Humberlievable Win for 2s

The 2nd XI recorded a mammoth win at Barton Town on Saturday to lift themselves off the foot of the table. The side travelled up to the banks of the River Humber with a point to prove after a lame defeat at home to BBH last week, and things started well as skipper Ollie thankfully won the toss and couldn't get the words 'We'll have a bat' out quick enough. A hard deck and a lightning quick outfield beckoned. Pricey and Ozzy once again opened up and the two got Lindum off to a quick start, putting on 65 for the first wicket before Pricey snicked one behind for 33 in the 11th over. The MIF skipper came in at three and was lured in by a loopy full toss, eyeing up the gap at mid-wicket rather than the ball itself, which he missed, and it planted agonisingly slowly onto his leg stump. Ever feel like you've missed out? Bobby Noble was in at four and he made eight before he was given LBW to one he had a slight frown about. 91-3 in the 19th. This is where the innings really got going as big Joe Peatman came in at number five and started to whack it while also playing some lovely cricket strokes. Meanwhile Ozzy continued to work it around brilliantly at the other end, bringing up his first 50 of the season. The score rattled along to 170 before Ozzy was caught for 69 in the 30th over and a big score looked to be on the cards, with Max the man in at number six and the platform perfectly set for a textbook Bauer innings. Joe continued to score quickly, bringing up his own 50 in 40 balls via a drop from long-on who nearly headbutted the ball during his attempt. After a partnership of just shy of 50 in around five overs, Joe snicked one behind for 66 to his own annoyance, passing up the chance of a triple hundred at the rate he was going. 219-5 in the 35th and 300 very much in sight. Max settled in and played some ridiculous strokes, including some delicious leg glances and one tracked, lofted straight drive which can only be described as real, REAL noiice. Meanwhile after around 15 balls of not finding the middle of the bat, Wellsy found his rhythm and joined Max in whacking the ball to all parts. I don't think it's a coincidence that when Wells uses someone else's bat than his own, that he bats quite well? The benefits of not batting with a piece of skirting board. Anyway Max's 50 came up in just 31 balls and he raced along to 72 from 43 before he was cleaned up, but what a superb innings. Louie Sadler was unfortunate to come and go for 0 which left the score on 297-7 with around four overs to go. Ted went in to join Wells and there was no holding up in terms of runs, with the two putting on 40 in the last four overs. Two particular highlights from that period were 1) Wellsy's leg glance off his pads which sailed over square leg for six and just screamed 4be2, and 2) Ted's exquisite leant cover drive which he will still be going on about while sat in critic's corner in 2065. The 50 overs came to a close with Lindum finishing on a stupendous 337-7. But, it was only half a job done...

The defence was never going to be easy, with Barton's aggressive approach, added to the favourable conditions, providing a constant threat. Their openers came out and played their shots, but Jordan made the welcome breakthrough in the eighth over with 34 on the board, Louie Buckets Sadler taking the diving forward catch at square leg. Barton's score soon doubled as they made the most of the conditions, but the second wicket arrived in the 13th over as, after a tight first few overs, Joe landed one on the spot, yorking the number three who was cleaned up for 11. Barton's number four came out swinging to everything Joe fired at him, missing most of them and top edging one to Jordan at third man which he couldn't quite get his hands around. However, the inevitable soon happened with the score on 88 as Joe's yorker again proved too good to handle as the bails were again sent flying. Barton's dangerous opener made his way to 44 and it was clear he needed to stay in if Barton were to chase the total - thankfully, Joe delivered once again in a carbon copy of his first two wickets; yorker, big swing, stumps made a mess of. 89-4 and Lindum were smelling blood. Joe kept running in and got his just rewards, clean bowling the number six to earn his fourth. However, cramped calves denied him his Michelle as he finished with match-defining figures of 11-3-31-4. Jordan claimed his second and Lindum's sixth as one looped up to Buckets Sadler at mid-wicket, before a 40 partnership was brought to an end by young Zac Shelbourne, clean bowling Barton's number eight for seven. Barton's last remaining line of defence, who scored a ton in this fixture last year, was also removed by Zac for 38 thanks to a pure pea-roller - Zac was so sorry for the circumstances of the dismissal that he almost withdrew his appeal and took the batsman out on a date. 170-8. It was then Wellsy's turn to get in on the action, earning himself a sharp caught and bowled meaning Lindum were just one wicket away from a most welcome 20 points. It looked as though it may not come as Barton's 10 and 11 denied Lindum until the 47th over, before the returning Jordan cleaned up the number 11 to bowl Barton out for 214 and hand Lindum the 123 run victory. Almost the complete all-round performance, and the perfect way to end the first half of the season. Now to use it as momentum to take us up the table!

UTL