Skipper Leads From the Front

It didn't start so well for Matt Lyon, who stepped up to the Captain role following the Edwards family being pinged by Covid Track & Trace. He realised he had forgotten the match balls and had come without any monies to pay for the umpires! Then, to make matters worse, he called the toss wrong and was put in to field on what turned out to be the hottest day on record as temperatures surpassed 31c in parts of the UK! Oh and they only had 10 men (which turned out to be 9 for a short while as Dan arrived late).

Ben Tomlinson (8 overs, 0-25) and Evan Bownes bowled very steadily in their opening spells, and were unfortunate not to take a wicket. Dan Fotheringham, once arrived, came on at first change and bowled very tightly but, alas, also couldn't produce a wicket. After 10 overs, we had restricted Papplewick & Linby CC to just below 40 runs but the openers were now starting to get comfortable and we needed to disrupt them.
Enter Imogen Bownes (playing in her second 2nd XI game), who broke the opening partnership, with thanks to a catch from her brother, Evan. Great work from team Bownes to get Imogen her maiden league wicket.
Tim Beer bowled 8 overs straight through and picked up 2 wickets, finishing with figures of 2-34. An excellent input in the conditions.
Evan (8 overs, 2-34) and Dan (6 overs, 2-26) picked up the remaining bowler's wickets in their second spells with two a-piece, and Finlay contributed with a run out for them to finish 8 down. Papplewick & Linby CC posted 182-8 from their full 40 overs - a solid total.

The track could only be described as a road. Matt Lyon and Ben Tomlinson (7) opened our batting response, posting 47 together until Ben was bowled. Evan Bownes (3) came in at number three and was in for a while but just couldn't really get going. Dan Fotheringham was next to arrive, hitting a nice four and a couple of lovely shots before departing for 8. Matt Lyon was unfazed by all of this commotion as, at this point, he'd now surpassed his personal best score and reached his maiden century!!! Charlie Shelton replaced Dan at the crease and hit some fantastic, fluent & straight shots for an invaluable 23. It came down to Finlay Allison (8*) to see us home, as we finished on 184-4 from 31.3 overs.
Matt Lyon, carried his bat to the end and finished with 124*. A fantastic effort in the conditions, especially after just spending 40 overs behind the stumps wicket keeping!!!

The entire team worked very hard today in the field, and nothing more could be asked of them. Special mentions have to go out to Matt Lyon for his fantastic contribution to the match today, and to Imogen Bownes for taking her maiden league wicket.