Exiles Safe After Victory

A massive game where a win would secure the spot in Division 3 with a game to spare. The Broughton skipper wont the toss and decided to field first.

Beggers and Nabil opened up and in the third over Nabil's defences were breached as he was bowled going for a drive. 5-1 off three overs. Rob Noble came to the crease and it was a very watchful but necessary spell that followed as the score was on 46 in the 20th over when Beggers received a sharp lifting delivery off a length that took the edge of the bat and then knocked off the bails. Further drama was included in the partnership as a pulled hamstring meant a runner was required and Nabil returned to the field of play. Broughton also had their own injury troubles as two players temporarily left the field during the innings.
Ben Morrison joined Rob and settled in quickly looking to push on the rate with quick singles and at drinks the score was 69-2 off 23. Unfortunately, the first ball struck as Ben drove to cover and Tom Boiling soon followed run out trying to get back for a second. It was now 78-4 off 25 and another big partnership was necessary. Aadil was the next man in and a further watchful period followed as a platform was set. The score progressed onto 115-4 off 37 overs and with eight overs left runs were required for a decent score to be posted. The boundary was found on increased frequency before Aadil departed for 27 with the score 140 and then Rob for a very well built innings of 79 and the score now 156-6 in the 43rd over. The lower order all chipped in with quick running between the wickets and the odd boundary to take the final score to 166-9 from the 45 overs.

Sophie and Ben opened the bowling and, despite chances being created, a few were missed as a couple of catches went down or just evaded the fielders. Ben did strike in the sixth over but a frustrating start of the innings left the game in the balance at 69-1 off 20 overs. It had the feeling of being another close one! Rob bowled a tight spell and at the other end Anton joined the attack taking a wicket, sharply caught by Harry with the gloves, in his second over. At drinks the score was 73-2 off 23 and a strong restart was required to keep the rate low and increase the runs required. It was a great effort all round as a hold was kept on the runs as well as a couple of wickets (another for Anton and one for Aadil) falling to leave the score 121-4 off 35 and 46 runs required off the final 10.
Before Sophie and Ben returned to share the final overs, Anton continued to restrict the new batsmen and claimed his third wicket so the equation was now 24 required from five overs. Sophie claimed the crucial wicket of the opposition captain, smartly caught by Beggers at a slightly deep slip position, and this seemed to swing the tight battle in our favour as it was 13 needed from two overs. The rate was finally just above a run a ball and whilst the new batsman tried to find the boundaries Ben's final over went for just three. Massive. 10 needed from the last over and Sophie also held her nerve as just two came from the first five balls meaning barring any disasters the game was done. The final ball was struck to the boundary for four so the game ended in a three run victory.

So a massive win and a relief having missed out on a couple of close ones recently when defending decent scores. Very well played all round with a great fielding display (despite a couple of early missed catches) and also tight bowling throughout restricting all batsmen from finding any decent rhythm. 15 points securing the position in Division 3 as we're now out of reach from the relegation zone. Final game next week at home against Alford and with a couple of teams with no fixture, there is a chance to potentially sneak a couple of places into mid table so it is still all to play for.

Matt Brett