1st team report vs upper haugh AWAY

Upper Haugh v Stainborough

Wicket; Firm / Green (ish)

Weather; warm / breezy

The Stainborough convoy made the scenic passage from Park Drive to Upper Haugh via Wentworth for a game which would have a significant impact on the division 2 title race, with a win for the home side consolidating their lofty position, whilst a win for the visitors would gain valuable ground in the fight for promotion.

Captain 'Stain Devil' won the toss (again!!! he's only lost two all season, what a tremendous tosser he has become!!!) and decided to have a bowl. He and the returning Kershaw bowled economically early on with the Stain Devil having a nick to slick put down by a diving McFadyn with the symbols. The UH innings was progressing at a reasonable pace of 3.5 an over or there abouts at drinks (one jug of orange was a bit cordial light the other slightly cordial heavy 7 out of 10 overall) with the UH opener Johnson's shot selection drifting between hefty smashes (one of which appeared to pass through a hole in McNab's (Hanson) hand at cover (an Air Ambulance was then spotted overhead seemingly coming to repair said fielders hand but retracted due to strong winds upon landing!)) or getting plenty of pad whitener on the ball before departing in the 30's. In between heavy hits and padding up came the first of a number of curious umpiring decisions; i'll leave it at that. The visitors were keeping a check on the home teams scoring with Clarke, KD Lang (Atkinson) and Georgie Daws (McClee) bowling tightly before a destructive knock from M. Stacey (50*), who took a shine to a few wayward Clarke deliveries, took the total from a projected 160 (ish) to a very competitive 193-7.

In the interval Mills won his second raffle in two days picking out his own ticket; suspicious!?

A fine tea was taken (thankyou tea ladies) before McNab and Daws took to the wicket, but trouble was only just around the corner as Daws got a jaffa which knocked back his off stump. Trouble. Senior pro (Arch) strode to the crease to steady the ship (as he generally always does; you could bet your bile duct on it!) only to return all too soon (glad no bile duct was wagered!). Big trouble now in Upper Haugh. KD didn't last long either and the problem now was swine fluesque! Throughout this turmoil McNab held steady as he had done the previous week yet no one stayed with him. Clarke hit some heavy blows before departing (LBW) followed by McFadyn (caught and bowled), Cooper (caught at long on) and Mills (stumped), leaving Hanson with a limited number of partners with which to pull off this miracle. Enter stage left France who showed the others how to 'carry on' mixing lusty blows off bad balls with quick singles and stout defence, before rather unluckily choping on. That left boro needing 30 or so from two overs, yet spirits were lifted when Stain Devil lofted License back over his head for a maximum. McNab's vigil ended soon after and upon the loss of Kershaw in the final over the goose was cooked with boro 17 runs short.

There was better news for the second string as John Hall's men gained a much needed boost with a win over Hundhill Hall with the skipper bagging 6 fer, Pepper making a half century and Ward contibuting a cameo 40, well done lads!