1STS CRUISE TO VICTORY OVER THE MILLERS
Blazing sun greeting both sides as Totts travelled to local rivals ELPM in a match which would see the victor move up to 3rd in the table. With a fast outfield and lovely wicket, the toss was always going to be crucial, so when Nelly B won it and elected to bat, it augured well. Ash and KC started off carefully, with our top batsman gradually unfurling some lovely straight drives. The CDO looked to be on the move but unfortunately clipped one straight to backward square leg. When Ash fell soon after for 23 with a loose shot, it was left to Birdy and the Doc to rebuild. The pair looked very comfortable and added 40 in pretty quick time before Doc, who had been totally at ease on his way to a fluent 25, had a rush of blood and lobbed one straight to long off. When Russ was given out shortly after for another score in the 20s and then skipper Nelly was bowled the innings was in some disarray at 75-5. Scunners was the last senior batsman remaining and he took time to settle. With useful support from Craig and a couple of lusty blows from Asif, we managed to reach 162-9 in our allotted overs, with Scunners remaining on 36 not out. Mention must also go to young Tom Parkinson who looked completely comfortable at the wicket and managed 3 not out.
The Millers had fielded superbly, and so it was up to Totts to see if they could match that against a powerful looking ELPM batting line up. Within 4 overs, the game had changed with first Doc trapping Joe Shiels bang in front and then Asif removing the major threat of Fran Daly in similar fashion. Greaves and Partington settled in quickly, but when the Doc again struck to have England rep Partington bang in front, the visitors sensed victory. With runs proving hard to come by, Asif and Doc were bowling superbly, and it didn't take long for another wicket to fall, with Keyworth run out after a calamitous mix up. When Greaves then hit Doc to long off, Asif took a superb running catch, and that was the powerful line up reduced to 45-5.
Wade strode out and played some huge shots in his usual manner before he became Doc's 3rd LBW victim walking straight into a ball headed for middle stump. Paul then completed a 5 wicket haul by bowling another player, and when he struck again to make it 6, that was ELPM 8 down and seemingly dead and buried. Russ was hit around in a couple of expensive overs before Ash came on; he almost immediately struck, with a gem of a delivery to bowl the number 9. The last pair ensured that nerves were frayed with a 20 run partnership but then Ash got one through the last man to complete a fantastic victory by 36 runs.
