Lindum March to 5th Win in a Row

The 2nd XI's fine run of form continued with a comfortable victory at home to Alkborough on Saturday. Skipper Ollie won the toss and, after a small deliberation and a look at the questionable forecast, the decision was made to play to our strengths and have a bat. In-form openers Pricey and Ozzy got us off to a flyer, racing along to 44 before Ozzy edged one to slip via the keeper for a rapid 25. Aidan was in at three but fell LBW shortly after, and he was replaced by George who had been demoted to number four from his opening slot last week, despite scoring 95. Harsh punishments for bottling a ton in this team. George played a couple of delightful strokes before holing out to mid-on for 13, leaving Lindum 84-3. Pricey meanwhile continued to bat nicely in front of his visiting family, and everyone could sense a big score was on the horizon. Euan added 40 with Pricey, but his contribution of just three of those tells you it wasn't the most fluent of innings from the youngest Pickering as he was caught at deep cover for three. Max was then caught first ball after perfectly picking out square leg, and Lindum were suddenly in a spot of bother on 125-5. Harry Wells was in at number seven and, after a more than scratchy start which saw him score two off 25 balls with his broomstick bat, he soon found his touch ad batted well alongside Pricey, whose inevitable ton came up off 74 balls shortly after drinks. He added 17 more before being brilliantly caught and bowled for his highest league score of 117. Ollie was in next but was bowled for one after playing the wrong line by about three yards, which brought Angus in at nine. He played a typical Angus innings, mixing attacking strokes with good running as Wellsy brought up his 50 just before Angus was caught for a quickfire 31. Zac was caught for 0 and Wellsy was bowled for 51 to leave Lindum 277 all out in the 47th over and confident of defending the total.

CalvinKlein Pickering and the increasing reliable Jordan opened up for Lindum and after a small resistance from the Alkborough openers, Jordan got the breakthrough as a snick was snaffled behind by Euan. A 30 minute rain break threatened to disrupt Lindum's winning streak but the showers passed and the game continued. Angus soon got the inevitable second wicket, clean bowling the swinging-and-missing number three, before Jordan finally got the wicket he was craving after developing quite the rivalry with the opener who he trapped LBW to leave the visitors 67-3. Although Zac seemed to enjoy that one even more than Jordan. Wicket number four also fell on 67 as Zac, developing quite the voice, took the comfortable catch at cover off George. A fifth wicket partnership of 50 frustrated Lindum and with rain clouds
once again circling, the 20 points began to look in doubt. However, when the number six took a suicidal second to Ollie, the run out triggered a lower order collapse for the visitors. Angus took wicket number six as a thick leading edge was snaffled by Aidan at point, before the second-spell expert Jordan Peters returned to the attack. Alkborough's lack of an 11th man meant only three more wickets were needed for the full 20, and once the top-scoring number five was caught at the last second by Ozzy at cover off Jordan, the only thing that could prevent the victory was the rain. Thankfully, JP bowled one and had the last man trapped LBW to complete his second fifer in as many weeks and once again hand Lindum the win. 20 points and five wins in a row - what a time to be a Rambler!