Seconds narrowly come second for second week running

D&T IIs 182 for 4 Lewdown II 183 for 9. Lewdown won by one wicket.

For the second successive week we disappointingly lost by the narrowest of margins.

Skipper Phil Power clearly doesn’t have the power to predict the future as he again lost the toss and Lewdown put us in to bat on a good track.   However, we do have one player who can predict the future but he is unlikely to take over tossing duties as he’d arrive too late.   Those familiar with him will immediately know I’m referring to PT.   Prior to the match Paul said he would bat for all forty overs- a prediction which was to come true as he carried his bat for 66 runs.

Paul and John Allenbrook had a marvellous opening partnership, putting on 101 for the first wicket in 25 overs and giving us a terrific platform.  The pair kept the scoreboard ticking over against accurate bowling and when boundaries weren’t on offer they ran plenty of singles. Both openers looked untroubled and it was a surprise when John was given out lbw to Chris Mallinson, after scoring 40, with six fours.   PT continued on merrily. 

Glenn was soon into his stride and looked in great touch.   he was the perfect batsman to push the score on over 200, which was well within reach.   PT had demonstrated more of his psychic ability in occasionally picking out fielders who were unable to catch.  Alas Glenn doesn’t yet have this skill and, disappointingly, he hit a full delivery from McClaughlin straight to mid-wicket to be dismissed for 15.     151 for 2 with 5 overs remaining.   Lewis scored 7 and demonstrated his good technique, before being bowled trying to force the pace.  Phil confirmed that he struggles for psychic ability by picking out another fielder who could catch.   Simon batted well, hitting a couple of boundaries, in a quick 12 not out.  

182 was a decent score but it was a good pitch and we only had ten men to defend the total.

Mick and Lewis again opened the bowling. Lewis was in fine form and was very unlucky not to take a wicket in his six over opening spell.   Mick, had already been on the pitch almost as long as PT after umpiring for 38 overs. He was in a miserly mood and the batsmen struggled to get him away.  He bamboozled opener Ollie Jordan, comprehensively bowling him in his third over.   Mick’s 8 overs cost just 11 runs and he pointed out at least three of these came from misfields.  John took over from Lewis and had a tidy 5 over spell, flighting the ball well.    Lewdown rallied after the loss of the early wicket with Gavin Jordan and Dave Fitzsimmons taking the score up to 82, though Fitzsimmons lived dangerously.    We worked really hard in the field with some excellent stops.  Phil got the breakthrough when left hander Jordan edged him to PT behind the stumps.  Phil (2 for 54) bagged Fitzsimmons in his next over when Glenn took a good catch at mid-on.  

 98 for 3 after 25 overs- virtually the same as we were at the same stage.   It looked likely to go down to the wire and so it was to prove.  

Hamish has been bowling well but had an off day.   His first ball didn’t bounce and was despatched for four.   “That’s your loosener”, said the Chairman, drawing from his list of cricketing cliches.   Unfortunately, he had several ‘looseners’.  Phil lost his line and length and Lewdown came back strongly adding 39 for the fourth wicket.   We could certainly have done with the injured Josh Bowhay at this point. 

The partnership was broken by Hein who had a golden spell, taking 4 for 26 in just 4.1 overs.  In his first over he bowled Wilf Mallinson for 21.   In his second he caught and bowled Fergal Fitzsimmons for 2.   There was no stopping Hein and he went even better in his third over, bowling skipper Maynard for 41 and then having Sequeira caught for a golden duck by Glenn, in successive balls.  Sandwiched in between this Lewis came back and trapped Chris Mallinson lbw for 5.   156 for 8 with six overs remaining.   The pendulum had swung back in our favour.     However, the Lewdown youngsters were not overawed and we couldn’t get the breakthrough despite several deliveries finding the edge. Jones and Lennard took the score to 179 before Simon had Lennard caught for 6 by the man of the moment, Hein.   Lewdown had three overs to score 4 runs with one wicket remaining.   However, they only needed one delivery as Jones (14 not out) drove Hein to the boundary to see Lewdown home.

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