3rd time isn't a charm

After once again winning the toss - the 3s bowled first on a muddy track. After a few consultations with his fielding coordinator Nelson opened the bowling with Ben Taylor. Both leaked more boundaries than they would of liked and Ben was unlucky with a dropped catch. The breakthrough came from a good catch from James removing their opening bat. Ben was then unlucky with another drop but kept plugging away.
The Houghton number 2 then proved as annoying to get rid off as his personality with Waddo eventually getting the breakthrough with a great catch from Meggo. He then followed up that with a delivery which made full use of the facilities bowling their dangerous 1st team ringer. Stokesy's off-spin from the other end was keeping the runs down and got a well deserved wicket which no-one appealed for. Nelson and Taylor came back on for a 2nd spell and got an early breakthrough with the former getting the opposition captain caught down the leg side. Ben's luck then continued with a difficult chance being spilled. A run - out and 2 more wickets for the skipper helped kept the score down to a very chaseable 145-8. A much improved fielding display despite the drops and a special mention to the absolute worldie of a catch that Ben took which unfortunately came off a horrible waist high no ball from the skipper.

The run chase however did not go to plan and with a slightly changed batting line- up Niffy gave themselves a lot do ( classic). Pag and Jonno were both bowled early leaving us 8-2 with 146 seeming a long way away at this point. Joe was the next to go with a ball that both plugged and moved in for a hard earned 2. Meggo was making good progress with a mix of aggression and defense. Tom Hill was then the next to go playing round a straight one leaving us in a slight precarious position of 48/4 off 12 overs. Meggo was then joined by Vas who in his first game for 6 years showed promise and hit a massive 6 however their partnership was short lived with the score 66/5 . Jacko and then Meggo put on a excellent 50 run partnership with a mix of big shots and good running. Meggo brought up a very deserved 50 and as he was already an hour late to some hockey thing tried to hit the ball out of the ground and somehow his boss took a one handed catch in front of the sightscreen. Waddo then carried on where Meggo left off and was unlucky to be caught and bowled. Stokes and Jacko then looked set to bring us home but Jacko was bowled for a really well made 29 and deserved to finish the job. With Ben run out and Nelson going backwards to a straight one we lost by 6 runs in a game we should of and deserved to win.

This made it 3 games without a win however another week of positives with a 3rd successive 50 being made and a much improved fielding display and with the captain on his stag next week it is inevitable that the win will come next week.

Man of the match - Meggo superb in the field and nearly a match winning knock