2nd XI Start 2022 With a Win!

The 2nd XI started their season by winning the toss… Skipper, Darren Edwards, elected to field to the surprise of many, but there were method in his madness (Darren Spooner had to leave at 5!)

We started off brightly with great opening spells from Simon Dean (0-19 off 8 overs) and Dan Fotheringham (37-0 off 7 overs) bowling nice tight line and lengths… 10 overs went by and they were 20 odd for 0! Tim Beer had a little point to prove as he was playing against his son! He duly struck twice in a great spell of bowling (8 overs, 2-20). Darren Spooner then entered the attack & bowled well taking 2-44 off 8 overs. Darren Edwards (1-27 off 4 overs) took the other wicket thanks to a great catch from Callum. Welbeck finished strongly by battering 40 runs or so from the last 2 overs, finishing on 194-5. Despite the high score, we fielded well.

As for the chase, we opened up with Matt Lyon and Darren Spooner. Matt (10) fell early but Darren absolutely smashed the ball to all parts on his way to 91 off 55 balls… As the clock was nearing 5pm, Natalie, Kay, Carlene, etc. kept his wife’s mind off the table they had booked to celebrate their anniversary!!! What more can a woman ask for though, to see her man striking balls to all parts?! After Darren fell there was still much to do, we needed another 65!!!
Three very dodgy decisions went against us… First Evan Bownes (6) got a dodgy LBW, then Chris Ward (11) was given run out when he was clearly well in, and Steve Sleight (6) was given run out to everybody’s amazement!!! This put us on the back foot, still needing 28! Rich Tomlinson (16) & Darren Edwards (11) brought us back in the game with a great little cameo, leaving us needing 15 off 3 overs. It could have gone either way but the game was calmly finished off by the quick singles & odd boundary from Simon Dean (9) and Darren.

What a game and a great win to start the season, UTP!