Ley Hill v
Holmer Green, 7th May 2005
Robin
Carr
Ley Hill Cricket Club made an
historic start to their league season on Saturday with a resounding victory over
disappointing Holmer Green.
It was the Hill’s first ever
victory over Holmer since they joined the Mid Bucks Premier League 13 years ago
and points to a better season than the relegation-haunted one of last year.
Despite losing opener Mark Curtis
on only the second ball (his third successive duck against Holmer!), Ley Hill
went on to make an excellent 219-7 in their 43 overs - four overs having been
lost to a hailstorm! A second wicket stand of 49
between skipper Jon Lown (right) and veteran Andy Rennard settled the side down and
after Lown was out for 17 Rennard and Ian Birkett shared an excellent and
entertaining stand of 155, Birkett ending with 54 and Rennard 79. The Hill’s
total was pushed on by brief but important innings from wicket-keeper Nick Lee
(18) and Rob Thompson (24).
Holmer Skipper Martin Little was
a tremendous example to his team in the field with several great stops and a
marvellous diving catch to dismiss Rennard. The always impressive fast bowler
Steve Jerman managed to take 4-50 from 12 overs but otherwise Holmer were
disappointing, dropping several catches.
If they were disappointing
fielding they were disastrous when it came to batting with their first three
wickets falling for only 11 runs. Little and Dave King rallied with a brief
stand of 70 but once they were gone the batting was once more suicidal with
Holmer’s last 6 wickets falling for only 25 as they crashed to 116 all out. Ley Hill’s superb bowling caused
much of the havoc, the ever-reliable Rob Thomson taking 3-19 off 10 overs - 3
of which were maidens – and Will Rothwell, Jamie Hudson and Az Shakoor (left) took two
each in what was a fine overall performance from Ley Hill.
Last season both teams flirted
with relegation. Holmer staged a fine late-season recovery to take them to
safety but on this performance it looks as if they’ll have a long hard summer.
Ley Hill also narrowly escaped relegation but if this excellent showing is
anything to go by they will have no such fears this summer.
Ley Hill: 219 for 7 (Rennard 79, Birkett 54)
Holmer Green: 116 all out (Thompson 3 for 19, Az Shakoor 2 for 10, Hudson
2 for 20, Rothwell 2 for 32)
Ley Hill won by 103 runs
Click here for the scorecard