4's win for second week on the bounce

Rocking up at Styal in good time saw the 4s witnessing some last minute pitch and outfield preparation underway. Plus I suspect some emergency ringing round to fill the team up as the game started somewhat later than advertised.

Usman miraculously won the toss and asked Styal to bat on what looked like a slow green top. He was rewarded in the first over by Phadake getting Vose (snr) caught in the covers by Khan for 0. At the other end Cross was struggling to shake off the ring rust from a few weeks off and did not look threatening. Phadake then had Saxon caught and bowled for 9 to leave Styal at 34 for 2. Reddy at 3 was proving an irritant and stuck around scoring through the leg side against anything short offered up. Phadake continued and was rewarded with the Lbw of Lachsmi to leave him with spell figures of 3 for 18 off 8 overs.

Tharcasmani replaced Phadake and picked up Carley caught behind for 8 and bowling Vose (jnr) for 7. In this time a combination of Phadake and Fisher were able to run out Glicher for 11. Umar replaced Cross and bowled Reddy for 35. At 84 for 6 the Captains nostrils flared at the scent of further cheap wickets so Umar retreated to mid off as Usman tried to hoover up the tail. His first ball induced a running caught and bowled which was a good grab. A better effort than earlier in the innings when his attempted catch almost converted himself into a eunuch. At the other end Iveson was tossed the ball and robbed the captain of two wickets closing the innings out on 109.

Timperley knew that batting was tricky if the bowlers got line and length correct. Usman and Shah opened and Usman was soon back in the hutch for 2, bowled playing defensively against Daniels. A good ball. Khan arrived to partner Shah and after the usual few swishes and misses Shah started scoring with his normal brisk hitting before falling Lbw to Pardo for 26. A non plussed Bhatti went to the fore and was soon back, bowled by Pardo for 3. In the same over he trapped Umar Lbw for 0 and things started looking a little flakey at 55 for 4.

Fisher joined Khan and was lucky to survive his first ball from Carly, playing and missing. After that 'smell the coffee' moment he settled to task in support of Khan who played nicely for a neat match winning 56 not out. A key shot being a massive straight 6 off Pardo which seemed to open up that end to scoring as a few bad balls crept into his spell thereafter. Pardo bowled well taking 3 for 29 off 8.

Fisher & Khan added 57 for the 5th wicket to win the game in 25.3 overs.

Another nice win. Here is hoping the bandwagon can be kept rolling.