CAPTAIN MARVEL SAVES THE HILL

Skipper Craig Ottaway gave a tremendous captain’s performance – both batting and bowling - to take Ley Hill from the brink of defeat to their second successive victory in the Mid Bucks Premier League.

Missing four of their regular players, it was a very young Ley Hill side that won the toss and put Haddenham into bat.  Two tidy spells of opening bowling – Ottaway (1-32 from 12 overs) and Gary Helm (1-36 from twelve) kept the run rate to a minimum.  Pawsey (13) and Everett (26) had a good opening stand of 45, spoilt by Pawsey’s daft run out.  Haddenham captain Burniston (29) tried to hold things together but once he had been caught by Helm the wickets fell fairly regularly. Felix Chamberlain, Scott Peterson and Stephen Walter taking 2 each as Haddenham ended on 157 all out.

Ley Hill’s start was not at all what was required: 42–5 in almost no time.  Following excellent bowling by Braniston (4-22), Ley Hill were soon 77-7 and the writing was on the wall.  Enter Captain ‘Marvel’ Ottaway.  An inspired knock of 54, along with assistance by Craig Peterson (18) and a superb innings by Chamberlain (40 n.o.) took the Hill to 158-8 and 20 valuable points.

Robin Carr