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1st XI match report. Sat, 29th June vs Outwood, away.

On a bright and sunny day at the picturesque Outwood the Borough arrived without their top three batsmen, who were probably asleep under a table somewhere in Bristol on Sambos stag do. Did we miss then?? Did we heck!!

Balders did what he does best and won another toss. With a side seemly short on batting the decision to bowl was a fairly easy one to make. With the sun on their backs and a bit of nip in the pitch Zemory and Elliot produced probably the best opening spell Bidborough has seen for some time. Both bowled with decent pace but more importantly incredible control. 14 overs in and Outwood were 30-3. Zemory bowled out finishing with 1-25 off is nine overs but on another day could easily have taken 4 or 5 wickets having beaten the bat on numerous occasions. Elliot bowled his 7 overs for just 14 runs taking 2 vital wickets. Mitch and Redden then combined in the middle of the innings to maintain the pressure. Rigger took the vital wickets of Lane and Walters along with Armstrong whilst Mitch chipped in with the wicket of Alexander. With Mitch looking to conserve energy (it was very hot!) Johnno came onto bowl with control and guile picking up 2-22 in 7 overs. A few handy runs at the death from Hall and Stockly saw Outwood creep up to 129-9 in their 40 overs.

Talk in the dressing room was see to off the new ball and then make hay whilst the sun shines and that was pretty much what happened! Paddy and Stu opened and when paddy was out in the 11th over the score was a steady 28. Balders joined Pinch and the pair added another 28 before stu got his slog sweep out of the bag….with the usual result! 56-2 and the potential for a wobble was looming large. Andrew Eames, promoted up the order to 4 came in and played just like a number 4!! I the next 8 overs he and Balders added 56 to take the score to 109. With the winning line in sight Balders went for one too many big shots and holed out to an excellent catch on the boundary by Blease for 47. Mitch came and went (with a 6 over extra cover to his name!) which meant George Barrett and Eamo (20 not out) saw Bidborough to the 130 needed to close out the game.

A very pleasing win and one that shows the team ethos and depth of talent that Bidborough are currently blessed with. This was epitomised by Steve Waller who was called up late into the First XI and then proceeded to keep with great skill and bravey taking two great catches and putting huge pressure on the batsmen by standing up the quicks. Next week…..Le Crunch against Penshurst….bring it on!!!

James Baldock – 29/06/2013