Martley 1s hosted top-of-the-table Netherton 2s on Saturday who came into the match having won all of their games played.
The home side won the toss & elected to bowl first with Pete Gardner & Alex Basford looking to make inroads, with AB putting one down in the slips off Pete. Luckily a strange run out meant it didn’t cost too dearly as the returning Dan Johnson collected & actually sprinted to the stumps before the batsman could make his ground, according to the umpire, whereas DJ felt it wasn’t out!
AB atoned with a wicket of his own as one was nicked to Rich Birchley behind the sticks while Mark Johnson’s introduction didn’t go to plan. AB grabbed another to Pete at slip but things took a turn for the worse when Matt Repton pulled up with a calf problem, so in stepped another injured player, Karl Baker, to stand at slip & help out. Dan Johnson into the attack was causing problems, inducing two edges to Senior Birch & bowling another to finish with 3-72 (14). Owen Birchley meanwhile bowled brilliantly, bowling one man & getting the 8th wicket with stand-in skipper Vale taking one in the deep.
At 165-8, Martley had the bit between their teeth & were trying all they could to get the no.10 on strike while Noman Waqar looked unbeatable at the other end.
Vale brought himself on looking to prise another wicket & despite two good catching opportunities, Martley put the no.10 man down twice which sadly proved to be very costly. Waqar treated the crowd to some brilliant ball-striking as the visitors went from 165-8 to 320-8 from 50 overs. The no.4 bat hit some of the biggest sixes you could have seen at the ground, with a couple going over the Jewry Lane house & a sublime punch over cover that went over the village hall. Enormous. He finished on 197no as Pete denied him the double ton off the final ball.
Birchley senior & junior opened the batting & looked in good nick till senior (6) nicked one & junior (22) was run out after a dodgy run with AB. Basford (10) & Vale (2) were both bowled in the same over before Tobey Jones (2) popped one in the air. Hammaad Tariq finished with 5-38 as he had another two-wicket over as Stu Watt played on & Scott Hodgetts nicked behind with a great catch from the keeper, both for quackers.
The Johnson brothers treated watching dad Andy to a couple of fours each till Mark (9) was dismissed by another super diving catch from the keeper & Dan (12) popping up a gift to end a disappointing day, 72-9 with Gilly unable to bat.
Catches win matches, & sadly some poor fielding & wayward bowling was what let the side down, but on we go to next week – Harborne away – the same side we play in the Midweek Cup Final at Kidderminster CC on Tuesday night – 6pm start. See you there. #UTM
