Lilley 65 all out, 32.2 overs (Patemn 19) BEATEN by Datchworth 66 for 5, 18 overs (Khan 4-26, Kruger 1-24) by 5 wickets
After losing a few key members to Wembley, the team took shape with the help of Taz and the return of Jason Pateman. The toss was won by Lilley, Captain Kruger has now changed to calling heads and hopefully this successful trend will continue, and decided to bat first. It seemed like a good idea at the time but would soon prove otherwise.
A new opening partnership was formed between Khan and Mills (Ashby was somewhere in London) and after an eventful first over where Danny Mills was almost caught at square leg, the partnership ended in the second over where Khan tamely gave square leg catching practice. Khan seemed to wait an age for the ball to reach him – the pitched seemed to be the undoing of many a Lilley player that afternoon.
Up stepped Sakhi and began to play a very patient innings. Soon after Mills was bowled after leaving a ball which seemed to be going down leg before cutting back to bowl him. Even the wicket keeper couldn’t believe it. Lilley were heading towards a very low score when Collinson went for a duck LBW and Kruger queuing the ball back to the bowler for 0. This meant Qureshi had to delay his date with the porcelain throne and head out to the middle. This did not seem to hinder him as he played a steady innings.
Another few quick wickets ensued with Sakhi bowled for 7 and the third duck of the innings with Paddington being bowled – no heroics from the Padders this time. Next in was Lilley’s version of “The Wall” – Mark Scanlan. Mark is the newest member of Lilley Cricket Club and he did us proud. When Queshi finally departed for 15 it was up to Pateman and Scanlan to get Lilley to a decent score and use up the overs.
They duly took on the challenge and had a partnership of 24 runs – the highest in the innings, and used up many more overs. When the ball took a thin edge off Mark’s bat, the last two wickets fell quickly (K Qureshi 0 and D Carman 1) which left Pateman stranded on 19.
A resurgent Lilley took to the field after a fabulous tea determined to turn around their fortunes. Khan knowing he had to take wickets for Lilley to have any chance, started an inspired bowling spell down the hill. Many balls were absolutely unplayable and many batsmen did not know what was happening to them. Within a few overs, Khan had managed to uproot 4 of the batsmen which gave Lilley the belief that we could still win it. And after Kruger (bowling off a two step run up) removed their captain for 0, it looked like an unlikely victory for Lilley.
Somehow Khan never managed to get the 5-for that he deserved and Datchworth managed to weather the storm without another loss to reach their target after only 18 overs. It was a great performance by Lilley despite losing key members and only having 6 players mid-week. With the fighting spirit that was shown I have no doubt that we will be a handful for Breachwood Green and the planes flying overhead. Plus the sun looks like it will make an appearance too!
