2nds Close Gap Despite Defeat

A very young 2nd XI suffered a close defeat at home to Caistor on Saturday, but earned enough bonus points to close the gap on the sides just above them in the table. Stand-in skipper Ollie carried on where Benno left off, losing the toss as Caistor decided to bat first under showery skies at the LCG. The wily old fox Matt Picko opened the bowling in the temporary absence of Angus who was busy delivering parcels or milk or babies or something. A tight spell from Matt, reciprocated by Dewy at the other end, saw early chances created yet the catches weren't held in the field. The breakthrough was finally made as Angus finally decided to rock up, somehow making the nine-lived opener leave one which hit him right in front of all three. Gus then took wicket number two as the other opened drove one straight into the hands of Max at cover. Unfortunately Max chose against using his hands and caught the ball rather painfully straight in his crotch. I'm certain I heard a pop. Max writhed around on the floor in agony as the rest of us celebrated the second wicket. The score was 90-2 in the 30th over with the 2s knowing all 10 wickets were required to gain as many points as possible. Dewy claimed wicket number three as Caistor's overseas chipped nonchalantly into the hands of Aidan at mid wicket, approximately 15 seconds after Ted turned to skipper Ollie and said 'pace off the ball isn't going to get wickets'. Inspired bowling change if I may say so myself. Ted then came into the attack and bowled excellently on his return to the side, taking two wickets for 21 from his seven overs. Tom Lea also chipped in with a wicket after a good diving catch by Aidan at mid-wicket. With four wickets still required, with the score on 150-6 from 43 overs, Wellsy returned to the attack and took three of them, before sealing all five bowling points with a run-out off the final ball. The batsman hit it straight back to him, with the non-striker deciding it was worth a run. Wellsy picked the ball up and had all the time in the world to walk to the stumps and knock the bails off, but instead opted to dangerously roll the ball at the stumps, which he thankfully hit, much to the relief of a heart-attack bound Matt Picko. Caistor closed on 179 all out.

Aidan and Ozzy opened up for Lindum but the story of the season continued as early wickets fell. Ozzy was bowled by a fine yorker for three before number three Ollie was caught behind off a tiny little shnick for eight. Lils went in number four and steadied the ship with Aidan, taking Lindum to around 55-2 at drinks. However, both fell shortly after, Aidan for 26 and Lils for 12, before Angus also went for three. Lindum's chances seemed to be fading, but a quick, defibrillator-inducing 23 from Max and nine from Tom put us in with a shout. Matt Picko went in at nine to join Wellsy who was hitting it sweetly, and the two took Lindum to 139-7 from 45, with 41 required from 30 balls. However, Picko picked out deep mid-wicket perfectly in the 48th over for a good 17. Dewy (15*) went in at 10 and whacked a couple of Georgie Twigg-esque fours, however it wasn't quite enough as Lindum closed on 166-8, 13 short of Caistor's total. Wellsy finished on 38 not out and takes a lot of the credit for earning three invaluable batting points.