2nds suffer frustration and defeat at Carrib Utd counterparts

Division 13
Carrib Utd II v Willoughby II

Carrib Utd 151 all out
Willoughby II 103 all out

Carrib Utd won by 48 runs

In contrast to the joy of their opening week success, Willoughby’s 2nd XI enjoyed a far less enjoyable day at another fellow newcomer Carrib Utd IIs with a defeat in somewhat acrimonious circumstances.

Carrib won the toss and elected to bat on a damp uncovered wicket affected by heavy overnight rain at the pleasant setting of Overstone School, and matters started well for the visitors. The hosts were soon two wickets down thanks to the bowling of Michael Deery (2-34), before Amir (19) and Tahir (23) built a steady partnership over the next 16 overs. After both were dropped off the bowling of Gregson, Fergus Deery matched son Michael by helping himself to two wickets, one via a splendid catch from the stand-in skipper of the day Goodwin.

Runs became difficult to come by and after a clear stumping it took a five minute deliberation and some persistence from the Willoughby players to send Zybair packing for 8 off the bowling of Parmer. More controversy would arise for with Carrib struggling on 70 for 5 off 30 overs Goodwin made another breakthrough clean bowling Khan. The batsman however refused to walk, the umpire refused to signal anything and Khan remained and added insult to injury and by making 56 runs inside the next eight overs before being caught behind. Goodwin returned figures of 3-24 for the visitors with the host’s score reaching a questionable 151 all out in the 39th over.

The Willoughby reply spluttered with the very impressive bowling of Mannar (4-19) leading the way, backed up by Kumar (4-23). Goss (25) and Goodwin (14) held the innings together briefly but the inevitable LBWs ensued compiled with a very lenient wide system the umpire employed for the home team compared to the first innings.

At 54 for 4 this became too much for the pair of Perry and Hall who confronted the umpire, before Hall was dismissed next ball in a state of rage. The lower order looked composed held together by Fergus Deery (19) as the reply edged its way to three figures before the final Willoughby wicket fell on 103 off 38 overs.

An undeserved loss for the IIs, which after the controversial interpretations of rules and spirit of cricket and fair play thrown out the window was made all the more galling with the examination of the scorebook which found the scores to be differing not by the odd run or two, but 23!