LILLEY (211-9, Hammond 92) beat Totternhoe (38 all out, Hammond 5-18) by 173 runs
Lilley recovered from a disastrous start to inflict a massive defeat on Totternhoe yesterday afternoon.
James Ashby won a fifth (and expensive) toss on the trot and elected to bat in the 40 over clash. Lilley took the opportunity to move the order round slightly, with Stew Collinson moving up to three and Mik Carman four. The move appeared to backfire, with Lilley slipping to an amazing 15-5 inside six overs, with GT (4), Collinson (0), Carman (0), BT (3) and Qureshi (0) all dismissed in quick time.
Returning opener Peter Rogers often thrives in the face of adversity however, and this was no exception. He and big Ken Hammond set about repairing the collosal damage with a combination of clever manouvering into gaps and punishment of the bad deliveries. In almost no time, the tide turned and by the time Rogers had edged a super wide deliver behind, he and Hammond had forged a match winning massive 120 run partnership for the sixth wicket. Ashby and Hammond continued the Lilley run-fest, with the skipper chipping in with 28 in a partnership of 51 for the seventh wicket.
JA’s departure left the spotlight firmly on big Ken as he closed in on his maiden hundred in all cricket. Tragedy struck though as Hammond chipped to point just eight runs short of three figures. Philo Clarke departed, but Tim Perry hit some wonderful strokes late on to finish 17 not out and help Lilley post 211-9 in 40 overs.
The total always looked steep for Totts, especially given the arsenal at Lilley’s disposal. The old war-horse pairing of Hammond and Ashby worked so well the previous week that it was the same pair again with the new ball this week. Hammond picked up a wicket with his sixth delivery and fifteen overs later, the match was over. A brilliant run out from a GT throw accounted for the number three and Hammond struck twice more, LBW and one brilliant catch from GT at second slip, Totternhoe were in dire trouble. Ashby weighed in with two wickets in an over, both leg before wicket and then picked up a third before Hammond completed an impressive all round display with his fourth and fifth wickets to finish with 5-18. GT rounded off the match with another magical piece of fielding, running out Bignall with a direct hit from 3/4 of the way to the boundary to complete a 173 run thumping.
