3rd XI - 3rds Fight back and Give Promotion chasers a Fright.

On a gloriously sunny September Saturday Horton arrived for the final game of the season just to enjoy the game after safety from relegation had been achieved last week. Our opponents Old needed 28 points minimum to gain promotion so could we spoil the party?

So to the toss. Kev duly lost it but to our surprise Old decided to put us in to bat. Enter the 2 Paul's namely Wolstenholme and Das to open the batting. Paul W looking to break his unlucky sequence and Paul D looking to show the 3rd team skipper his consistent 4th team form. Both strode confidently to the crease and when Dassy struck the first balll effortlessly through point it looked like the innings would get off to a good start.

The first four overs passed with no dramas until over 5 when Dassy was hit on the pads with the score on 6. Paul didn't even wait for the umpire to confirm the inevitable and walked. In came Dave Morgan looking to continue where he left off last week and after taking guard edged his first ball to a diving First slip. 6 for 2. Paul watching from the other end now even more determined to stick around. Over number 6 and four balls later a solid forward defensive shot saw the ball trickle back on to the base of off stump and an agonised Paul saw the off bail topple. Horton now in serious trouble at 6 for 3. The next three wickets all seemed to happen in a blur. First Alan Pitt was adjudged to be LBW for 1 , Harry Patel out to another stunning slip catch for just 2 and Finn Herrington going in at number 7 left his second ball only to see it clip the top of the off stump. 9 overs gone and Horton floundering at 9 for 6. ( Not quite the start the skipper had hoped for)

Dylan Martin entered the fray at number 8 only because he managed to get his kit on before Kev and joined Ian Street at the crease. What followed was the start of our recovery with both Ian and Dylan digging in and building a steady partnership. The pair batted sensibly , putting away the bad balls and defending stoutly. By drinks at 22 overs we had reached 59 for 6 , an excellent 50 partnership. With the score on 61 Dylan inside edged a ball to the keeper's pads only to see it rebound on to the stumps with him out of his ground . Skipper Kev now fully knitted out joined Ian next and the pair put on another 15 runs before Kev was bowled for 4 with the score now 76 for 8 in the 32nd over. Mitchell and George Pitt batted out the remaining overs with Ian who kept the innings together with both lads looking solid at the crease. Mitchell unfortunately set off for a single too late and was run out for 1, but George saw off the final 7 overs with Ian finishing on 4 not out. Streety had batted through 42 overs and with the final ball of the innings reached a well deserved unbeaten 50. Horton managing to post 105 for 9 in 45 overs.

Old had therefore missed out on their final bowling point meaning that the pressure was on for them to win in double quick time to achieve the batting points needed to get promoted. They needed to win the game inside 21 overs to do this.
The innings started with Kev fired up and hitting the pads twice in the first over. The second of which according to the skipper hitting the big toe slap in front of middle stump, Not Out according to the umpire. A disgruntled Kev trudged down to fine leg and duly asked the pitch side photographer had he got it on camera !

Kev's next over saw him clean up the opener for 3 and then hinting to the umpire that he did bowl straight. Kev's third over saw him remove the other opener clean bowled to reach 20 wickets for the season and put Old on the rack at 12 for 2. We continued to plough on without much luck with both Paul W and Dylan bowling some good deliveries without success.

Once again a change of pace saw the breakthrough. Ian Street picked up the next two wickets. First Mawby LBW for 21 and then bowling big hitting Lund for 30. Old were now rocking at 69 for 4. When Ian took the fifth wicket with the total at 85 we sensed that an improbable win might be on the cards. Enter Mitchell Boffin into the attack , three more victims saw Old now at 101 for 8. The field came in to pressure the final couple of batsman with them running out of players and overs. They finally got over the line with a streaky slog over the infield to reach 106 for 8 in 20.4 overs thus securing their bonus points with two balls to spare.

Horton had done themselves proud and pushed the opponents right to the end with Ian finishing a successful day with figures of 3 for 19 and Mitchell 3 for 23.

This game highlighted our season with struggles with the bat but with determined bowling and fielding meaning that we have given every side this season a run for their money.

I wish to thank everyone who has played alongside me this season for their efforts and their support. It has been a real pleasure to see the lads stepping up from the 4ths and making telling contributions in Division 8 and this really bodes well for next season.

We finish the year in 7th place but with the knowledge that with a few more runs on the board next season we could be challenging the big boys.

By Kev Taylor - A grateful and Proud 3rd team Captain !