A Win to Begin

Before we begin the match report, a massive welcome to the new players who have arrived at the club this year, particularly Aussie Ben Rolfs who joins us from Melbourne University and will be the 1st XI's overseas this season. Since arriving he's seen the weather change its mind more than Will Wright while running a single, but fortunately got a warm one for his debut, albeit at Grantham. Go well Rolfsy!

The 1st XI began the 2018 season in spectacular fashion with a fine win away at Grantham on a day tailor-made to be burnt to a crisp. Skipper and new father Charlie won the toss and controversially chose to bat first on a wicket which had seen more rain than the Amazon since its last game in September. However, the decision paid dividends as openers Will W and Pierce Morley-Barnes, who returns to the side after a prolonged spell in the gym and away from the barbers, made a terrific start to the innings, putting on 141 before P fell for 68. Like riding a bike. Aidan added five but then got out, before Will completed his first century of the season at the very first attempt. Wriiiiighhtttt. He was next to go for a run-a-ball 126 with the score on 247, before Charlie was bowled for 35. The big hitters of the side, Grant and Jake, were sent in to smack some late boundaries, but neither could live up to the tag this time around and fell for two and nought respectively. The Great Wall of Lindum, aka Spokesy boii, went in at seven but was ran out for one, leaving Ben and Elliott without a run but wickets in tact. The innings came to a close on 258-7.

Grantham's reply got off to the dream start as far as Lindum were concerned, another new man Jordan Peters found the edge of the Grantham opener's bat and there was Jake at slip who stuck out a hand and plucked it from the air like a nice juicy apple in to remove him for five. After a second wicket partnership just short of 50, Rolfsy took his first wicket in Lindum colours (whites), removing the other opener for 29 with the catch again taken by Jake. Rolfs soon doubled his tally (rumours of sandpaper involvement are rife), with Will taking the catch, before a partnership of 80+ got the Lindum nerves jangling a tad. Elliott Dalton, no thanks to PlayCricket, was the man to break the partnership; a leg stump half volley was snaffled at mid-wicket by Grant Mugabe. Jake then got in on the action in the wickets column, removing Grantham's half centurion with a little help from Bish behind the stumps. Rolfsy took his third, clean bowling the number six with 70 still required. A late charge from the Grantham's number seven (33) made bums a little squeaky, but Elliott removed the danger of a Grantham win with two more wickets, restricting the hosts to 248-8 from their 50 overs, meaning Lindum take 18 valuable points from the back yard of last season's runners up.