LBW decision go against him and Pete followed LBW next ball.  Mike Henry survived the hatrick ball (without realising it was one) and stuck around until the end for his 9 not out, edging a 4 through the slips for the winning runs.  Will S went in at 10 to calm down the situation with Simon not used at 11.

MOM: Mark – a marvellous spell of opening bowling

Catch of the day: Ravi – getting his gut right behind a fast hit from Mark!