08 Jul 2009 / ROTCC Sunday 2nd XI vs Long Eaton

Sunday 2nd XI Match Report

Long Eaton (h)

5th July 2009 

With the Saturday 1st team scheduled to play a Sunday Popkess Cup match against Hucknall Rolls Royce, Wardy was unavailable to captain the side so overseas player Ello, who isn't allowed to compete in the Popkess Cup, came down to skipper the side. Long Eaton's Sunday 1st team are a handy outfit so we were always up against it to produce a victory, however the boys fought long and hard to make it difficult for them.

Ello won his first toss as captain and we were batting. He and Richo made the most of some short pitched bowling to plaster the Long Eaton attack to all parts. The pair began sedately but slowly began to feel more comfortable and really punished any bad deliveries. The partnership raced past 50 in the 9th over and the 100 partnership was brought up in the 17th over. Ello reached his half-century and was looking comfortable before being given out caught behind down the leg-side for 68 off 63 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes. This didn't stop Richo however, and, with wickets tumbling around him, he continued on his merry way to three figures before a brain-melt saw him lob one down long-off's throat for 96. His brutal innings included 12 wonderful fours and 4 fantastic sixes. The innings fizzled out from then on and we struggled through to 210, disappointing considering the opening partnership yielded 113 but competitive nonetheless.

Long Eaton came out reliant upon their burly South African, Leon Botha. Todd Mills bowled very accurately from the start and had Botha edging into the gully where Ello wouldn't hold onto a tough chance. Ultimately, it would cost us. Kevin Baguley trapped their other opener dead in front first up and we were in with a sniff. Phil Thompson bowled tidily and was rewarded with a wicket of his own when he cleaned up Higton. Botha went on to a belligerent 92 at better than a run-a-ball before ‘Pressure-Man' Barry Trussler was brought on especially to remove the danger-man. Botha then looked to smash Baz out of the park but hit it high in the air out to long-off where Ello claimed the catch. At 149-3 we had a chance and the boys rallied around to try and stifle their chase.

Ello picked up a couple of wickets through the middle overs but unfortunately Botha's innings had given their middle order too much time and so they were able to nudge their way, ever so slowly, to victory. The winning runs were hit with 9 balls remaining but a comfortable 5 wickets in the shed. It was great to see youngsters Lui Holliday and Nathan Trussler competing out in the middle. While U15 player Todd Mills bowled the spell of the match with figures of 10 overs, one maiden, none for 45.