4th XI win away at Brooklands

With 5 minutes to the start of the game, still no Tayyab so I suppose I should choose to bat given the choice. Another hot day so let’s get the Brooklands lads warmed up given the choice. Thankfully a good call and bat we did.

Zain & Farooq had first dibs and soon settled to task in what would be a best so far this season opening partnership of 60. Zain was the more belligerent of the two scoring the bulk of the partnership before Farooq fell for a patient 13. Shoaib joined Zain and helped add 25 for the second wicket before falling bowled for 19. It was around the midpoint in the innings and it was hoped that a 200+ total might be possible. Billy and Zain looked comfortable up to the point Zain got spooked by a good bouncer from Mitchell. He decided that regardless of where the next ball pitched it was going over deep mid-on or mid-wicket for 6. Unfortunately he missed it and was comprehensively bowled for 57 which should have been far more. Gary joined Billy to partner him in scoring 24 but then knicked off for 1. 3 wickets fell quickly & it looked a bit dodgy but Bilal held firm playing with some flair for 46. Tayyab & Karl batted out the last 4 overs or so for 30 in what would be a match winning partnership. The innings concluding on 193 for 8. Pick of the Brooklands bowling being provided by Mitchell with 3 for 32.

Was & Will opened the bowling and established a grip on the Brooklands innings that was seldom broken. Was had Willard well held at a deep gully position for 2 which brought Naueed to the crease. He played well in scoring 43. Edwards also played well for 27 before Dhan got him to play on. Steady bowling did not allow the Brooklands innings to keep up with the required rate although the skipper was worried when Tayyab pulled up lame after 1 over. He tossed the ball to Billy who whirled off a great 10 over spell of 3 for 38, supported by some occasional slow spin from Zain. Mitchel batted belligerently for 29 and might have pulled Brooklands back for the chance of a win before being bowled by Waseem. Steady inroads into the Brooklands batters thereafter aided by a little luck meant they closed on 174 for 9 for a 19 run win. Waseem was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 35.

A second win on the bounce has provided renewed confidence in advance of playing 2nd place Northwich next week.