1st XI Match Report - 30/4/22

The 1st XI Captain recalls Saturday's play.

Saturday saw the 1st XI host Himbleton at Hackmans Gate Lane on a deceptively warm and pleasant afternoon. True to form, the skipper lost the toss (for the third time this season!) and Ton’s took to the field to bowl first.

A tidy opening spell by Hawker and Priest was interrupted when the latter was removed from the attack for bowling two deliveries above waist height (for the second time this season). Mystery spinner Conner Karvaski assumed responsibility for continuing the bowling from the top end, still within the powerplay overs. He completed his spell 10 overs later returning excellent figures of 1 for 37.

Making his first appearance of the season, U15 Cameron Harvey bowled with great pace and wonderful control collecting two key wickets in his opening spell of 6 overs. Whilst overseas twirler Akshay struggled to contain Himbleton’s middle order, 2nd XI Vice-Captain Ben Spells toiled away up the hill completing 9 overs on the bounce, collecting 2 wickets for his troubles.

Belbroughton fought back in the last 10 overs with Hawker and Harvey returning to the attack and eventually Himbleton ended their 50 overs having posted 223 for 8. Harvey’s figures of 3 for 35 from 9 overs making him the pick of the bowlers, just ahead of Karvaski and Spells (2-40)

Special mention to Richard Dunn, Adam Burrows and Rich Wrigley for keeping the fielding standards so high and putting in a real committed shift in the field. Wrigley was denied a run out from a direct hit due to the umpire getting his positioning all wrong.

The experienced duo of Dunn and Geoff Day got the Ton’s reply underway with Day finding the middle of the bat and the boundary regularly. His 28 at the top of the order set the chase up well. When he fell flashing at a wide delivery, the skipper joined Pete Hawk at the crease, who was making his first appearance of the season.

The pair were looking comfortable as the midpoint of the innings approached, milking the bowling for a steady 4 or 5 runs an over and steering the run chase towards a home win. However, after Hawker departed for 40 following an ill-advised venture down the wicket to the spinner, Wrigley was brilliantly caught on the hill following a trademark lofted 6 and Hawk also fell in the 40’s, the game took on a new complexion.

After a halt in the run rate, some lusty blows in a quickfire 35 from Spells got Belbroughton back on track but his departure all but ended the hosts chance of chasing the total down. A 9th wicket partnership of 40 between Burrows and Akshay took the tons to within 12 of the target but ultimately fell agonisingly short.

A spirited team performance with plenty of positives to be taken from a side missing a number of regular players. In a league that’s expected to be hotly contested and tight amongst all teams, the next opportunity to move up the table comes around next weekend away at Alvechurch.

Himbleton CC - 223/8 (50 overs)

Belbroughton CC - 211/8 (50 overs)

MVP - P Hawk (68 points)