Batter-ed!
Just the gory details for the moment, as its getting late! Handsworth started the game third to bottom of the league, while we were second to top. Now they are above us after a spectacular batting display. They hit a total of 22 sixes in a mammoth total of 339-6. S Ahmed led the way with an unbeaten 145. For once we were ragged in the field. It was really the first time this season that we have been under real pressure in the field, and we were not very good. The last five overs saw the wheels come off big time – sixes flying to all sorts of previously unexplored parts of adjoining fields, while potential alternative bowlers hid behind trees on the boundary.
On to our innings. Eight or nine an over is nothing to Tom Barber, and he was on course to get the runs himself before drinks, but sadly got stumped before the end of the first over. Ben Fleming made 32 but a mid innings collapse had us in danger of missing out on batting points, let alone hanging on for a losing draw
In fairness we were never going to match the Handsworth total but it was disappointing to be bowled out for 204 with about eight overs left. Aaron Blackmore continued his run of form with a quality knock of 93. But for this innings we might have been very severely embarrased. At the end Andy Moore defended stoutly for an hour while our total crept up to 200 and the fourth batting point. There were still plenty of overs left though, and Handsworth got the wickets for a deserved win. They could well be candidates for the title this year.
