1st XI Motor to Victory!

Another day of sun fell upon Gypsy Corner for the visit of Northwood Town on Saturday, with the 1st XI keen to put right the wrongs of last weeks tie at Luton Town and Indians. Despite a small hiccup with the boundary rope caused by Herbie and Monty we were ready to go!

After losing the toss, skipper James ‘Smirnoff’ Heavey was still happy to be bowling first, showing great faith in his bowlers to bowl tight lines and restrict the visitors to a chaseable total.

A fast and accurate opening burst from Dutchy and Herbie meant that the Northwood score was doing nothing but crawling along. Although there was a lack of wickets being taken on what was described as a traditional Asian wicket, the scoring rate never got above 2 runs per over for the first 15 overs.

The first wicket came with Dutchy finally getting a favourable LBW decision when switching ends.

Nav then set about another long spell from one end following Dutchy’s 13 over marathon opening spell. Nav continued his fine jug form, and bagged another 5 wickets which is important for fantasy league points!

Dunn’e’ and H on his return, bowled a tight stump to stump line, without any success and were unlucky not to pick up wickets with their figures not doing them justice.

Dutchy and Nav saw off the end of the innings with some tight bowling which meant the batsman failed to score freely with. A total of 211 on a hot day with a small boundary and quick outfield was gettable……surely! Another very good fielding performance by all, minus a few nutmegs along the way.

Kappa and Clive began the chase at lightening speed with Kappa timing the nuts out of a pull shot that is probably still going now, or at least he is still talking about it now!

Value for money was definitely on offer with proper cricket shots being rewarded with boundaries. Clive was busy timing the ball through the covers, and Kappa busy playing enterprising cricket shots, and both were scoring quickly. 50 up very quickly.

Proving that there was something in the pitch the opening bowler got Clive with a very good delivery which went up the hill and took the top of off stump.

Nav next in began playing through the line of the ball hitting it hard and clean before watching Kappa at the other end make his first Saturday 50 of the season. Kick on go and win the game for us lads we’re in a good position here….no.

Both Nav and Kappa lose their wickets in quick succession with Smirnoff and Miles in ready to take us to victory.

Steady as she goes these two got us down to 26 to win, before Miles went LBW, Dutchy walks in smashed 2 boundaries gets words of advice from Smirnoff and duly walks back not long after. It was down to Dunn’e’ and captain Smirnoff to lead us home and to another valuable 30 points.

With the league looking tight this is a good victory with anything possible this season, a few more good performances like this will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season!!