Southwell CC 1st XI v Eastwood CC 1st XI

Both Southwell and Eastwood were hit by mixed availability going into their second fixture of the 2017 Division B campaign. Southwell fielding four changes and Eastwood 3 and so giving some 2nd team players their first opportunity to impress. Having been out of practice over the winter, Joe Fryer tossed poorly again and saw Southwell put into bat on what looked like an innocent wicket. John Richardson and Tim Green padded up and, after a minute's round of applause in memory of David Richards, opened up the Southwell innings.

Batting looked difficult from the off with more than variable bounce from the two opening Eastwood bowlers. and Richardson fell early for 7. Butler and Green battled hard but the run rate was slow, Southwell reaching the 10th over with 28 on the board. Green was adjudged to be LBW on 20 and the Southwell middle order all contributed without seriously troubling the Eastwood bowlers. Hooping swing and and early season track making it very difficult for the Southwell batsmen to get themselves in. With Southwell 78/5 from 28 overs, Burton joined Foster in the middle with quiet determination to maintain his club record strike rate from last season. Both put the bad ball away well and managed to push along the innings well. Toby Stanley continued the good work when Foster was bowled by a quicker Humphries delivery, showing excellent maturity as he continued to rotate the strike well (much to the exhaustion of Burton).

Burton frustrated the Eastwood bowlers by utilizing his new favorite 'top edge over the keeper for 3' three balls in a row, enjoying the hateful stares he received. With the overs running out, Southwell lost a number of quick wickets, Olly Stanley playing a textbook back foot defensive shot only to see the ball squirm back onto his stumps first ball. Burton eventually fell for an excellent 37 (from 30 balls. Slow.) and Toby Stanley for a vital 14, Southwell bowled out for 166 and Wrighty finally losing his wicket after a season and a half of not outs. The lowest score posted by Southwell in some time but much higher than it could have been thanks to the efforts of the lower order.

A quick refuel was much needed as Southwell needed to be at their best to bowl out the team that knocked off 198 for only 2 wickets last week, especially missing their front-line attack. Steve Wright opened up with 1st team deubutant Steven Briggs. Both bowled with good shape and control and the Eastwood batsmen struggled to get bat to ball early doors. Wright taking two early wickets, one an excellent catch (chest down) under the high ball by Toby Stanley, Eastwood 16/2 from 7. Eastwood captain Gregory survived a couple of early LBW shouts and a dropped catch to build a partnership with Stocks. Olly Stanley was brought on to replace the economical Briggs and looked dangerous. With Wright controlling one end well, Stanley too the vital wicket of Gregory with a jaffa, in-swinger to bowl the Eastwood skipper for a well worked 32. As has started to become habit, one wicket for Stanley was quickly followed by two more as he bowled Wyer and then next ball did the same to Oliver. Hattrick ball, field in, nervous looking batsman. Up strode Stanley, Humphries just surviving. Eastwood 70/5 and Southwell flying.

As Wright took the wicket of Stocks, Eastwood were struggling and needed a strong and sensible partnership from Humphries and Jack Wyers to attempt to rescue the innings. The pitch was improving, the new ball had lost its effect and so Southwell were relying on building pressure for wickets. Burton bowled with good shape but the Eastwood score continued to creep up to the 167 target and so Briggs was brought back into the attack and Wright finished off his 16 overs - 3/33. Briggs finally made the breakthrough with an excellent rising delivery as Humphries nicked off to Fryer. With Toby Stanley having to come off with a tight back, Richardson stepped up to prove his worth having spent the whole winter explaining how he should be opening the bowling. Luckily for him, Wyers somehow managed to chip a low delivery to the right of Foster who made a brilliant diving catch. Breaths were held as Foster held his shoulder but the training wicket was left significantly worse off (sorry Tim!).

With overs not an issue for Eastwood, Summers batted sensibly to edge closer and closer to the target. Chances were not frequent and those that were were half chances at best. Even as Richardson bowled Smith, Wyer and Summers frustrated Southwell as they struggled to pick up the final wicket. Only 5 to win and Richardson bowled down the leg side to Summers who got a thick thigh pad down to fine leg for 1. Wide given, one extra ball. 3 to win, Wyer on strike having survived an extremely tight LBW decision the over before. Richardson bowled, pad hit, big appeal. Out. Southwell win by 3 runs and the relief on all fielders was evident.

A massive 20 points for Southwell who successfully continue to build momentum and see themselves in 2nd position in their return to Division B. Good luck to Eastwood, it was good to see a team stay behind for a few after the game. A difficult away trip to Long Eaton next week awaits but Southwell go into the game safe in the knowledge that they have excellent squad depth. Thank you to those who stepped up and performed so well, an excellent game all round.