Willoughby Win in Last Over Drama

It was a lovely Summer's evening and The Green was looking as beautiful as ever. Nirmay Patel was captain with Eddie Button having his turn on the sidelines. Nirmay started his duties well winning the toss and choosing to bowl first.

Nirmay turned to the usual opening bowlers Mehul Patel, 2 overs for 8 runs and Ollie Morris-Nicholls, 2 over for 11 runs. They bowled well and contained Yelvertoft to 219. Alfie Offord bowled in combination with Kaitlin Porter. Both bowled very tightly, Kaitlin taking a wicket with Noah Kemp making a swift stumping. Scoring had slowed and halfway the score was just 225. Nirmay's first over conceded just 3 runs for 1 wicket. Luke Loddick and Mohammad Aslam bowled solidly and third pair finished with Yelvertoft on 242. Issac Shearing hitting the first 4 of the match. Nirmay bowled 2 of the last 4 overs the others bowled by Mohammad and Mehul. James Parr hit 3 fours in his 16 runs. Yelvertoft finished on a respectable score of 267.

Alfie and Noah matched Yelvertoft's first pairing scoring 219. Alfie hit 4 boundaries scoring 20 runs off 18 balls and losing his wicket once. Noah scored equally quickly, 6 runs off 6 balls with one 4 and an unfortunate run out! Luke and Mohammad took the score nicely to 231. Ollie and Kaitlin worked hard to take the score to 239. This left Nirmay and Mehul to score 29 runs to win. They started slowly with 2 runs from the first over and 4 runs fromt the second. The run rate required was up to 11.5 per over. A lovely 4 from Nirmay and an assortment of extra meant they were left with just 9 to win off the last over. They managed an unlikely 2 from the first ball and good running meant the next 4 balls were each a bye. 3 to win from the last ball. The umpire called no ball for the high full toss which Mehul despatched to the boundary with a lovely pull shot, his first ever 4. Willoughby were 2 ahead but the no ball would be re-bowled. 7 extras followed by a final single took the score to 278 and victory to Willoughby.

It was a good contest between two well matched teams that played some good cricket. The Yelvertoft captain showed great sportsmanship as he twice rescinded appeals for two Mankad run outs as there had been no warning. Cricket is safe in the hands of these 16 cricketers.