Allsop Cup - Round 1
What a difference a day makes
The visit of last season's champions for the first round cup tie had been anticipated as a tough game as soon as the draw was made. In the light of the trials of the previous day's league game the match was approached with about the same level of optimism as that felt by a moose on viewing a hat stand but part of the fascination of sport is its unpredictability and a very different game was enjoyed with even the weather at last showing signs of improvement.
The visitors got off to a steady start and Will Binns and Jack Ghee put on 47 in an opening stand as they set a foundation for a challenging total. Lee Booth bowled with metronomic accuracy in his uninterrupted twelve overs with just six singles being taken from his allotted spell. He made the breakthrough when Joe Law took a good low catch at mid wicket to dismiss Ghee for 20. Joe himself had also stuck to his task well in opening the attack although he remained without a wicket. He has not been favoured with the best of fortune so far this season and his figures do not really reflect the efforts he has put in.
Jack England relieved him as first change but he struggled to find his rhythm and after just three overs was in turn replaced by Tom Broom.
Tom Binns had helped Will to raise the score to 72 in the 26th over and thoughts were beginning to turn to an onslaught when David Rishton struck in his second over as he replaced Lee. Nathan Applyard stumped T Binns as he tried to go down the wicket to drive and John Hoyle was caught for ten by Russell Mottram, also off David's bowling. Matthew Henshaw then played in his usual positive fashion as he and Will Binns tried to accelerate the scoring but both David and Tom Broom allowed few liberties although the score had advance to 142 when Nathan brought off a good second stumping to dismiss W Binns whose 63 runs were of great value to his side.
It was not long before the Appleyard/Rishton combination struck again as Henshaw was caught off a thin edge for a robust 38 and the last ball of the innings saw David take his fifth wicket as he held on to a caught and bowled to dismiss Coe Byrne for three leaving the visitors on 160 for 6 and David with figures of 5/32.
After the trials of the previous day it was a relief to see the Thurstonland innings off to a positive start with three boundaries in the first four overs although a wicket fell in the fifth over when Nathan was caught by Jack Ghee off S Matlub for 10. Chris Flanagan had already survived being dropped off a sharp return catch offered to Will Binns but he took full advantage by driving the next delivery to the cover boundary and later hitting both Binns and first change bowler T Jackson for six.
After a circumspect start Jack Oldham hit a three and a four in successive deliveries after which he batted in his usual pleasing style mixing watchful defence with boundaries and well run singles and twos. The score had rattled along to 65 when, in the sixteenth over, what seemed like a routine if rather brisk single ended with Chris being run out by a direct hit to the bowler's wicket. It was a close call but his score of 34 was beginning to promise much more and his frustration at the nature of his dismissal told its own tale. Russell Mottram had one good pull for four before off spinner Oliver Shaw induced him into a mistimed drive from which he was caught by Jack Ghee. The bowler then took another two wickets. Firstly Tom Broom was lured into driving too soon to be caught and bowled for three whilst Richard Briggs (5) looked in little trouble in support of Jack until wicket keeper Hoyle caught the third rebound from Will Binns at slip after the latter suggested he was a juggler down on his luck and trying to impress a circus impresario.
Ryan Hunter came in at 110/5 with fifty-one wanted in thirteen overs. He then took the initiative. Jack reached his fifty soon after being joined by Ryan and at this stage added fifteen successive singles whilst Ryan drove positively, hitting four fours and a six and reached thirty before lofting the returning S Matlub to Tom Binns for a well struck 30. Lee Booth (11*) then helped Jack to reach the target, ending matters with an uncompromising straight hit for six off Will Binns from the last ball of the penultimate over. Jack remained undefeated with a fine 61 not out which earned the praise of those who watched his innings.
Team: Chris Flanagan Nathan Appleyard (w/k) Jack Oldham Russell Mottram Tom Broom Richard Briggs Ryan Hunter Lee Booth Joe Law Jack England David Rishton.
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