Niffy Swept aside at Shepshed

All started well on a bright warm Saturday morning.

Everyone turned up on time, all were wearing some kind of Countesthorpe merchandise and the car journey was pain free after the Junction 21 issues in the morning.

We turned up, we won the toss, we put them into bat.

Luke and Thorpey opened up for the confident Niffy. Luke beating the bat on a couple of occasions, hitting the always favourable damp spot. Joe at the other end was his usual economic self, giving nothing away. He got one to nip back and hit Doel smack bang in front of all three and then produced Ball of the Day to remove Myers bowled first ball. Bat at 3 against the Niffy at your peril! 3 times in 4 games dismissed first ball. The other opener White got himself 'in' and dispatched the ball to all parts for a short time until Luke tempted him into one shot too many to chop onto the stumps. Niffy comfortable at 83/3.

Gibson and Pratt came together, whist Toony and Craig were bowling in tandem they didn't smash the ball out of the park but the scoreboard ticked along nicely. Toony had Pratt caught and bowled and then the game changer entered the crease. Morley; promoted to be the Shepshed pinch hitter delivered for his skipper, smashing 63* in seemingly no time at all. At the other end, Gibson finished 68* in a very well played knock.

Tommy fresh from his Disney trip opened up with Luke and both looked in confident mood. The opening bowlers helping the scoreboard tick along with a procession of wides. Luke was first to go, edging behind to the wicket keeper. Tom followed, bowled whipping one off middle stump! Ben Sharpe, promoted to number 3 looked in good shape, joined by older brother Dave the pair looked to get Niffy back on track. Dave, after smashing one over cover received another Ball of the Day, the ball nipping off the seam and hitting the top of off stump. Enter Smig. a lusty couple of blows for 6 and 4, the old Smig looked as though he was back. In a stick or twist scenario, Smig perished caught at cover on the stroke of drinks. Niffy 83/4 and getting bog down needed something to get them going.
The off spin of Doel was tight and accurate, in any other game, any other situation we would have played him differently I am sure- but with maiden after maiden being played out and wickets falling, the Niffy situation was survival. Craig and Thorpey were dismissed and instantly got the 'Rules of Cricket' book out to refresh themselves on the LBW law to make sure the rules hadn't changed in recent weeks which all in all left Nick Gurney and Toony to try and muster what they could. Nick smashing one into Loughborough to at least get us a further batting point.

All out for 156. A disappointing day, sometimes you have to sit back and realise you were beaten by the better team. Out of the 3 parts of the game, we lost 3-0. They batted better, bowled better and certainly fielded better.

See you all at training on Thursday!