Following our crushing victory over BCU the previous week the UWMCC 2s were in good spirits before taking on Nottingham. Notts has skittled our 3s for 65 the previous year, in one of the darkest days of the clubs history: #Nottsgate. However, having got rid of the dead wood, such as Bradshaw, the club was revitalised and actually winning games.
Captain Gujar lost the toss and we were put in to bowl. Hickmott and Roche did the honours of opening up and both put in very tidy spells. We got an early run out, with Roche schnicking off the batsman down the 3rd man; the openers promptly went for the most ludicrous 2, one of them promptly left about 10 yards short of safety due to a good Hickmott throw. With this moment of calamitous running the 2s were underway. Roche promptly bowled the number 3 just two balls later.
Kraus came on and utilised the pressure the openers had put on, striking quickly to remove the other opener and number 4. Rumours the number 4 was talked out by Bexson/Millman, as the lad charged down and went plane spotting, promptly getting stumped. At the other end Stilo was hooping it back in, schneaking one through the gate and trapping the next LBW. Notts couldn’t get a partnership going, and their fate was sealed when we brought on tail ender specialist Taylor. Weeks’ ‘unique’ bowling removed the next 3 batsmen, (all the fantasy points), and Hickmott got the last. This meant we were chasing 97. A simple chase, but one we were more than capable of screwing up.
Perhaps we got too comfortable during the lunch break whilst tucking into our 44 baguettes, and this led to our sluggish batting attempts. Taylor tried to drill the 3rd ball of the innings down the ground, promptly missing a straight one. To their credit, Notts bowled well, cleaning up much of our top order and leaving us precariously struggling on 38/6. The batting demons of last year were returning to haunt us… Luckily Piers Fisher highlighted some spectacular testicular fortitude. When all looked lost Piers came in and steadied the ship with some composed drives and solid defence. Against all odds Rochey was hanging around at the other end, and helping blunt the Nottingham attack. Piers starting playing some lusty blows, and helped us on our way to 98. There was some controversy as Piers knocked what we thought was the winning run, only for the umpires to be unsure what we were chasing. It was decided we needed one more run, and our boys duly obliged.
We had been pushed close but some serious efforts from Piers and Roche had seen us over the line. This means we are 2 wins from 2, and hoping to push on for the rest of the season! Man of the match of course went to Piers for his vital knock of 47* under pressure.