BOOTH CRICKET CLUB 2nd XI Thornton

Thornton v Booth

Booth won by 24 runs Booth 10 pts, Thornton 5 pts

Booth 208 for nine

T. Collinge b Higgins

M. Johnstone b Higgins

M. Lumb b Drake

A. Sutcliffe c Butterfield b Carnell

M. Thomas b Carnell

N. Horsfall b Carnell

N. Thomas lbw Carnell

G. O'Brien c Taylor b Carnell

D. Oliver c Marshall b Carnell

P. Thomas not out

J. Oliver not out

Extras

Bowling:

M. Higgins 10-5-25-2, M. Drake 15-0-78-1

M. Carnell 13-0-64-6, R. Taylor 7-1-35-0

Thornton 184

D. Richardson c O'Brien b Oliver

B. King lbw Oliver

P. Butterfield b Horsfall

M. Butterfield lbw Oliver

D. Marshall b Oliver

M. Higgins b Sutcliffe

A. Collins c Lumb b Oliver

B. Raywood b Oliver

M. Carnell b Horsfall

R. Taylor b Oliver

M. Drake not out

Extras

Bowling:

P. Thomas 6-0-30-0, N. Horsfall 8-1-34-2

A. Sutcliffe 14-3-61-1, D. Oliver 15.3-1-43-7

SS Dave Sinks Thornton

After losing the toss on one of the hottest days of the summer, Booth, somewhat surprisingly had the honour of batting first on a dry but green track.

The Booth innings can be broken down into three 15 over periods. In the first 15 overs, accurate Thornton bowling coupled with a lack of bounce in the wicket meant that run scoring was relatively hard, with Booth spluttering to 46-3.

Between the 15 and 30 over mark, a combination of good batting by Morgan Thomas and Sutcliffe and the mid-afternoon heat forced a change in the Thornton bowling attack. This meant that Booth were able to consolidate their position, scoring relatively freely until Sutcliffe was caught behind with the score on 110 for 34. This brought Horsfall to the crease, who was able to continue in the same vein, steadily accumulating runs in the middle overs without the loss of a further wicket.

In the final 15 overs, Booth were able to accelerate the scoring with Morgan Thomas and Horsfall to the fore, scoring 41 and 54 respectively. The search for late runs was further aided by the remaining batsmen, who employed the required ‘hit out or get out’ mentality meaning that Booth closed on 208-9. A respectable but by no means match winning performance.

Thornton started their innings brightly, with Booth unable to prise out either of their opening batsmen, both of whom looked in good touch and pushed the score along to 60-0 after 12 overs. This forced Booth into a change of tactics with the opening seam attack being replaced by Dave Oliver and Sutcliffe. This change paid instant dividends with Oliver having one of the openers caught by O’Brien at square leg.

Over the next 10-15 overs the match looked like it was sliding away from Booth, as a further breakthrough was not forthcoming and Thornton were able to steadily accumulate runs amassing 135-1 with 15 overs remaining. However, the wicket to wicket bowling of Oliver and Sutcliffe, came through in the knick of time with Oliver having the other opener LBW for a creditable 64, this was followed by two further wickets, one for each of Sutcliffe and Oliver in the two overs that followed. From this point onwards Dave Oliver took control of the situation bowling straight and moving the ball both through the air and off the seam, enabling him to snare a further 4 Thornton batsmen. Horsfall was also re-introduced to the attack bowling two batsmen, one of which was the Thornton No. 3 for 56, with leg stump yorkers, culminating in Thronton being bowled out for 184.

This was a much needed 10 pointer for Booth, who are indebted to Dave Oliver’s return to fitness and his match turning spell of 16 overs 7 for 43.