2nd XI Match Report - 25/6/22

Ben Hansford recalls Saturday's win for the 2nd XI at Stourbridge.

Sitting third bottom, Belbroughton took on fourth place Stourbridge. Remarkably winning the toss again Hansford elected to bat first on an underprepared Green Field wicket that history tells us would only get worse.

With the ball leaping from a length or shooting through from the outset, Thomas and Greatbatch put on what would become a match winning partnership. Their 100 coming in just under 30 overs and both notching wonderful half centuries. Possibly one of the grittiest of opening stands you’ll see yet still putting the bad balls away against a solid bowling attack.

The quality of that opening stand went on to reveal itself as the innings wore on. Wrigley coming in with 15 overs left, looking to punish the attack further ran himself out. Hansford came and went cheaply unable to get on top of a steep bounce and splicing one to cover.

Some useful runs from Heilbronn and Burrows saw Belbroughton post 165, which we felt could just be enough although would have liked 180.

Opening the bowling with Karvaski’s spin and young Heilbronn, steep turn and bounce was there from the outset. Heilbron snaffled the opener, McKevitt taking his first catch in a while down the leg side. It remained close enough, with Stourbridge putting away the bad balls (of which we bowled too many) to keep them in contention. Karvaski bowling through 9 finishing 1-22, really unlucky not to end with more on a deteriorating and sharply turning deck. The wicket being a smart catch from Dunn at slip.

The theme continued as Wrigley and Cook bowled spin in tandem. Cool removing their dangerous number four, bowled for 13. But their big hitting number three was playing a solid innings, keeping the good balls out before punishing anything loose with a flurry of 4’s and 6’s. Could we be on the wrong side of another solo performance? Wrigley struck at the “open” end twice, a simple (if not anxious) looping catch to McKevitt and another slip catch for Dunn. The number three reached his 50, taking a shine to Cook before Justin Gray tightened things up from that end. Wrigley then struck, removing their dangerous number 3 for 58 with yet another “proper” wicket, Dunn doing the honours at slip again to finish with an amazing three slip catches in the match! Somewhat of a novelty in Division 6 cricket!

Wrigley finished up with 5-32 from his 9, but with 2 wickets still needed for the win, a nervous session ensued before the returning Heilbron bowled out their number 9 and the returning Gray saw a slog almost clear Cook at mid off but managed to back-peddle to hold the catch high above his head. This completed a 19 run win for Belbroughton in what was a great team effort, holding all our catches, bowling well and some great runs at the top of the order.

Belbroughton remain third bottom but now in touch with the mid table “pack” and go into the second half of the season knowing we can beat anyone on our day.

Belbroughton CC – 165/4 (45 Overs)

Stourbridge CC – 146 All Out (37.5 Overs)

MVP – R Wrigley (119 Points)