Where there’s a Will there’s a Wade
Although a fairly brief game it was at least eventful, the twos were defeated by 6 wickets by Pershore 3rds sadly only fielding 10 players for the first time in a couple of seasons. Stand in skipper Basford Snr won the toss and wisely chose not to chase the ball for 40 overs of slog against a useful Pershore side. The Martlets waited for the Boughton Park pro to turn up from work until the last minute who rushed onto the ground at 12.28 and instead took up the No3 role with young Will Rushgrove deputising. Wadders didn’t have to wait long as after watching Magoo face 5 in duckers Rushy decided to shoulder arms to his first ball and was promptly bowled. Magoo and Wadders then chewed up the next 10 overs without too much alarm but not many runs against a tidy attack. After 10 overs and 30 on the board Pershore reverted to spin this allowed Wadders to walk passed one, stumped for 12, Magoo was the next to perish for a good 29 Sweetie for a duck saw Martleys innings in freefall. Gandy Snr lbw for 6 saw Justin Rushgrove enter the fray who unfortunately was bowled first ball, now this has to be the first time two members of the same family got first ballers for Martley Cricket Club in the same game. Two more ducks for debutant Will Wade and the returning Ben Court who had spent two years ‘chilling’ meaning 5 ducks out of 10 possibly another record, 98 all out.
A cracking catch at gully from Wadders at gully off Tej Uppal (1/29) saw an early breakthrough but that was as good as it got for the home side. Some bold blows from Pershore had the total rattling along despite Will Wade taking 2/8 and Will Rushgrove 1/9 the visitors scored 102 for 4 off 13.2 overs with game rules allowing only 2 fielders outside the inner circle it left plenty of free space for the swashbuckling visitors.
