MATCH REPORT – LEAGUE KNOCK-OUT CUP – Reserves Quarter Final 

Ley Hill 2^nd XI v Lacey Green 2^nd XI – Tuesday 26^th June at Lacey Green 

In 2006, our Seconds met Lacey Green 2nds in the final of this competition and were runners-up.  Jumbo (captain Iain Stewart) and his team have been waiting ever since to take their revenge and having been thwarted by the weather on Tuesday 19^th June, were more than ready to take Lacey Green on last night. 

Having won the toss, Ley Hill decided to bat first and opened with Dave Turberville and Pete Sweet.  It soon became apparent that runs would not come easily – mainly due to the canny bowling of veteran Dave Sanders who ended up with 3 for 7 off his 4 overs - and we struggled to score just 24 runs for 4 wickets at the half-way point.  (These evening matches are 16 x 8 ball overs).   

Pete went in the second over and Dave – determined not to give up his wicket – took 30 minutes to score 10 runs.  Ben Ford and Nick Lee came and went quite quickly but Jumbo stayed around a while and scored 13 – his highest of the season – including a splendid 6 (in fact, more than he has scored all season so far!).  Unfortunately the haemorrhaging of wickets continued and Rob Rooney soon came and went. 

The loss of Jumbo’s wicket (the sixth to fall) brought new boy Chris Connolly to the crease and at last we saw some runs scored and some boundaries made.  While he was scoring runs however, we saw Sam Helm and Richard Falconer come and go – Richard in an heroic effort at an impossible run which brought in Chris Morris.  The two Chris’s then put on a 9^th wicket stand of 22 – the highest of the innings – before young Morris was also run out.  Sam Harrison at number 11 did not stay long and the Ley Hill innings closed on 77 all out in 15.5 overs.  “Not enough” we all thought. 

When the Lacey Green innings opened with W. Khan hitting three 4s off the first six balls bowled, our fears seemed to be justified, but the Ley Hill bowlers refused to panic and stuck at it.  The Lacey Green run rate was well ahead of Ley Hill’s right up until Over 14 when the determined bowling of our squad of young bowlers began to reap results.  From 68 for 3 at the end of Over 14, Lacey Green were only 71 for 5 at the start of the 16^th and last over.  Just 7 runs needed to win and 8 balls to do it in.  The last over was bowled by Sam Harrison and it was a nail biting finish. 

Ball 1 – 1 run.  6 runs needed to win.  Ball 2 – dot ball.  Ball 3 – 1 run.  5 runs needed to win.  Ball 4 – WICKET!  Ball 5 – RUN OUT!  Ball 6 – wide ball (and Bill Phillips – our umpire – said it broke his heart to have to give it).  4 runs needed to win and three balls still to come.  Ball 7 – dot ball.  Ball 8 – dot ball.  Ball 9 – 1 run making the Lacey Green total 75 off their 16 overs and Ley Hill had WON by just 3 runs. 

Man of the Match?  Well as far as I am concerned there were 11 of them – the entire Ley Hill team played their hearts out – but if I have to pick out anyone I would choose our quartet of teenage bowlers.  They bowled at Lacey Green with maturity and aplomb well beyond their years and it makes me proud to think that we can produce players such as these via our coaching system at Ley Hill Cricket Club!

And what comes next?  A semi final against the winners of the match between Hughenden Valley and Flackwell Heath – to be played away next Tuesday.  Watch this space! 

Eleanor Phillips, Scorer