Homegrown Talent Wins the Match for the 2nd XI
There’s only one Evan Bownes! There’s only one Dan Fotheringham!
We won the toss and elected to bat first. Dave Taylor and Evan Bownes opened, with DT (38) getting us off to a great start by hitting a beautiful straight six into the trees. Dan Fotheringham came in at 3 and we were treated to a breathtaking partnership of 162 runs! They timed when to accelerate the run rate perfectly. At 120-1 with 11 overs left, we were thinking 175/180 is on! How wrong were we as they took us to a grand total of 211! Not only were there boundaries galore (including Evan's first senior six), the running between the wickets was brilliant. Evan was runout on the last ball of the innings for a brilliant 78 whilst Dan carried his bat for 61. The rest of the team were so pleased for them - besides Charlie Shelton who was promoted to no. 4 and couldn’t get a bat!
The message at the interval was to try and keep it tight and put the pressure on early, and we did just that! A great opening spell from Simon Dean (8 overs, 1-12) and then a wicket involved both 'men of the match' as Evan caught one behind the stumps off Dan's bowling. Dan picked up another couple of wickets - bowling their other opener and a catch from David Freeman at gully - finishing with figures of 3-33 off 7 overs. Chris Ward (3-7 off 6 overs) was introduced to the bowling attack with his off spin and rolled back the years with a fantastic spell. The match was wrapped up by David Freeman, who finished with 3-19 off 4 overs. Kiveton all out for 109 with 9 overs to go.
A great 102 run win and 40 points out of 40 points so far this season - putting us top of the Division 3 table... Long let this streak continue!
Darren Edwards, 2nd XI captain, has found the team's fielding and catching superb in these first two games, particularly Tom Paintain in this match.
Next week the 2nd XI have a break, but there is plenty of cricket at Clumber Park. The revived 3rd XI kick off their season, led by Mike Cox & Darren Ridout, on the Paddocks Ground against Blyth and the 1st XI are hosting Ordsall Bridon on the Leaping Bar Ground.
