2nd XI Match Report - 16/7/22

Ben Hansford provides his recollection of the 2nd XI's defeat at home to Old Vigs on Sunday

We took on mid table Old Vigs at a glorious looking Belbroughton with the sun shining and a hot afternoon in stall. Hansford lost the toss and was put into bat by the opposition captain.

Belbroughton, second bottom and with two going down, looking to get out of the relegation zone after despite winning last week other teams won around them.

A new opening partnership of Malanaphy and Meredith got off to a flyer before Malanaphy was forced to play a a good delivery and nicked off to their keeper, 15-1 in the second over. George Flowers joined Meredith and they batted really well together, taking Belbroughton to 89 in the 24th over before Meredith was dismissed.

Hansford joined Flowers and saw them take 20 off the next 5 overs before Flowers was caught at deep square leg for an agonising 49, full of lovely strokes and maturity. Particularly strong flicking anything off his legs and containing 5 fours.

Hansford was joined by Tom Richardson who immediately struck a couple of boundaries including a sweet pull in front of square, before being caught spectacularly by a diving one handed catch down the hill for 12, leaving Belbroughton 134-4 in the 34th.

Hansford was joined by Justin Gray, who both continued to push the score along, running breathlessly well between the wickets until what looked like a comfortable second saw Gray run out for 12 with a direct hit from the boundary.

McKevitt came and went for a quick 4, running himself out with an ambitious attempt to steal a single to gulley before Benedict Gray was bowled trying to carve one through the covers.

Langdon and Hansford saw Belbroughton through to 45 overs, Hansford ending 59 not out and setting Old Vigs 201 to win.

Langdon and George Flowers opened up the bowling, taking us through the first 10 overs for 45 runs. Langdon bowled his full 9 down the hill in a strong spell, picking up 2 deserved wickets and finishing with 2-39 off his 9.

With the chase looking like it would go all the way, Hansford turned to Tom Flowers to steal some overs in the middle whilst Rob Hawk kept things tight at the other end. Tom finishing a five over spell with a tidy 0-29.

With the chase ticking over at 5 an over, Belbroughton needed wickets and the partnership of Hawk and Benedict Grey looked like it would deliver as Belbroughton started to build some pressure. B Gray picking up the dangerous Rizwan and Waites in quick succession to leave Old Vigs 156-5 at the sixth drinks break of the day, needing 45 off 12.

Belbroughton knew a couple of tight overs after drinks would build pressure and the first two did, leaving the chase needing 41 off 10. The impressive Bryony Gillgrass, daughter of former progressional cricketer Gillgrass, then smartly lifted Gray over the top for successive 6 then 4 before another couple of boundaries off the otherwise mightily impressive G Flowers saw the run chase more or less home.

B Gray picked up Gillgrass to leave him with 3-49 but Old Vigs took the win with 3.5 overs to spare.

A really strong performance all round, and picking up 6 points in defeat saw Belbroughton move out of the relegation zone.

Belbroughton CC - 200/7 (45 Overs)

Old Vigornians CC - 204/6 (40 Overs)

MVP - B Hansford (99 Points)