3rds Beaten at Clee

Another tough week with selection left an inexperienced team to make the trip to Clee Town Laportes. The toss was won and the 3s batted first.
A lot of pressure was on the top order to build a platform for a decent score and this was delivered by Fisher and Carrick as they were going well with the score on 27 in the ninth until the first wicket fell. Fisher caught for eight. This triggered a collapse as Carrick followed in the next over for 18. Noble, Lewis and Hughes Pickering all fell quickly to leave the score on 50-5 and the 3s in big trouble. It was down to Kafait and Sam Nuttall to rebuild and they duly delivered though sensible batting strokes mixed with the standard Kafait aggression. At the second drinks break of 30 overs the score was 106-5 and a valuable 50 partnership had been reached. Optimism grew for a competitive total of perhaps 150....
Unfortunately this did not last long after the break as Nuttall (23) was given LBW with the score on 109 and Kafait (49) was bowled next over with the score still 109. The tail did not wag and it was just three runs from the Saturday debutant Sam Sheriff who added to the score with Brett and Iyer departing for 0 and the 3s ending 112 all out in the 36th over.

A big effort was required to defend the score and it got off to a great start as Nuttall claimed a wicket at the end of the first over, thanks also to a great catch by Lewis behind the stumps. Any hope of continuing this soon diminished as the batsmen took over in an aggressive manner striking the ball all round the park making it tricky to plan how to restrict as well as defend a high scoring rate. A partnership of 96 took them to the brink of the win before Brett and Iyer claimed one each and brought new batsmen to the crease to take Clee Town Laportes to the victory in the 15th over. The three wickets provided one point to take away from the game.

A tough day, leading to a heavy defeat, drops the 3s down the table to fifth but well in touch of those above them, and clear of those below. That is the league done for a little while as the new 30 over cup takes over with three group games coming up. Perhaps a good distraction to allow a rebuild so we come back hard in the league in middle of June.

Report by Matthew Brett