Lilley got a good spanking on their first trip to Eddlesborough this afternoon as the Lilley support bowling was found wanting.
Returning skipper James Ashby lost the toss as Lilley were forced to field in scorching temperatures. Lilley started well, Ashby removing the two openers with yorkers and Gareth Tompkins ripping out Hacking with a lovely off cutter. The home team at 64-3 were on the ropes, and Thorne, batting at three, survived a huuuuuuge LBW appeal when he was on nought. Thorne it was who proved to be a real thorn in the side of Lilley. He and Aussie Case put on 125 for the 4th wicket to steer Eddlesborough out of trouble. ‘Deadly’ Doug Tomsett returned for Lilley and was asked to bowl by Ashby. His resulting figures: 1 over 0 maidens 0 wickets for 30 runs were harsh as Tim Perry did drop two skiers off him at deep mid wicket, but still a bowling return to forget…
Ashby returned and immediately took his 50th wicket of the season, bowling Case for 61. Eyres soon added the lucky Thorne, although he had plundered 115 by that point and Lilley were on the ropes.
The eventual score of 231 was probably 40 too many on a fair track, but the chase was on.
The run chase got off to a pants start. Brad Tompkins was bowled off an inside edge for 2 in the second over. Ashby and Tomsett then put on 38 for the third wicket, Ashby making 33 of those before he was caught behind. Gareth Tompkins followed for nought and when Doug was bowled for 30 with the score 77-4, Lilley were up against it. Phil Horner made 1 before holing out and he was followed by Tim Perry, who was so furious at the umpire not giving a wide that he swiped at the next ball and was caught. The umpire’s later reasoning of ‘I couldn’t be bothered’ met a suitable response…
Eyres was next to go, still learning the fact that his feet can move forwards as well as sideways. Another nought. Unquestionably the biggest underachiever…he has all the ability in the world. Needs to use it though. Reminds me of Peter Rogers in the mid ninties…and look what happened to him. Class these days. Get in the back garden I say…
I digress…Joel Mellor…he was the next to go and here’s a fella…another of the ‘need to move the foot’ brigade. Another duck this time. Joel has improved imeasureably in recent years, but most of his scoring shots are back foot…if he can only get that front foot forward, he’d be a top six batsman week in, week out.
Well then the fun begins…Joel is out, next man in, Stew Collinson. It’s at this point, I’m told he is breaking into someone’s house as she has locked herself out. Up the road. Phone calls are made and somehow, he gets to the crease, all over the place! He composes himself and makes 1, but the entertainer was Mik Carman at the other end, who made mincemeat of some fifth string bowling to register 26 not out with several lusty blows, including 2 sixes. Lovely knock.
All in all, a defeat, but they were a good bunch of lads in the pub afterwards and thoroughly outplayed us on the day. We’ll be back next year though. And with eleven. Alas, we had but ten this week due to the late, late withdrawal of Taz…not impressed!
