Second XI up and running, First XI endure a tough start
This week's honour's boards entrants; Sam Kelly (6 for 26) and Simon Mcdermott (69*)
Well, the season has begun and in true cricketing fashion, our two sides that were in action experienced very different outings! The 2nd XI, now featuring Darren Wilson doing his very best Jonty Rhodes impression prowling in the covers, got off to a great start beating Carlton at their very picturesque home ground. Our slightly rusty bowling attack had got Darren worried with Carlton advancing to 95-4 and looking likely to post in excess of 180, that was until Sam Kelly and Brett Kinsey combined to build up the pressure before Sam ran through the lower order to return devastating figures of 6 for 26. Brett and Stefan Mather both took two wickets each. With Adam Dean stepping up to takeover wicket keeping duties, Darren was left to roam the inner circle. He survived a catch or die moment when he clung onto a screamer at gully that led to an Alan Shearer meets Timmy Mallet style celebration.
The chase got off to a nervous start with George Barker, Darren and Stefan all going cheaply to a tight early spell by Carlton's opening bowlers. Enter Simon Mcdermott (69*) who was positive from the off with his trademark booming off-side drives and quickly took the momentum back from the bowling side, later adding in 4 towering sixes to complete his domination of the attack. He had an able (but somewhat lucky) assistant in Sam Woledge-Wilkinson (27) who survived three dropped chances to post a match winning partnership of 83 with Simon.
Back at Jenny Lane, it wasn't quite the same story. Despite pegging Carlton back early on with 3 cheap wickets, the 1st XI (and two car windows!) then came under attack from the big hitting Farrouk Alam (88) who smashed 9 sixes and was supported by the lower order in lifting Carlton to a daunting score of 225. Kevin Mcdermott was our leading bowler with fantastic figures of 15 overs, 5 maidens, 4 wickets for 28 runs.
Our pursuit of the Carlton score never really got into gear and despite 30 from skipper Dwayne Heke, we limped to 88 all out with that man again, Farrouk Alam this time taking 4 for 11. So plenty for Dwayne and his team to work on ahead of their visit to Morley next weekend.
Talking about next weekend, our Dales Council teams will be springing into action, with Dave Hodgson's 3rd XI welcoming Cookridge to the Belmont Superdome and Andy Norton's 4th XI travelling to take on Rodley. Also starting off their season this week are our under 18's side who take on Rawdon at Jenny Lane , on Wednesday. Please come along and support the boys!
Finally, a little reminder that the Honour's boards have been separated this year - there is now one page for batters scoring 50 or more and one for bowlers taking 5 or more wickets - they are in the teams section of the website.