Southwell Sunday 1s - 108/2 - Felthorpe CC Tour 11 - 202/8,,,,match abandoned

Grey overcast, breezy, ball swinging conditions. Toss won with bowling the obvious choice even on yet another superb looking wicket provided by SCC's dedicated ground staff.
Felthorpe CC batted with real style and class through out and forced the Sunday skip into defensive mode after 8 overs with sweepers in position to limit the boundaries. Opening bowlers Chris (I am the leading wicket taker) Stokes and Timothy Stokes were in top form and bowled excellent line and length deserving the early breakthrough in the third over LBW of M Doyle for 2. The second wicket didn't arrive until 98 was on the board in the 19th over where Tom Rudd produced additional bounce which E Doyle 31 gloved to Doug (I am still injured from last week) Wright. Danny (How is that not out?) Stokes was unlucky not to have his own LBW shout not given as he bowled accurate lines along with bro Michael Stokes.
Greg Behl bowled superb and never missed his length in 8 quality overs of off spin which would have graced any cricket pitch. Felthorpe bats played and missed and tried to attack Greg as he turned them inside out which led to the third wicket for 157 with Chris Miller taking the first of his three catches. Joe Wright bowled from the Brackenhurst end produced another excellent spell to compliment Greg as they forced the bats to take risks to score. Further catches for Greg, Kevin (What does hubris mean?) Brown and excellent dive from Miller followed by a clean bowled from Joe. Captain Tim Gill 31, J Coldham 35 and C Collard all batted well but the pick was S Ridout 61 who's positive approach shone through. Ridout's innings was even interupted with a retirement at 50 only to return later where the inform Joe Wright 4/15 took him as his fourth victim. This was one of our best bowling and fielding performances of 2017 and reduced Felthorpe to 202 which could easily have been 250* . A great team effort as the fine drizzly type of rain started to fall at tea.

Teas have been fantastic all season and this was no exception - massive thanks again to the Lorraine and Sophie!

Adam (Has anyone seen my batting stats) Gell fresh from his 57 in the 2s at Calverton opened with a determined Chris (New Shiny Helmet with a bit missing) Miller and it wasn't until the 6th over with 19 on the board that Gelly missed an inswinging yorker from M Doyle. Both Felthorpe's opening bowlers Coldham and M Doyle moved the ball with pace causing problems for our bats. Greg Behl joined Miller and pushed the score along with a well timed cover drive for 4 until the 2nd wicket fell with the score on 34 in the 9th over where Greg had a leading edge chance taken at short mid on. Kevin (We can still win) Brown joined Miller and rotated the strike well. He was lucky not to go early as he gloved a throat high bouncer passed the keeper that jagged back of the seam. So much for a friendly! As the rain got heavier and the light deteriorated the spinners were introduced and Miller and Brown attacked the bowlers as they struggled to grip the wet ball. Southwell gained the advantage and multiple 4s and a straight 6 accelerated our run rate but the game was forced into abandonment just before drinks with the score on 108 as the rain made the true pitch and outfield unsafe to continue. We had gained the upper hand and the true gents of Felthorpe were very happy to retreat to the club house along with our soggy umpires as we considered that Duckworth & Lewis were in SCC's favour.

This was an excellent cricket match and a fitting end to the Sunday Teams season which has seen multiple PB's from our ever improving players.

Thank you to Steve Foster for umpiring, ground staff, teas ladies, players, scorers, supporters, parents and all that make these days possible.
PS; extra mention for Lorraine Brown, Jo Miller and Liz Gell who cleaned the clubhouse before and after Sundays game - awesome ladies!

Best Wishes
Kevin Brown
Southwell Sunday 1s Captain