Mark Curtis and Jon Lown (right) got off to a slow start, struggling on a jumpy, unpredictable track. Lown soon fell to swing bowler S. Kalid, carrying on the bronzed auctioneer's barren spell. Andy Rennard, on many occasions the Firsts' fearless backbone, was brought to the wicket, but he too was to struggle, repeatedly rapped on the knuckles before falling to J. Kalid. Curtis too was to fall, but his steadily-gathered runs were crucial.
More
quick wickets fell, and it came to Will Holman, and then Nick Lee, to rescue the
Hill's horrible position at 59 for 5. And rescue it they did. Holman, who in his
previous game versus Ballinger batted like a limper-wristed Dale Winton (see
left), was this time far more convincing, nurdling away to all corners. Lee
played the perfect partner, taking the necessary risks in a brutal
smash-and-grab innings. The two took the Hill on past 100, with late runs from
Thompson and O'Neill set to prove highly important. Cadmore End had fielded abysmally, but the Hill quickly established that they would not fall into the same trap. O'Neill easily pouched a skier from the bowling of Gary Helm, before Holman took a more forcefully hit stroke, again from Helm. Irishman O'Neill bowled perfectly on this unpredictable wicket, three of his five wickets coming from snorters edged to Nick Lee. Wickets continued to fall at steady intervals, but our boys were never fully in charge. Indeed, Cadmore were just 22 runs shy of their target with three wickets remaining. These were nervous moments.
But Lown's fighters were not to let this one slip. The last three wickets fell for just seven runs, the game wrapped up by Martin Leadbitter's two vital late catches. Texas Pete was promptly mobbed by his elated team-mates. Had the Hill lost this one, real relegation worries would have ensued. But a win, and a 25-point one too, is the perfect preparation for another nerve-jangler with Holmer Green.
Ley Hill won by 15 runs
Ley Hill: 129 for 7 (Lee 29, Will Holman 27, Curtis 28)
Cadmore End: 114 all out (O'Neill 5 for 29, Helm 2 for 20, Thompson 2 for 27)