Four in A Row for the Ramblers

The 2nd XI maintained their survival push with a convincing win over a weakened Nettleham side at the LCG. Skipper Benno opted to stick to what we know and have a bat first, with Aidan and Picko senior opening up. After a relatively quick start, thanks largely to a hefty amount of wides, Aidan's short but sweet innings came to an end, caught behind for 15. Picko followed soon after for seven, bowled by one that nipped in, approximately 15 seconds after telling Ollie to watch for the one that nips in. Ollie was then bowled for two, which will soon be his average for the season. This left Lindum in a bit of a pickle on 33-3, before Lils and Angus did a magnificent job of steadying the ship against some tight bowling. Reaching drinks on 117-3, a healthy platform had been set, however both batsmen were both bowled soon after, Lils for 39 and Angus for 44, which brought the two classiest, most elegant batsmen at the club, DT and Max, to the crease. Both whacked scores in the mid 20s to take Lindum to a healthy total before getting out. The tail then fell like a deck of cards, sack of spuds, you name it, with three ducks and 1* to leave Lindum with 185 to defend.

Lindum produced another excellent bowling and fielding display as Nettleham fell 43 short of the total. The innings began frustratingly for Lindum, with aerial shots evading fielders and one wicket being ruled out through a no-ball. The umpire also made a decision which 'cost Elliott six runs', which Elliott made him very aware of. The first wicket finally fell as an ugly swipe went straight down the throat of Aidan at cow off Benno. The saying 'one brings two' proved extremely accurate as Dan claimed batsman number three in the next over as Picko took a straight forward catch, despite a juggle, at slip. The third wicket partnership was Nettleham's only real hope of winning the game, and at drinks it looked as though that may well be the case. However, the partnership was broken not long after as Dewy bowled a classic Dewy delivery which was snicked to slip, and there was Picko senior to snaffle a Ben Stokes-esque one handed worldie to bring the opener's nine-lives innings to an end. The dangerous number four was now the only thing standing in the way of a Lindum victory. Well, they say bad balls take wickets, and evidently so do absolutely disgusting balls. A short, wide, horror of a long-hop was thrown down by Elliott, which the batsman obviously found too hard to resist, or felt sympathy for or something, as he slapped it loopingly straight in to the hands of Dan at cover. Dewy then struck twice in quick succession, before Elliott claimed ugly wicket number two as a wild flick found Aidan at square leg. Dewy struck for a fourth time as the batsman shouldered arms to one that was hitting him in front of all three, before claiming his first Michelle of the season with a full toss on leg stump which was whipped straight to Angus at square leg. Gus then came on to seal the win, finding the thick edge of the number 11 which DT gobbled up at gully like an off-licence Calippo. Another 20 points, but plenty more needed.