Willoughby 2nds Vs Bold Dragoon

The 2nds were on a excellent winning streak coming into the latest fixture against Bold Dragoon who have been keeping pace in the promotion hunt. They gave us a good thrashing in the reverse fixture, but we were missing a host of players for that encounter.

Availability was decent, Rich Foxon was available as the trek was too much to handle back to The Shire. Steve Porter a shade lighter on top brought back Aiden into the fray. Willoughby lost the toss and were surprisingly stuck in, it was a used wicket which didn't play as well as the Fergus Enterprise Ltd Willoughby wicket.

Nevertheless, Sean Thornton and Anshul Satsangi stuck a quick 51 run partnership on the board, Sean departing for 39 with boundaries galore. Some batters in the top order scored a notable contribution, Martin Nichols chipping in with 23. At 83 for 3 off 20 overs Bold came back into the game thanks to Blatch 4 for 41 and Bentley 2 for 20. Rich Foxon looked excellent and was caught with a blinding catch on the boundary for 22 which changed the complexion of the game at 126 for 6. The lower order stuck in with Nikesh Mistry (23) helping the team to 171 for 9 off 40 overs. It was a below par score, the Bold bowlers had a consistent line and length.

After 2 quick wickets for Rees Moor, Shepard being a key one Bold were in trouble as the skipper Hurrell arrived at the crease accompanied by Bentley who was far beyond as good as any player we have faced this season, but I suppose if you ply your trade 10! divisions above the team you are selected in its probably quite easy. It's like Mo Farah running a marathon against Usain Bolt, only one winner and you will eventually get found out. Apparently dropped due to a bad run of form after scoring 50* against Great Houghton in Division 3 last week and being the 3rd highest run scorer at the club. The Willoughby bowling was again way below par for the 2nd week in a row, Hubbard capitalised and rode his luck for a very lofty 66. On another day he could have departed early. And at the other end Rees Moor was digging in Yorkers which were being timed to perfection to long on for a single. A 102 partnership came to an end with a crescendo of wickets to peg Bold back for 119 for 5.

That was the end of any kind resilience as Bentley carved the openers Ryan Lines and Rees Moor up like it was as Sunday roast, anything slightly wide or off length was being dispatched to all corners. Its not really anything anything you can contend with at our level. Bold sailed over the line with 4 over to spare, the ringer Bentley 59 not out. Moor 2 for 45, Deery 2 for 40.

Another excellent game against Bold, played in good spirits and the cricketing way unlike the game against Phoenix last week, Bold did have to win to gain promotion as they too had to face Phoenix next week. It's just a shame they couldn't pack the team with Division 3 talent for that game rather than this week. With only 3 points required for promotion and Bold's fixture next week it's pretty much guaranteed promotion and a 2nd place position still in the hunt.