Happy returns for the Wes
Just six days after their defeat in the cup game, Almondbury Wesleyans returned for the league encounter. Darrell Sykes, unavailable the previous weekend, Partnered s Matlub in opening the attack as Thurstonland batted first. The contrast with the previous Saturday's weather conditions could scarcely have been greater with so called 'cricket weather' here at last. The start was not as brisk as in the cup game and S Matlub, bowling from the pavilion end this time, posed problems with late movement for both the home team's openers. Nathan Appleyard hit one boundary before lofting a catch off him to Tom Binns and Darrell Sykes quickly removed Jack Oldham, scorer of the accomplished half century in the cup encounter, when he gained an lbw decision although there appeared to be at least a hint of the ball hitting the bat before the pads.
Chris (2) had stuggled to get going in the face of some accurate bowling and he succumbed to a catch in the gully by Will Binns off Matlub when he drove with the bat a little away from his body and when Neil Booth was lbw for nought, although he seemed a long way down the track, the scoreboard showed an innings already in trouble at 17/4. A lovely ease through the covers for four had got Tom Broom off the mark and he was now joined by Greg Holmes. The former added two more boundaries, the second of which was a forceful but controlled straight drive off Oliver Shaw but he was bowled next ball for thirteen. When Joe Law (1) did not get to the pitch of the ball when attempting a drive the catch was easily taken in the covers by Darrell Sykes to give Shaw his second victim the innings was in ruins at 27/6.
Ryan Hunter and Greg then carried out a mini-revival. The latter played positively and hit five excellent boundaries whilst Ryan indulged in one six but played in quite a restrained manner by his standards as the total reached 62. There were small hints of frustration developing in the visitors and four or five more overs of this stand might have begun to bring about a marked change in fortunes but it was not to be. S Matlub came back into the attack and had Greg lbw playing no shot, a disappointing end to an innings of 23 which had plenty of good shots in it.
The innings came to a close in a rush. Lee Booth (2) and George Pinder (0) were bowled by Matlub and David Rishton, again looking well forward, was lbw to the same bowler who ended with the impressive figures of 6/10. Ryan was left on eighteen not out and in a season where the home sides batting has not really fired yet a score of 72 was yet another all out total if under 100.
Will Binns (32*) and Jack Ghee (37*) played sensible cricket in knocking off the runs. David Rishton opened the bowling with Joe Law who saw Nathan Appleyard uncharacteristically drop a chance offered by Will Binns when he had scored just one. David bowled tidily and conceded just twelve runs from his twelve overs but the visiting openers waited for their opportunities and a ten wicket win came in the 25th over, ample revenge for their defeat in the cup six days before.
Team: Chris Flanagan Nathan Appleyard (w/k) Jack Oldham Tom Broom Neil Booth Greg Holmes Joe Law Ryan Hunter Lee Booth George Pinder David Rishton.
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