Weekly Match Updates
Sunday 22nd April 2018
A scintillating start to the season!
Skipper George Wood-Cole winning the toss and electing to bat in classic Escley fashion.
Opening batsmen Paddy Tandy and Mark Smith getting the team off to a steady start, before being removed cheaply.
The captain led from the front with the bat, setting up the biggest partnership of the match with lookalike Alex Carter, who top scored with 38. The slow outfield made this a bowlers dream, but luckily Strollers were unable to capitalise on this, with some big hitting over the top from the twins before Harry Carter came in with a sort cameo of his own.
Unfortunately the tail didn't wag, with the last 3 wickets falling for less than 10 runs.
120 on the board, a low total but always defendable.
The sun shone brightly on the pitch during the teas interval, as the home side prepared to take revenge on the side led by Ben Boswell, who had branded Escley as 'Strollers thirds' in the lead up.
The recognisable opening pair of Frankie Allan and Mark Williams gave the team the start they needed, with Williams removing the first Stroller in the second over, with Vice captain Tandy taking the 'catch of the match' low to his right at slip, before the away side were reduced to just 9 for 2 off the first six overs.
With the ship sailing sweetly the skip through the ball to Adam Evans and notably Man of the Match Jason Tandy. Tandy was terrific from the post office end, removing key batsman after key batsman, with help from some wicked work behind the stumps from 'keeper Smithers, who chipped in with key catches and stumpings; a great performance from Escley's good guy.
Whilst jovial Jason tore through the batting line up, the Church end saw some interesting bowling from Evans and Rob Williams, who both struggled to find their line and length, before settling in to a tidy rhythm in their short spells. Tandy finished with figures of 5 for 13 off six overs!
The Strollers were woeful in their running between the wickets, with vice captain big Nick Terry leaving Captain Ben stranded as Rob juggled and fumbled the ball as he tried his best to miss the run out, but gratefully guided the ball onto the stumps for the comedy moment of the game.
Calamity continued with the running which sadly left young Gus Fraser over-less as he was due to bowl the next over as Escley wrapped up the win with 62 runs to spare.