Being Captain of a Twenty20 team who had a successful 2006 campaign, I had high hopes for our first game in the new Fylde Twenty20 League, especially as our previous 2 games had been rained off and so the troops were hungry for a match. I won the toss, chose to bat on the Cottam Hall pitch as the skies were grey and I wanted to make the most of the light. However, batting at number 5 I was in after only 7 balls with the score at 1-3! An unenviable position one might think, however I changed my mindset from 2020 mode to Test Match mode and decided to enjoy the task of having to perform under pressure. Henry's Marauders opening bowlers had ripped through our top order and so Dave Lever and I steeled ourself to see their 8 overs off and try and graft a score of 50+ by any means. We were hanging in under a bowling barrage and with only 1 over of their 2nd opening bowler remaining, Dave was squared up by a short one and caught at slip. Stu Smith came in (after having a quick hide since he gave Amos out LBW which didn't go down too well) and I was confident we could get a competitive total. On came the change bowlers and I quickly tickled a ball behind my legs and was called through by Stu for a single... then promptly sent back when half way down the pitch as the wicketkeeper had stopped it, as opposed to Stu's initial reaction and I was run out. Bugger. Apologies offered by Stu, "I don't mind so long as you get to 25..." which he made a fine effort of doing as wicket continued to fall. Scott looked confident and 2020 debutants James Trippier and Rob Gregson had a good go in very tough conditions. The youngsters were showing Michael Vaughan esque technique, but the innings was brough to an end with Stu on 10 as he was hit in the unmentionables and run out by Tillotson as he was being aided by members of the opposition. How sporting!
Change of innings and a tricky task to win defending only 37. Whenever a poor performance has happened, or the opponents have knockled you over quickly, you must believe you can do the same to them. Having confidence in our bowling options I thought the task was tough but doable, especially so after Scott and I had reduced them to 0-2 after 2 overs. On came Stu, recovered after the low blow to bowl fast and fiery, downwind. Some great tight, quick, swinging bowling prouced a few chances. Catches were there but not held and Tim Chronell and Billy Rowe dug in under the barage from Scott and Stu and got them past the line after 10.2 overs. We made a game of it but if we had 20-30 more runs it may have been possible. With the top 4 qualifying for the finals day and 9 more matches to go, all is not lost, bring them on!
Scorecard: http://wyre.play-cricket.com/scoreboard/scorecard.asp?id=10392379
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