SAINTS UNLEASH TRIPLE THRASHINGS
In my 37 years at the club I've enjoyed, participated in and witnessed many spectacular performances on the field, but few weekends have seen a set of results like the last. A 10 wicket win, a 9 wicket win and a victory by 286 runs is a pretty good return in anyone's book, particularly when sprinkled with stand out performances from younger players.
Let's start at the Meadows, where stand-in captain Ruffers won the toss and batted against Micklehurst. A swift start from young Dicko and the in-form Farley took us to 76 before the fall of the first wicket, but a mini-collapse showed little sign of what was to come. The middle order put in solid contributions, with Lenny promoted to five in a spectacular move from the skipper! However the total had only reached 184-8 before the real fireworks began. A ninth wicket partnership of 88 between young Lucas and this year's bowling standout Ry Marsh took the game away from the visitors, with Lucas falling just short of a debut half century. Danny Ashburner then produced a season's best of 26 not out, while Ry ended on 62 to top score in an impressive team total of 324.
Totts then destroyed the visitors with a fantastic bowling display; led by Ry Marsh's 6-13, the visitors were dismissed for just 38, with Smalley also picking up a brace. This keeps the 1sts in the promotion slots and just four points off top.
Over at Adlington, Nick Marsh predictably lost the toss but that didn't deter the birthday boy Jack Schofield's spirits. He raced in down the slope to produce perhaps his quickest spell this year and pick up early wickets, cheered on by a huge travelling contingent. Poor Faisal at the other end was having one of those days however, and just couldn't get his line right. Fortunately he picked up the key wicket of the opener who was flinging the bat at everything. Enter the spin twins, with "The Burglar" and The Doc picking up 6 wickets for 3 runs as Adlington's last 7 wickets fell inside half a dozen overs to leave them 40 all out. Credit to the home team's skipper who walked for a sharp catch by Mooro that hardly anyone appealed for. The Burglar Nicky T picked up 4-3 and Doc 2-0. Poor Fez was near-suicidal in the changing rooms over his form, with endless ribbing, fake calls to the Samaritans and a realisation that he'd conceded 72.5% of the opposition runs not helping matters!
With a low target to chase, young Ruffers was sent out with Tom, and the pair got us past the halfway point before Tom played a wild sweep and was adjudged LBW. Sam Woolley came in, hit hard and ran aggressively and the game was done and dusted in around 10 overs. Credit to Adlington for playing the game in a great spirit and to the superb tea with the best chicken skewers you could imagine.
Sunday saw Edenfield arrive at the Meadows for a third team encounter. Katie's side took to the field and restricted the visitors to 173-8, thanks again to a strong all-round bowling effort and The Burglar stealing 5 wickets with his usual crafty mix of flight, guile, hand grenades and soft lobs! Magnificent. However what was truly magnificent was the run chase; with Lucas following up his excellent work on Saturday with another positive display and Bret looking to hit everything out of sight, the pair put on a fantastic unbroken stand of 174 to take us to a 10 wicket win. Bretski notched up yet another TSJ century while Lucas ended on 52 to cap a terrific weekend and the best set of results you could imagine.
Thanks as always to everyone who played, spectated, supported, worked on the ground and bar, and scored. Onwards and upwards!