LPCC 2nd XI vs. Carlton Towers II
This week the Red Lion sponsored 2nd XI hosted a Carlton Towers 2nd XI sitting at the lower end of the table. With the sun eventually making an appearance around lunch time the ground quickly dried, with little signs of the previous nights thunderstorms.
Carlton Towers skipper Bingle won the toss and surprisingly chose to bat on a greener than usual LP wicket. The decision backfired first ball as opener Bayston edged Rich Foster to keeper Ian Hodson. Both Foster and Ciaran Broke bowled excellently with swing and seam on offer. Brooke taking the edge of Howard’s bat, again caught by Hodson. Skipper Bingle played positively and struck the ball to the boundary on a number of occasions. Brooke removed numbers 4 and 5 in the same over, both bowled. Brooke finishing his 6 over spell with 3-19. Meanwhile Foster continued to frustrate the batsman at the other end. With the condition good for swing bowling Jack Sowersby was introduced. Sowersby getting the wicket of Bingle in his first over, Park skipper Williamson taking a running catch over his head, out for 30. Sowersby then hit the pads of Hutchinson on a couple occasions, but then eventually missed the bat and had him bowled for 3. Foster finally got his reward when the defensive Carr edged through to Hodson for Foster’s 2nd and Park’s 7th wicket. Foster then ruthlessly mopped up the tail, taking the final 3 wickets in 9 balls, another catch for Hodson, as Carlton were dismissed for 52 in 23.5 overs. Foster finishing with 5-23 and Jack Sowersby 2-4.
Park’s reply started poorly, Lucas Stephenson out to a double bouncer from opener Brindad. Hodson and Dodd were also back as Park looked in trouble at 12-3. Ed Smith punished the bad balls and got the score moving but lost 2 more partners, Luke Hewitt and Alex Varley the men out, as Park lost 5 quick wickets. Williamson joined Smith and the pair moved the score closer to the target, blocking out the impressive Bingle for 3 consecutive maidens. Park reached their target without further loss, finishing within 15 overs. Smith yet another red inker for the averages, 22 not out, and Williamson 13 not out.
This weeks Harpers Man of the Match for his 5 wicket haul was Rich Foster. At the half way point in the season Park remain unbeaten and sit top of Division 4 West, with 8 wins from their 11 games and hope to maintain their momentum into the 2nd half of the season.