Mansfield Hosiery Mills (MHM) is a difficult place to go. Particularly if you get lost on the way. How to impress 4 of your team (travelling with me) in one easy lesson. We got there, though, just in time and, as usual the setting was fantastic.

MHM had beaten us three times last season and so I was hoping we could get some revenge. Unfortunately some ill conceived football and rugby commitments meant I could only raise 10 players. We had a pretty strong team never the less.

Johnny lost the toss and we were asked to field.

Zac and Ruth opened the bowling. Zac went for a few runs, good batting and streaky edges meant he was quite expensive. Ruth bowled beautifully again taking two crucial wickets for next to nothing. Our fielding was equally impressive, chasing down big shots to turn threes in to twos, backing up and overall looking a really slick outfit.

Joe A and Emily then took over. Joe neat in places went for a few against a good left hander whilst Emily kept up the ladies' excellent contribution with two wickets herself.

Greg and Josh finished the bowling very tidily so that we kept them to a total of 90 for 5.

Bowling highlights :

Ruth 4 overs 2 for 8, Emily 4 overs 2 for 18 and Greg 3 overs 1 for 7.

It was a good target but I felt it was “gettable”.

Our innings was full of highs and lows. Johnny fell to a ball that seemed to stick in the surface forcing him to scoop a catch and there were three or four others who fell in the same way. Zac was unlucky again with one that kept low – your time will come!. Jake played nicely as did Matty, both hitting timely boundaries to keep the scoreboard in our favour. Ollie Stanley played a nice innings at number 5. I hope you enjoyed it!

Emily had the dismissal of the century. Appealing for a stumping it was given not out so the appeal somehow turned to being bowled which was given. “Bumped” maybe? Emily was not happy, “so cross she threw her helmet to the floor”.

We were losing wickets too quickly and it looked like a lost cause when Greg joined Josh as our last pair with plenty to do. We did have the overs in hand if we could use them.

The opposition were, I am sure, trying to use BBQ smoke/smell tactics to put us off. Very nice they were, John Stanley had to have two burgers just to confirm that they were that good. Sadly Jane has confirmed that BBQs at Top Ground are ONLY on Fridays.

I was texting updates to Grimmers who was in Germany on business. “Herr Grimley” -  not two words he would have heard in the same sentence too often in recent years I imagine?

In the mean time,  Josh and Greg built a partnership of immense maturity. Given their reputation for speed (or lack of it) between the wickets the supporters were, at times, taking a big intake of breath!. However they carefully built on the score to eventually allow Josh to hit the winning 4 with an over to spare.

Batting Highlights
Jake 16, Matty 18, Josh 14 Not Out, Greg 11 Not Out - HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREG!

Nerve racking for the travelling support, it was a really fantastic result and, more importantly, a wonderful team performance.

Their coach was magnanimous in defeat, acknowledging that we were the better team in every department on the night.

Stuart texted back after the result, “Great result well done V. Proud” ! As was I!

Team
Johnny Butler
Jake Saleh
Matty Bowles
Zac Ashworth
Ollie Stanley
Ruth Sprawson
Emily Stutchbury
Josh Cottam
Joe Ashworth
Greg Behl

Thanks to Jerry for umpiring and Ted for Scoring. Much appreciated.