Kirkby Portland CC 1st XI v Southwell CC 1st XI

With injuries, holidays and family commitments hitting Southwell hard for the second week in a row, the 1st team lined up very differently to the first game of the season. Ruth Sprawson made her first team debut and was joined by Sam Barber and Jack Foster, both called up to the 1's. Having inspected the wicket (day five at Chennai) Nathan Burton began piping up about his success in Tuesday's nets bowling spin (he pitched a couple and hit a crack - he thought it spun). With this in mind, and in the knowledge that Max Collins would have to leave early to serve the inhabitants for Brackehurst their weekly dose of red stripe, Joe Fryer tactically lost the toss again and was happy when asked to bowl first.

Having spent half an hour curled up in a ball in the corner of the changing room 'doing his stretches', Max Collins opened up and looked keen to open his Southwell account for the season. It didn't take long. King leaving an in-swinger that neatly toppled the off stump. Shead got away with a nick to first slip early doors from the bowling of Collins, really pumping up the Southwell bowler. Luckily for Greeny, this paid off as, after some good hitting from Shead, Collins produced a vicious bouncer which Shead could only loft up high onto the leg side. Fryer and Barber stuttered towards the ball but Collins raced around to take the catch to his delight. Wright, at the other end took the wicket of the defensive Fleming and then Jones in quick succession. Collins, however, wasn't to be beaten and sent both Dallison and Casterton back to the pavilion within 2 overs. Kirkby Portland 64/6 - a devastating opening spell, helped by excellent Southwell fielding led by Ruth Sprawson.

Joe Caunt had watched this collapse from the other end, quietly protecting his wicket, and was joined by Dad, Jason. Both batted sensibly and, when Collins was brought off, began to hit some cleanly struck shots off the bowling of Stanley. Stanley, however, battled on well and got his man, bowling Jason for 29. Jonno Williamson joined Caunt in the middle and both pushed on as Wright finished his spell (14-2-41-2) and Burton came on to live up to his tales of spinning prowess. He was not to disappoint as he kept it tight at his end, finding some good turn and bounce. Jack Foster picked up the wicket of Williamson, stumped halfway down the wicket having deflected the ball through to Fryer off his pads. Caunt finally departed for 74, bowled Burton, and Collins came on to claim the final wicket of Severn ending with figures of 10.4-0-50-5. Kirkby Portland finishing on 191 all out from 41 overs. A very good recovery from them but Southwell went in for tea disappointed that they could not capitalize on the excellent early start.

Green and Clarke opened the batting for Southwell and Green looked in good nick with a few well timed cover drives for four. Williamson, however, bowled the perfect yorker to send him back and Clarke was soon to follow, LBW to Jason Caunt. Collins and Miller went about building a partnership and, despite a loud appeal for caught behind for Collins, looked untroubled. Collins, however, couldn't build on a good early start and was caught from the bowling of Caunt for 11. Fryer and Miller then looked to settle the Southwell innings and found scoring more than 1's difficult. Good field placing, ground fielding and a new hip needed for Miller saw the run rate increase and start to look out of reach. Miller and Fryer's attempts to push the score on ended in the same way. Both horribly stranded down the track having lost sight of the ball from Fleming somewhere in the stratosphere. Miller stumped - 14, Fryer stumped - 22. Southwell 70/5.

Having noted in his match report last week, Burton had been Southwell's top scorer for the last three games and looked to keep Southwell in sight of the required run rate. Some hefty blows gave Southwell a glimmer of hope. However, Fleming saw an end to that with a nice half tracker that was calmly placed into the hands of mid wicket, Burton caught for 22 (joint top scorer doesn't count!). Barber and Foster looked comfortable and were given the instructions to go for the 2 batting points and losing draw. Not ideal but the possibility of 8 points in difficult circumstances for Southwell. Both batted sensibly, Barber hitting some lovely clean strikes. Kirkby brought Williamson back on in an attempt to pick up the final few Southwell wickets which worked, bowling the resilient Foster and then Sprawson. Southwell 124/8 and just 3 runs off the second batting point. Barber and Stanley calmly took Southwell over the line, even after the additional over gained from previously bowling Kirkby Portland out early.

A good 8 points for a depleted Southwell team and special mention has to go to Ruth, Jack, Sam and Tom who did brilliantly to step up 6 divisions and do such a good job.