Saturday 2nd XI versus Effingham

Much improved performance in the field gave us crushing victory in the opening league fixture.

Lost the toss and Effingham batted first. They made an awful start in the face of very accurate bowling from Lincoln and Murad.

Off 19 overs they had crawled to 26 for 5, a position from which there was very little way back. The two bowled very straight, allowing 6-3 or even 7-2 fields to be set as Effingham showed very little adventure.

Mark W took a fine head high catch to his right at second slip off Murad (11-5-12-3). David Jones (9-3-21-2) kept the pressure up, as did Ben (10-3-29-1). Effingham reached 125-7 before Lincoln (9-3-14-3) cleaned up the last three. So, straight bowling and keen fielding made a difference from the previous week.

We initially made a hash of our reply. Mark W clipped the first ball through square leg for 4 but caned the next hard to mid off. Robert Paul then hit 2 and 4. Matt Atkins scored 4,4,3 in the second over before Rob also found mid off. 22 for 2 off 2, Ritchie Benaud's dream score! Matt fended to gully next over. David Jones (26*) and Alex Crabb (21) steadied the ship adding 47, Doug fell for 1 bringing Murad to the crease. Perhaps he did not notice the score as he played a few defensively before playing with great freedom for a match winning 38*, taking us to an ultimately easy win.

Skipper's note: sharper fielding than previous week made a big difference; champagne batting almost through it away.

Doug Shaw

July 6, 2009