BBH Too Strong for Ramblers

The 2nd XI fell to another defeat on Saturday at the hands of Bracebridge Heath 2s at the LCG. The visitors won the toss, obviously, and decided to bowl against an under-strength Lindum batting line up in the early start of 11am. Pricey and Ozzy opened up but an early wicket fell when the Kiwi lofted a drive straight to mid-off for six with the score on seven. He was replaced by skipper Ollie who added 33 with Ozzy before one snicked off his toeguard and into the keeper's gloves for 17. Ozzy batted nicely, playing some trademark Wizard cut shots before he was caught off a leading edge for 22. Wellsy came in at number five, sporting his new bat which came as an Ikea flat-pack set, and he added 30 with Euan before he also snicked off for 12. 87-4. Debutant Sam Nuttall was thrown in at the deep end at number six, and was unfortunate to be yorked for a duck. A trio of wickets then fell with the score on 92 - first Euan (30) was given LBW for the 104th time this season, Picko Senior (2) then skied one to mid-on who juggled and caught at the second attempt, and then Ted earned the worst shot of the season award by swiping past a straight one second ball. 92-8. This left Louie Sadler and Benno to pick up the pieces, and the two guided Lindum to 118 before Benno was caught at cow for 13. Still two runs short of a batting point, Jordan joined Louie in the middle with the challenge of getting at least two more runs. They did the job, and Louie in particular built on that by scoring an excellent 36, along with Jordan who added a well-made 13, before the former was bowled going for one big shot too many. 154 all out in the 48th over.

Jordan and Pricey opened the bowling and both did well to contain BBH's aggressive openers in the early stages of the innings. It was Jordan who got the breakthrough early on, forcing the edge off the visiting captain and Picko gobbled up the catch at slip. 8-1. This became 16-2 when, after a string of dot balls from Jordan which swung one way and then the other, one cannoned off the batsman's pads and into his stumps for 0. Lindum were in with a sniff. Even more so when wicket number three came with the score on 38, Pricey taking the sharp catch at gully, again off Jordan. However, some lacklustre fielding, slack bowling and lack of buzz in the group meant BBH were able to knock off the total for the loss of no more wickets in the 36th over. Despite the number three playing and missing at basically all of the excellent Ted's 42 deliveries, he finished on 32* along with the number five on 81*.

A big performance needed next week at second placed Barton.