Barton Seagrave defrosted!
After last week’s wonderful summer temperatures Graces packed all available jumpers before heading north to play our friends Barton Seagrave.
They were needed as the day was distinctly chilly with a selection of colourful woolly hats on show.
As well as Matt turning out for us , home player Michael also kindly guested. This was our third trip to Northants and the match tally was 1 a piece. Matt had played on both winning sides so was he to be our lucky charm?
Supporters Adam , Rafe and Simon all travelled north with Adam kindly umpiring all the match.
By agreement Manish won the toss and chose to bat on what looked like quite a green strip. It proved to be quite slow as Matt and Scotty opened our innings. The host’s bowlers were quite variable with accuracy and patience was required. After Matt mis-timed and was caught Mahender was soon back in the pavilion – 33 for 2 after 8 overs.
We then lost 3 quick wickets as Barton S’s bowlers made us work for runs and we were in serious trouble at 59 for 5 in the 18th over. Scotty had watched all this from the other end and had played really well keeping the good balls out.
Our fortunes turned when Ari in at 7 joined Scott. The runs started to flow as Ari played in his usual positive style – Scotty joined in as the rate climbed and our hosts were doing a lot of chasing. The watching Graces players and supporters were now enjoying the spectacle – this pair took the score to 133 in the 28th over until Scotty sportingly walked after a faint edge behind just short of a deserved 50 with 45.
Despite having apparently survived a few heavy evenings at Stuart’s Herefordshire pile Leo strode in and continued to entertain the crowd with some big hitting. In the 39th over Ari was finally caught for exactly 50 – Leo finished with 42 not out including consecutive sixes. Our total was a defendable 218 for 7
So a great recovery from what had looked like a low score. Our hosts hadn’t helped their cause conceding more than 30 extras.
A BYO tea followed including 3 magnificent cakes baked by Matt’s mum.
The hosts batting started positively but we continued our fine catching from last week’s match with some well judged catches, the pick being Ari running along the boundary at full speed to somehow reach a hard hit pull shot.
Wickets fell regularly with only their number 4 (Doc – his job!) ) showing application. He eventually was left stranded on 60 as we managed to bowl them out for 136 in the 35th over. The next top score was 16. The wickets were shared around (we used 8 bowlers) with Matt earning bragging rights picking up 3 of his club mates. Ari was deservedly man of the match for 2 catches and his 50.
Jonners managed to get the last wicket with a rare bowl and rarer victim!
Graces socialised in the now sunlight ground before heading back south.So it’s now 2 – 1 to us and another enjoyable game with Matt yet to play on a losing side!
Next week (weather permitting) it’s a much closer final game in Putney.
22-, 62 Barton Rd, Barton Seagrave, Kettering NN15 6RX