How did we lose that?
Atherstone 119 all out, Fillongley 106 all out.
A very disappointing loss to Atherstone today after two excellent wins over the weekend. We lost through letting the game drift when Atherstone looked set for a total of 70 odd at best, and then scuppered our chances in our innings with two disastrous run outs. All credit to Mike Pickering with 84 out of a total of 119, and to Smith who gave him the support he needed at the end of the innings. Also Phil Hammond with 21 not out, Dave Slade batting at the end, Junior (4-25) and Andy (3-38). This is how it went.
1.30 Matt Pickering and Luke Reeves go out on a track that looks full of runs.
1.35 Reeves goes for it from ball one but gets cleaned up by Junior (5-1)
1.40 Andy Moore get the important wicket of Matt Pickering. Stone dead in front of middle stump to a beautiful inswinger. So I’m told. (5-2)
1.45 Clements is bowled by Gardner (11-3)
2.30 Atherstone have collapsed to 33-6 and the game is won. Mike Pickering is still there with 19.
2.45 45-7. Numbers 6, 7 and 8 have got ducks. Tea at the end of the game I think. 24 points again. Bring on Exhall and Wixford.
3.30 Seems like everyone is thinking like me. Pickering has 66 and Smith, the young wicket keeper has provided him with the support he needs. They have put on 50 before Andy comes back and bowls Smith (99-8)
4.00 All out 119. Pickering made 84 not out, Smith 15 and the rest 11 between them. More than it should have been but not problem.
4.40 Barber and Simon Blackmore open up, but for Barber it’s another day another duck. His third ball goes to slip.
5.10 Andy Carty is in control. He already has 26 before Simon Blackmore goes for 0. (33-2)
5.30 54-2. Pro and Aaron on top and the runs coming quickly. We’ve won. But wait. Aaron calls Pro for a ludicrous third run and Pro, jogging the two, is miles out despite the throw being nothing special.
6.05 Aaron, Tom Nightingale and Neil Stringer have gone and we have collapsed to 64-6. We have a long tail today. The game is lost.
6.10 Andy Moore has to give support to Phil. He starts well against Pickering, but then calls a suicidal bye and is out by a mile.
6.20 Shaun out first ball. 79-9. 41 short and only Dave Slade left
6.50 Phil and Dave have made a great attempt to pull the game out of the fire. With Phil taking Pickering and Dave blocking the other end the openers are bowled out and a stand of 27 has us only 13 short.
6.51 Dave is given out to a questionable caught behind and its all over.