Saturday 1st XI Vs Dunstable Town II

After getting the first win of the season under our belts last week against Datchworth, thanks to a strong batting performance, we travelled to Dunstable looking to back up the result with another win. Jake won the toss and elected to bat on a warm and sunny day, with a good looking batting track and a fast outfield, we hoped to put a good total on the board.

Buzz and Josh opened the batting and weathered some good early bowling from Dunstable’s openers Thorne and Pell, adding 31 for the first wicket in 9 overs before Buzz was well caught at second slip off Pell for 11.

That brought the in-form Ian to the crease to join Josh and the two of them built a good looking partnership, getting to drinks with the score 78-1. The pair kicked on after drinks, upping the scoring rate and not long after both had brought up their 50s, going past their hundred partnership in the 26th over.

Ian eventually was out caught at midwicket for a run-a-ball 60, and Jake followed LBW two balls later. Darren joined Josh who continued to score freely on both sides of the wicket, and the two put on 40 in just over 6 overs before Josh was very well caught by a diving Dunstable skipper Simpkins, for a well-made 87.

Darren quickly followed Josh back to the hutch and the score was a precarious 175-5, but some good contributions from the lower order, including 19 from Luke and 20 off 12 balls from number 10 Kamran, took the score to 246-9 off 50.

Rick and Kammy shared the new ball and immediately made inroads with Kamran trapping opener Barry LBW for 2 and Ricky bowling the other opening bat Witney round his legs for the same score. Dunstable’s number 3 Horton counter-attacked but Kammy continued to threaten, and eventually had their number 4 LBW for 1, before finding the edge of Bromhall at 5, and clean bowling their numner 6 first ball to leave them in a mess at 37-5.

Spin was introduced and Kalim’s first ball found Horton’s outside edge, straight to Ian at slip and he departed for an enterprising 23, leaving Dunstable 40-6, and the game all but over as a contest.

Numbers 7 and 8, Newton and Thorne dug in and offered some resistance getting the score up towards respectability, but with the run rate climbing their lower order tried to hit spinners Kalim and Buzz and were caught in the deep, and Dunstable were all out for 115.

Man of the match goes to Josh for his well-made 87 that set up the total of 246, however a very honourable mention must go to Kamran for his lower order hitting and a brilliant spell of bowling, finishing with 10-4-21-4.