Ware II Vs Hatfield Crusaders II - June 30th 2012

For the first time in ages Widford was bathed in sunshine, as Ware II hosted the challenging Hatfield Crusaders. A win would give a boost up the table for both teams. Ware won the toss and Garry elected to have a bowl on a fantastic wicket.

Ware opened the bowling with Gary Hitch and Si Morgan, they got us off to a good steady start, with good lines, we were sure of a wicket to arrive soon and from the first over of Hitch, Ware struck early with an LBW to send the opener on his way, with the early strike Ware were confident in getting their second, we all thought we had it but apparently not, we were pretty sure that it was a caught cleanly behind by Greame Unwin, but no movement from the batsmen, Morgan was very disappointed, we knew he hit it but there umpires didn’t confirm the action.

As the overs ticked along skip thought that having pace on the ball wasn’t working, so both openers had finished what was a good spell, Gary H 11-1-41-1 and Si Morgan 10-1-28-0. Then the skipper turned to himself and Sticky, taking pace of the ball which did the trick because the second wicket came when their second opener was bowled by Garry O. Then on came Bly and wickets came freely for him too, a good slice of luck behind the stumps from Stu, off his hand then his pad and hit the stumps to give Garry his third wicket and another stumping gave Sticky his second, there really should have then a third stumping but square leg umpire didn’t see what we all saw, out!!! However Garry wasn’t finished there, he bowled a brilliant spell of bowling finishing with figures 12-2-32-5. His first ever 5 wicket haul, great job by the skip and supported well by Sticky 11-1-48 -3, Hatfield had finished on 153 all out.

So with 154 set to win Ware just had to concentrate all the way through their innings, Tom P and Greame U opened up and were up against some tough opening bowlers, who certainly put the them through their paces, but a double change of bowlers and the runs started to coming freely, Tom was playing some really great shots towards the boundary but the long grass of the outfield slowed the ball just short of the boundary, but soon we lost Greame from being run out 67-1 after 27 overs, so in went Adam Price to boost the runs up, as we were slightly behind the rate, Tom was going along nicely and looking really comfortable but was bowled by and very good ball.

In went Garry to help Pricey boost the runs on, but sadly Pricey gave his wicket away straight down the fielder’s throat. We found ourselves at 101-3 so in came Gary Hitch for his first appearance for the 2’s unfortunately he didn’t last long either, top edged caught and bowled, but skip marched on pushing the odd ones here and there, until finally he was caught for 22, Stu Hitch and Si Morgan looked to be doing the job to see the team home, until Si was caught. Enter Afzal and he didn’t take long to get his eye in, soon there was a big mix up Stu had called for a run that went behind square leg, Afzal remained stationary ball watching and Stu was run out, Afzal and Sticky put a little partnership on and brought in down to just 9 of 8 balls but Afzal had a rush of blood and was stumped. So in went Jack Morley, pressure on in our bid for victory, but unfortunately Jack couldn’t get the ball away so we didn’t quite cross the line, at end of the day both teams were evenly matched, with both having appeared to have done enough to deserve a win.

Over all was a good performance by all, well done lads, keep the momentum going and promotion is still achievable!!!!!

MOM must surely be Garry Orton.