The home side have only played 3 games at home so far this season, you could see why once we got there ....... a tatty square, which you couldn't tell from the outfield, had us looking somewhat nonplussed!
Stand in skipper, Mark Taylor, using the maxim 'Tails never fails' then saw it land on heads and we were put in to bat.
Openers James Thompson and Chris Horner were looking to get off to a good start against home bowlers Dean Norman (3 for 25) and Colin Poole (3 for 15), but they both fell to pea-rollers as the track played all sorts of tricks.
At one point we were 4 for 4 off 16 overs before Ali Bowles, batting at 7, decided the best option was to 'have a go' as he blasted 59 and, with support from David Druett and Mike Merryweather, we limped to 102 all out.
The tea matched everything else .....
A good start was essential, but the batsmen obviously know their ground.
Steve Thompson-Roberts (12), Dean Norman (14), Tim Bishop (22 not out) and J Lee did well.
The Ash bowlers worked hard, with support from the fielders, as wickets fell; Colin Poole spoilt his good work with the ball by accusing us of cheating from the sideline and arguing with the fielders. An edge behind saw him walk before the umpire gave it and the Ash fielders picked him up and threw him off the field!
Unfortunately we were 20 runs short and the home team limped home by 3 wickets.
We were in no mood to hang around, and there was the matter of Rob Clarke's birthday to celebrate ............ Tales of a great night staying in the dressing room!
Scoreboard:
Pannal Ash Innings
| J Thompson |
LBW |
b. C Poole |
1 |
| C Horner |
|
b. C Poole |
7 |
| R Turner |
|
b. C Poole |
0 |
| N McClelland |
|
b. D Norman |
0 |
| A Firth |
|
b. D Norman |
0 |
| M Taylor (c) |
ct. L Haslam |
b. D Norman |
0 |
| A Bowles |
|
b. L Haslam |
59 |
| N Laurence (w/k) |
ct. |
b. T Bishop |
4 |
| A Toole |
run out |
|
6 |
| D Druett |
|
b. J Lee |
8 |
| M Merryweather |
Not Out |
|
8 |
| |
|
Runs |
93 |
| |
|
Extras |
9 |
| |
|
TOTAL (All Out) |
102 |
Crakehall Innings
| S Thompson-Roberts |
LBW |
b. A Bowles |
12 |
| D Norman |
LBW |
b. N McClelland |
14 |
| T Bishop |
Not Out |
|
22 |
| J Lee |
LBW |
b. M Taylor |
29 |
| A Nelson |
|
b. M Taylor |
0 |
| L Haslam |
ct. |
b. C Horner |
8 |
| C Poole |
ct. N Laurence |
b. C Horner |
4 |
| S Dawson |
|
b. M Taylor |
4 |
| M Thompson-Roberts |
did not bat |
|
- |
| D Poole |
did not bat |
|
- |
| N Taylor |
did not bat |
|
- |
| |
|
Runs |
93 |
| |
|
Extras |
10 |
| |
|
TOTAL (for 7 wkts) |
103 |
Bowling
| Pannal Ash Innings |
|
|
| |
Wkts |
Runs |
| D Norman |
3 |
25 |
| C Poole |
3 |
15 |
| |
|
|
| Crakehall Innings |
|
|
| |
Wkts |
Runs |
| M Taylor |
3 |
36 |