16/08/2026
Match report
The guys travelled to Ryhill yesterday looking to make it 6 wins in a row knowing that realistically only a win would keep us in contention for the league title as 1st played 2nd.
5 changes were made to last weeks winning team as out went 4 of last weeks top 5 batsmen in Doug, Browny, Butty, Sutty and Rob. Into the team came Nicky, Glover, Browny, Butty and Eddie to give the team a strong bowling lineup.
Skipper Cam won the toss again and said Oui Oui as we opted to field first on an increasingly warm afternoon. The first ball of the innings rose sharply from Glover on the rock hard deck to suggest there would be something in it for batters and bowlers. The first 20 overs of the innings played out in fairly sedate fashion as Nicky and Glover toiled hard as the Ryhill openers dug in to set a platform for the team and reached 62/0 which was a little harsh on Nick especially who bowled superbly to the more aggressive Vale and largely kept him in check.
Eddie and Tony Smith entered the attack and immediately saw a reward as T picked up the increasingly frustrated Vale LBW for 38. This brought the talisman Corbet to the crease as the hosts expected to see the run rate rise considerably. However some canny bowling, field placement and improved ground fielding saw the number 3 starved of the strike for a number of overs which resulted in some agricultural strokes being offered. One too many of these strokes saw him hole out in the deep to an excellent sliding/sitting catch from Glover for 26 runs leaving the score at 111/2 with 7 overs remaining. Some more excellent bowling saw Eddie (2/25) and Tony (3/49) scoop 3 more wickets between them as the innings closed on 138/5 with opener Plant also contributing with 36. All of the bowlers performed superbly with Eddie showing superb control with his spin which was a sign of things to come.
At halfway it was difficult to know what sort of target this was likely to be as the ball offered movement in the air and off the pitch throughout the innings.
In reply Kingy and Butty opened up against the leagues top strike bowler Vale who immediately found exaggerated movement into the right handers. Both looked fairly comfortable until Butty was judged LBW to a huge inswinger for 11. What followed was a superb, gritty partnership from Kingy and Brogan of 88 runs in 22 overs which took us into 3 figures and into a hugely commanding position. Mick will be the first one to say it was not his most fluent innings of 63 but I dare say it was one his most important ones.
This left us requiring 39 runs from 11 overs with 8 wickets in hand, what then followed in the ensuing 40 minutes had to be seen to be believed!
Some kamikaze batting/Bazball efforts against the spinners saw us slip to 107/6 and then when Brogan fell for a superb innings of 32 to the returning Vale this then sparked another collapse to 128/9 as the home side and their contingent on the sidelines were c**k a hoop. Unfortunately for them they had not accounted for ex skipper Nicky Smith smoking a huge 6 over long on and then dissecting the off side field with the winning boundary to spark a pitch invasion as the victory took us top of the table by the narrowest of margins.
The game was a great advert for village cricket and a special mention must be made to the superb backing we received from our travelling fans who were a constant support throughout.
4 weeks remain in the league season as we look to finish off the season in style and with some silverware. We entertain Allerton Bywater at home next Saturday.
VIVA LA BENTLEY!!
