Willoughby 2nds Vs Bold Dragoon

Willoughby were now closing in on the end of the 2022 cricketing season, the Semi-Final of the cup against Bold Dragoon away. Most teams we faced this season don't bat deep and do rely on a few key wickets at the top of the order and this encounter was an excellent example of how on numerous times this season the lower and middle order have dug the team out of a rut.

It had been miserable leading up to the weekend with the weather and it was a soggy day where the toss could be pivotal, it was clear whoever won would bowl first. As you would expect that meant we were batting. After an exemplary minutes silence was held for the departing Queen it should have been to work scoring some runs.

That wasn't the case as the damp wicket did quite a lot early on and Jennings (5-30) took full advantage steamrolling the top order at 39 for 5 off the opening 13 overs. Anshul Satsangi and James Andrews had to see off the opening bowlers reaching 54 for 5 off 20 overs. Whilst they were doing their best to bore us Matt Sutton pointed out that his current supply of milk had seen no less than 2 monarchs, 2 PM's and 2 Chelsea managers in the space of a few days - quite a feat. A 66 run partnership with Satsangi departing 4 short of a half century for 46. Andrews (40) followed at 115 for 7, they gave us a steady foundation with a few guns still waiting to enter the fray. As the team tried to up the rate wickets fell steadily and we finished on 150 all out with Ryan Lines 18 not out. Grundy 3 - 22 with a few late scalps.

150 at Bold isn't really defendable in 40 overs so it was imperative that both openers were dismissed early, Both Shepard and Heyworth were amongst the highest scorers this season. Thankfully they only managed 15 between them. Bold were also having extreme difficulty batting as Matt Sutton was promoted to open with Ryan Lines. Another key wicket was the skipper Hurrell who ushered Bentley to victory a few weeks prior. We were keen to see what else was in the locker as at 59 for 6 things were looking good. Holliday was the only mainstay of the Bold innings with 26 as he was dismissed by Nikesh Mistry's flight and guile half tracker. Things were almost wrapped up at 89 for 8 as Jennings who was propping up the tail had a bit of fun, clearly he needs to bat higher up the order with a vast array of shots in the locker. He did biff the ball towards the pavilion, Steve Porter enjoying the last rays of sunshine on a bench bent down to retrieve the ball which popped up, bounced off the bench and struck him square in the nose. 104 all out was the score. Lines 3 - 24 and Sutton 3 - 38 excellent.

The matter of a final next week against the league champions Phoenix to content with. Thankfully DRS, sniko and ball tracking will be available to iron out those blatant edges and 8 ball overs.