4th XI - Another great performance from the Legends

The Legends traveled to Bugbrooke without regular skipper Paul Das (who was busy arranging the Curry Night) and were greeted by an enthusiastic, experienced mid-table side and a plastic wicket, resulting in much undoing of spikes on arrival!

The stand-in skipper won the toss and elected to bowl first. Opening the bowling, George Pitt and Lewis Orton bowled excellent opening spells with both bowlers regularly beating the bat. The first wicket was taken with the score on 6, caught A Pitt bowled G Pitt. (Something long overdue to those in the know - since one of the Pitts is quite a good cricketer and the other is Alan)

With the score on 42-1 after 12 overs it was time for a change with Finn Herrington and Mitch Boffin taking over. Finn bowled a miserly line off an enforced shorter run up and Mitch troubled both batsmen, taking the next wicket to fall LBW to end a threatening stand of 69. This brought Bugbrooke’s returning 1st teamer to the crease (first game back after injury) and with the opener E Trafford, they proceeded to open their shoulders and hit boundaries. The score went from 80-2 at 20 overs to 203-2 at 30 overs as both batsmen rode their luck as they went for the big shots.

It was time to bring back our opening bowlers for a spell and it was George who ended the stand of 128 by bowling opener Trafford for a well crafted 68. A 3-wicket maiden for George ensued which lifted everyone’s spirits after a tough few overs chasing leather. Could have actually been more...

An excellent catch by Rob Boffin off Finn saw the back of R Barnes for 98 and led to us finishing the innings by taking 4-46 in the last 10 overs, thanks mainly to some excellent death bowling by Adam Willis taking 3-19 in 3 overs. Everyone bowled and fielded really well with special mention for our keeper Ted who only conceded 2 byes.

We took tea relatively satisfied to restrict Bugbrooke to 249 after it looked like it may have been 300+ at one stage.

A new opening partnership of DKH and Timu (mind the windows) went out to bat determined to get us off to a good start. With Dan out for 2 it was left to Adam and Timu to work hard to put together a partnership of 24 in 12 overs. Bugbrooke’s opening bowlers were very tidy and conceded only 42 runs from their combined 18 overs, one bowler bowling 4 consecutive maidens.

Finn Herrington combined with Timu for a partnership of 18 and Alan for 21 as he played some excellent attacking shots in making 36.

With further good late order hitting by Lee Willis, Mitch and Rob Boffin we enjoyed watching both Boffins put on 18 unbroken runs at the end of our innings for us to end on 130-9.

Overall we lost to a strong side but should take great pride in not letting our heads drop and putting up a good fight with all of our younger players contributing. Special mention to Rob Boffin for standing in and playing at short notice and to Pete Orton and Corinne for scoring.

Stand-in Captain Alan Pitt