Taylor Bowling Masterclass Leaves Title in the Balance

The Sunday 1st XI ensured the title race stayed wide open with a victory over Woodhall Spa at The Lindum. Woodhall won the toss and decided to have a bat on a rain-affected wicket, and it showed in the score as they were bowled out for 89. Dan made the breakthrough early on, as a shot was looped straight to Aidan at square leg who took the catch with ease. Mr Happy Ted claimed the second wicket with the simplest of catches being taken by Elliott at short cover. After the debacle of the last fixture vs Woodhall, there was always going to be a run-out this time around, and this proved to be the case as a quick single was nonchalantly turned down by the non-striker, allowing Dan to throw to Lils who duly whipped off the bails. Ted was then cheered up even more by Wells' 'effort' to catch one off his bowling, failing to reach one which was going all of 7cm over his head. He then made a fairly reasonable effort to catch one, again off Ted's bowling, diving forward at cover, only for it to bounce off the soggy turf into his chin. Standards Wells. Dan got his second wicket, clean bowling the number five who attempted, and failed, to swipe a full, straight one over the Cathedral. Run-out number two, and this one was ever so satisfying, came via a superb direct hit from Aidan, which somehow saw the out batsman be dismissed despite the rule that he can never be given out from a run out. Strange. Anyway, five wickets had fallen and it was time to bring the main strike bowler into the attack. Unfortunately none were playing, so Will Taylor had to come on. After some short bowling from over the wicket had come to no avail, a switch to around the wicket paid dividends, as a lightning quick bouncer deceived the batsman as he inside edged it onto his stumps. Will claimed his second wicket with a cunning delivery, as the batsman played all around it and thought he'd been bowled, leading him to wander three feet outside his crease which allowed Lils all the time in the world to take off the bails. Will soon found himself on a hat-trick as his well-placed short, wide delivery was edged to Max at deep-gully. The hattrick ball was almost a carbon copy, only for the edge to just evade a diving Aidan at slip. However, Will's fourth wicket soon followed, with Ozzy taking the low catch at point. With only one wicket needed for that illustrious fifer, it was written that the tenth wicket would be Will's. However, Harry Wells decided to spoil the party as another thick edge off his bowling found its way to Elliot at fly-slip. Woodhall 89 all out, Will's 4-19 a standout performance of the season, and one which the umpire in particular very much enjoyed.

Lindum's chase got off to a wobbly start as Aidan fell early, edging to gully for seemingly his first score under 50 for weeks. However, an excellent second wicket stand between Ozzy and Rob Noble put Lindum in a strong position, before Rob fell for a well made 24. Elliott was then run out by a lightning quick piece of fielding for one, before Ozzy was caught behind for around 30. This left Max and Ollie to knock off the 20ish runs needed for victory, and with the rain settling in, the umpires, and especially the players, and especially the wicketkeeper who was halfway back to Woodhall, were keen to leave the field. However, common sense prevailed and the game continued, as the two scratched around to knock off the total with plenty of overs to spare. 20 points in the bag, and it's all down to the fixture between Boston and Revesby in two weeks' time to determine the destination of the Premier League trophy. A Boston win will see them win the title, while a Revesby win or a cancellation due to weather will see Lindum retain the crown.