Willoughby 2nd XI V Flecknoe 1st XI

Another local derby for the 2nd XI to the not so familiar setting of Flecknoe. With the wet weather it was no surprise that the toss was critical today and upon viewing the sweaty soft wicket that was even more apparent. The stand in skipper Perry called heads and it was of course tails...

The opening due of James Goodwin and Adam Whitfield set out building a foundation and it wasn't long before Whitfield was on his way back to the pavillion for a duck, Falkingham steaming down the hill got the ball to cut back in and rattle the leg stump Runs were hard to come by but Goodwin took apart Walker which forced a bowling change. Proudman was next to follow for 3, an over I can only describe as impossible to play, McCallion, all the same length but balls shooting down by the shins followed by balls a foot over the head. It didn't get much better with the spinner Boulton, who apparently 'isn't very good' according to Flecknoe was bowling quick and spinning the ball more than the great Warne himself. Goodwin was bowled for 25, Matt Smart (2), Fergus Deery (0) and Jake Quinney (7) followed. Dan Farrow (12) got another beauty from Boulton and at 69 for 7 off 24 overs it wasn't looking pretty. Debutante Rees Moor (14*) batted well with Ryan Perry (11) and after numerous bowling changes McCallion dislodged Perry with a 1 handed catch after 16 overs of blocking. Troy Reeves was bowled for 1 but by this time with the sun beating down, the wicket and outfield was starting to dry. John Gregson (7*) saw us over the 100 mark in the last few overs to finish on 104 for 9 off 40 overs.

Quinney (0-10) and Farrow (0-19) opened up the bowling with both bowling economically, Lindhoe having a particular problem hitting the ball off Quinney down the hill, then being dropped by Proudman off Farrow. He must have smelt an adjacent BBQ on the go as in Farrow's last over decided every ball was going to the boundary. Gregson (1-17) and Goodwin (0-11) the 1st bowling change and Lindhoe edging behind to Perry off Gregson for 15. Brown and Johnson batted well picking off the rare bad balls. By this time the wicket and outfield was playing much better, Brown edging numerous balls which raced for 4, which probably would have been lucky to get 2 in the first innings. At 60 for 1 another bowling change with Deery (0-15) and Reeves (1-32) Reevs still having trouble which Johnson latched onto and raced to 40 before being bowled. Walilay coming in and dispatching a 6 to finish off the game.

Flecknoe on this occasion were too strong for us, complied with losing the toss was always going to be a hard task. Congratulations to them and we look forward to welcoming Wardington next week.