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Rowlands Throw Cup Tie Away

In the first game of the playable season, Rowlands entertained Mitford at Ulgham. Alan elected to bat and sent in Ben and Roy. Things went well enough after the first over of the 14 was played out by Ben as a maiden! Roy fell to a smart caught behind by Colin Crowe off Matt Lees after scoring 15. Ian Younger was welcomed back to the side in at number 3 and notched up a quick 15 then lbw to Matt Lees (4-1-41-2). Ben battled on to be joined by Alan whose favourite shot was known to Mitford and that route blocked after an initial boundary. Alan tried to give the strike to Ben but had his fair share with 7 before an lbw. Craig got 7 not out as Ben did hog the strike with a late flurry of 19 off the last over and his fourth six in 67 not out. With 118-3 on the board a reasonable target was achieved.

The sky was now darkening with rain arriving any time from the south. Alan had a problem where to place a few passengers in the field and several potential bowlers were nursing ailments. Don opened from the pavilion end and contained, with more runs coming off Ian Pratt at the farmer's end as Mitford showed their intentions. In the fifth over Don bowled opener Terry Dunn for 26 and the balance was tilted back. Tom did a good impression of Drogba in the field as a 4 went by but Richie was more like the Bolt man despite the old knees! Pratty completed with 0-40 off his 4 overs and Ian Younger took over at the farmer's end. He tightened well with 4-1-18-1 changing after one over to the pavilion end. Ben broke Don's spell with two overs of variation for 27 runs and it was getting tight! Ian the Younger had bowled a maiden for the 12th over leaving 18 required off the last 2. Alan took one on the knee in the deep with the darkness hindering a certain catch, according to reputation! There was a helpful run out after a fumble and then strong throw in from Roy in the deep. Then Don was back and bowled the current threat off his shoulder apologetically then had the new batsman smartly stumped from outside off by Mike. Only 7 came off the over (4-0-27-3) leaving 11 runs for a Mitford win. By now the scampering visitors were getting bolder in their running but the Rowlands throwing at the stumps was even more wild and runs were literally thrown away as a final winning run was taken off the last ball with Ben just missing the stumps for a close call.

Exciting finish but it should have been Rowlands tie; Alan's many fielding changes were not enough to win it!