Special report from our man in the spot.
Martley 2’s welcomed Ledbury to Jewry Field for the first time in 45 years, perhaps ever. Batting first the away side got off to a steady start against the fearsome opening attack of Wicko and Rabbi Wadders. Cruising along at 89 without loss of ten overs opener Hill mistimed a cut to point where the Rabbi took a smart catch and to be fair probably the only fielder capable of taking it. Ledbury were now having to work harder for their runs against the guile of Fats 2/18 and Sooty 0/43 both bowled a tidy 9 over spell to haul the game back onto an even keel. With the reintroduction of Showaddywaddy 3/55 inducing a flurry of wickets Ledbury were in danger of falling short of a total to put the game out of reach of the home side. No 4 Trattel had other ideas blasting a quick 54 and with the Goose contributing 19 wides in his 6 over cameo the visitors finally posted a healthy 251 for 8 despite a tidy spell of 3/27 from skip Wicko.
A delicious offering of a coffee and lemon drizzle cakes from the WI was consumed with only crumbs remaining.
Martlet openers Ben Waddington and Elsie Birchley (6) were made to work for their runs against an accurate Ledbury attack, Magoo didn’t stay for long and at 40 for 2 off 15 overs things were looking grim for the home side. Head of Junior Development, Sooty, had other ideas wrestling the initiative and along with a more positive Rabbi things started to turn in favour of Martley. Disaster, on 56 Sooty attempting another boundary only succeeded in skying a sweep to the keeper. With the total on 144 it was vital the run rate was maintained which it was by Wadders (79) and a swashbuckling Warty batting like AB de Villiers, at least that’s what he told me. A run a ball 18 from the Goose kept the total in sight, in at 8 Basford very senior joined the Chairman in a veteran run chase with forty still needed. Some scrambled running and the odd boundary brought the game to its nailbiting conclusion, last ball 1 to tie 2 to win, obviously. Keeper standing up meant the pumped up Chairperson had to make contact to enable the chance of a run, he did better than that cracking the crimson rambler to long on where the on rushing fielder made a dogs dinner of stopping it as it went through his legs for four. Special mention to Will Rushgrove who after 400 attempts has finally been on the winning side for a Martley side. Thanks to Lynz and Dawn who cut short her Mediterranean cruise to get back to score. Away to Borlingham next Saturday
