A Sunday 'Leigh' In

On a hot roasting Sunday afternoon, the Sunday XI were back in action this time at home against Leigh.

So the Colonel stepped out to the middle to do the toss and kept up his 100% record and lost the toss again. South where inserted to field on the hottest day of the year to the delight of the team.

Out the South went to bowl. Dylan opened the bowling with Michael 'Tango' Gibbens. Dylan got the first break through with a peach of a delivery that kissed the bail of middle and off stump. 1 wicket down and only 13 on the board. After the first 10 overs Leigh only had 18 on the board due to tight bowling. So the skipper made the changes bringing on Merril and Steve 'the Magician' Goldsborough. After a 40 run partnership in 5 overs Merril struck with an lbw to help stem the flow.

After 4 overs each another bowling change was made and Big Dave Bowen was brought on at one end with Little Saunders at the other. Would BDB repeat his amazing figures from last week........No his 6 overs went for 31 with no wickets. Next week they will come. At the other end little Saunders was ,shall we say, struggling to find his rhythm and was brought off after just 2 overs for Jack Bellars to come on.

Jack picked up 2 wickets in his spell (one of which sent leg stump cartwheeling out of the ground) as well as a superbly thought through run out between himself and the skipper. Dylan come on replacing BDB with massive impact in his last over. Firstly he skittled one batsman hitting middle stump (unbelievable Jeff). Next ball a plum lbw so confident was the skipper that he let the ball fly past him to the boundary while appealing. Although it probably would have got past had he tried to stop it. So the hat-trick ball targeted the stumps but a solid defence shot kept it out. Dylan finishing with 4 wickets from his 8 overs. Merril picked up the last wicket getting their danger man caught for 62 by Dylan at long on.

Leigh finishing their innings on 175 all out.

A wonderful tea was had so a big thank you goes to Emma Hutchinson.

So with 176 to win out went the normal Sunday openers in Matt Lewis and Nick Driver. Lewy picking up where he left off last week and looking very comfortable. However it was not the start the South wanted as Chuckie was lbw with only 13 on the board. Chuckie convinced it wasn't out and he was hard done by BDB and lewy thought otherwise.

In stepped Bails. Surley this would settle the team and lead us to victory........nope. Bailes gone for 9 chopping on and only 30 on the board. Next in was El Capitain. For once Saunders was looking comfortable at the crease and a nice partnership with Lewy was forming. During this time Lewy brought up his 50 and started to rocket along. A 78 run partnership came up and then Saunders got done by a pee-roller and he was out for 12.

Jack Bellars came to the crease with the score 108 for 3. 68 needed to win. Lewy then soon departed for a beautiful 82 off just 76 balls. This then brought Little Saunders to the crease. Would he surpasses his brother on his debut. Not only did he score more runs he hit a six in the process. George got out for 15 and in come BDB. All the time this was going on Jack was playing his usual self and was on 49 not out (fantasy points) when Bowen arrived with just 2 runs to win.

How was Bowen gonna play out for the victory? Well he got hit on his pad first ball and Chuckie gave it out. Some say poor shot some say revenge.

Next in was Gibbo. Jack facing the bowling. Was Jack gonna end the game without Gibbo facing a ball? No he pushed for 1 to bring up a super 50 and gave Gibbo the strike to win the game. Gibbo then blocked out the next 5 balls with some good solid defence shots. Jack then dispatched the first ball of the next over for 4 to win South Nutfield the game by 4 wickets.

Mom: Dylan and Lewy
Helmet of the week: Billy and Dave

Yours The Colonel