Noddy takes five as Grace's win comfortably
Grace’s 199 for 10 declared (sic); Highgate Irregulars 65 all out.
A new ground and new opposition saw Grace’s travel to north London once more. A few firsts as the home team chose a time game and also to have 12 players! So Noddy was roused from his gardening duties to take us to a dozen.
Highgate are a very relaxed ,friendly and mature team making us look very young! – Grace’s were invited to bat first – Dom & Simon opened with steady progress on a very green slow and low strip. Simon was soon caught mistiming a pull shot , bringing in a circumspect Mendis. Dom’s wicket saw Niroshan join him before being run out (again!) attempting a quick single. Stuart then made an entertaining 32 before spooning a catch to mid on – a fifty was surely there for him!
Leo then joined Mendis who was then bowled for 27. Ragan then proceeded to carry on from last week hitting a quick fire 46 before being stumped wandering down the pitch. A highlight (for everyone else!) of the end of our innings was Noddy being run out at the non-striker’s end without facing a ball!
So with Anosh hitting a few lusty blows our final total was 199 for 10. The innings had been rain interrupted and the pitch got even slower.
After a fine tea the 12 men of Grace’s took to the field as the sun returned. Highgate were soon in trouble after their opener was caught behind down the leg side off Newton’s first legitimate delivery. Grace’s bowling was proving too strong for home team as their innings became one of survival. Anosh was particularly happy as fielders unusually held on to catches as he pinned one end down finishing with 3 for 30 – that’s thirty wickets for Grace’s now.
Wickets fell regularly with Noddy steaming in (reminding us of his glory days) proving to hot to handle claiming 5 wickets for 17 off 13 overs. So Highgate’s hope of holding out for a draw were snuffed out as they finished on 65 all out (11!)
So Grace’s good run continued against friendly opposition on a nice ground with last week’s tea now a distant memory!