Martley won the toss at Jewry Field & elected to bat, but things did not go to plan.
It was going to be an innings of patience that was required, however, Ben Waddington (3) missed a full toss wrapping him on the ankles in front & Scott Hodgetts (6) attacked a straight one. Skipper James Ganderton went for a quacker, cleaned up too, before the in-form Alex Basford (11) nicked a wide one.
Karl Baker was looking set but gave his wicket away spooning one up for 12, as did Tom Vale (
& Sam Fitch (0). Paul Guy had 3 wickets in 4 balls as Pete Gardner perished for a duck too & at 54-8 Martley were really reeling.
The only patient MCC man of the day, Daniel Mulvihill,made a steady 24 including a straight six late on, but he was bowled by a genuine pea-roller. Olly Saunders (13) & Alex Stratford (8no) waggled with the last wicket, getting us up to 109 in a super effort, before Wadders triggered Olly. Stratty may have had several chances but after defending 92 recently, Martley always felt there was a chance.
The reply with the ball started well as Pete & AB probed, AB getting rewards as he had one opener spooned to Scott at extra cover & another bowled by a beauty that knocked the man down. Gandy bowled another as Martley had a sniff but 4 quick boundaries from Stuart Dickenson had the away side well in charge, till he nicked Stratty behind to Saunders who took a decent grab.
That was as good as it got, with former Martley man John Greaves blasting some boundaries & dropped by your reporter, finishing the game alongside the patience of Jon Critchlow to seal a 6-wicket win.
Onto next week as the 1s look to get back to winning ways. #UTM
