Willoughby VS Yelvertoft

We arrived on a beautiful sunny day to our most local team in the Saturday league at Yelvertoft. At First glance the wicket looked green, slightly soft and very mossy, the decision was obvious win the toss and bowl first. However skipper Hollis disappoints again losses and was asked to bat first.

We welcomed back Chait Kurusala back in to the side and his opening partner was Callum Hanks who was looking to bounce back after last weekends golden duck. Things got off to a lucky start to say the least, Kurusala being dropped 3 times in the opening 4 overs before being caught 4th time lucky by their wicket keeper for 15. Hanks was joined by Ash Rayner who steadied the ship and took charge from the off, finding the boundary and nudging the singles.
Hanks was dismissed caught behind also by their wicket keeper for 10. Bonthuys was next to the middle who didn't last long, played all round a straight one and got bowled for 8. Hassan Nawaz joined the Rayner and made light work of the middle overs and kept the score ticking along with ease. Nawaz seemed like he was scoring off every ball he faced which was lovely cricket to watch in the sun, however Rayners hamstring thought otherwise and sadly pulled up and had to retire on a well made 49. Our youngest player of the team Ambrose Deery was next in and looked in good nick sending Yelvertoft's bowlers Dinesh and Probaka to the fence. Nawaz's time come to a end after he missed a straight one and was out for for a superb 64. Hollis, Fell and Alcock all added to score late on with some quick runs but the damage was already done. Ambrose was out LBW for 34, Anshul was sadly out first ball and Archie went for a big shot last ball of the same and was caught on the rope with the last delivery. Willoughby finished on 232 which skipper Hollis thought was a decent score, considering the very variable bounce from both ends.

Willoughby took to the field with some confidence knowing we had Mark Fell and Chait Kurusala back in the side. Mark Fell and Archie McMillan opened the bowling attack. Fell started with a bluff first over conceding 12 runs from it but soon started asking questions every over from here, he claimed his first victim in his third over and again in his fifth bowling his allocated 10 overs straight through. Fell finished on 2-22 with 5 maidens very impressive for his first game back. Archie was also firing away at the other end bowling a super line and finding the hidden trampoline in the mossy wicket causing all sorts of problems 2-19 off 7.

Callum Hanks and Dave Alcock was brought into the attack and they did not disappoint. Hanks was on the money from ball one giving Yelvertofts batsmen next to nothing to go at, they changed tactic 5 overs into his spell to close there eyes and swing really hard. Hanks finished on 2-49 off 10. Alcock was spinning a win at the other end bowling a decent line and length, picking up 2 of the middle order batsmen as they tried to increase their run rate 2-17 off 10 with 3 maidens. Bonthuys was brought into the attack to remove there opener who was trying to bat the overs and hold up one end, Bonthuys stuck with third ball and the job was done. 1-1 off 3 overs. O'Neil was the only batsmen who really shown any fight and made a well made 52 batting at number.
Yelvertoft finished on 157-7 off there 45 overs.

A great game of cricket in the early may sun and a perfect way to bounce back after two defeats.
Next weekend we face a new team for us, we welcome Brigstock CC to the green.