LPCC 2nd XI vs. Stamford Bridge II
With only a short trip down the A1079, the Red Lion sponsored 2nd XI couldn’t have picked a better day to visit Stamford Bridge. The hosts sitting top of Division 4 West, with Park only a couple of points behind.
Skipper Williamson called correctly, for a change, and decided to have a bat. A new look opening partnership of Michael Drewery and Ian Hodson strode to the middle. Unfortunately Michael didn’t last long thanks to a good catch at mid-off. Williamson joined Hodson and the pair played watchfully against good bowling from Fairweather and Du Toit. A partnership of 47 was ended courtesy of a diving catch by King to remove Williamson for 10, off the bowling of Fairweather. Sam Dodd joined Hodson and progressed the score to 67 for 2 at drinks. With boundaries hard to come by on the large outfield, there was plenty of running to be done. Hodson passed 50 but was dismissed with 15 overs remaining and the score on 90. With wickets in hand Park started to up the tempo, with Dood and Dawson at the crease. The pair added 46 in 3 overs, when Sam was caught by Wilson, bowled A. Healey, for 40. Dawson, as always played aggressively but was caught 10 yards in from the boundary, again the catch from Wilson, for 20. Ed Smith also played aggressively as Park had a total of 200 in their sights, something had obviously got the juices flowing. Together with Eddy Rook the pair increased the score to 176 before Smith was bowled by the returning opener Du Toit for 29 from 22 balls. Toby Stephenson failed to trouble the scorers but Rich Foster ran quickly between the wickets before being run out in the 44th over. 5 runs were collected off the final over, with Park posting a competitive 201 for 8, Eddy Rook 18 not out, and Du Toit finishing with 3-45.
Park were happy with their total, but on a good track and large outfield they knew they would have to bowl well. Things started well for Park as in the 4th over opener Ireland chipped a Ciaran Brooke full toss high in the air. Steve Dawson declined the chance instead letting Ed Smith run round and take a good diving catch. No. 3 A. Healey soon got up and running, striking the ball cleanly to the boundary. However, a mix up between himself and opener Fairweather, saw the latter run out by yards, courtesy of that man again, Ed Smith. King strode confidently to the crease, but was soon on his way back, leaving his first delivery from Rich Foster, which crashed into off stump. Wilson didn’t fair much better as Ciaran Brooke claimed his 2nd wicket, bowling Wilson for 0 as Stamford Bridge were reduced to 24 for 4 in the 9th over. Stamford Bridge continued to play their shots, Healey especially hit the boundary on a couple for occasions. Ciaran claimed his 3rd wicket in his 6th over as Healey cleanly struck the ball to Michael Drewery's safe hands at mid-wicket, out for 25. Foster claimed his second wicket when he broke through Lawson’s defences, just tickling the bails as Lawson was bowled for 0, Stamford Bridge 44-6 in the 15th over. Joel Taylor was next to take a wicket, Gilyeat bravely coming out to bat with an injured hamstring, could only chip Joel into Eddy Rook’s hands for 1. Meanwhile Du Toit was striking the ball well, but wickets were tumbling around him. Rich Foster took his 3rd wicket of the match, skipper Williamson taking a low catch to dismiss Du Toit for 15, as Stamford Bridge reached drinks at 50 for 8. Park then found themselves in a similar situation to the previous week as Bridge showed little intent and set about preserving their wickets, with opposition skipper D.Healey and Porteus at the crease. With the pitch still good, Park just had to be patient. Williamson tried a mixture of bowlers, and thought the swapping had worked when Healey skied a Michael Drewery delivery high into the sky. Williamson somehow managed not only to miss the ball completely with his hands but on the balls descent he received a blow to the nether regions. As always little sympathy was shown as Parks’ slightly bored fielders took much pleasure in the skippers pain. The breakthrough did eventually come in the 40th over, Toby Stephenson fresh from 3 wickets in the Canon-Hedley Trophy, trapping Healey LBW for 15 from 62 balls. Porteus fell next over, for an even more patient 1 from 57 balls, Michael Drewery finally getting a deserved wicket, as Park took the victory. Stamford Bridge all out for 76.
The 30 points lifted Park to top of the Division, this weeks Harpers man of the match to Ian Hodson for his knock of 57 and agility behind the stumps.