MARTLEY’S FINEST FIGHTBACK EVER?
Sunny Saturday saw Martley without skipper James Ganderton for a second week running, nursing injury.
The ground was already set up & ready to rock thanks to the efforts of Mr Cricket, Alex Basford, & after winning the toss & electing to bat given the chance of storms in the afternoon, Martley looked to set a score.
Scott Hodgetts & Christian Mulvihill looked to get things off to a flyer but Alexander Poe moved one the other way to clean up Chrissy for 4 before Scott was caught for 8. Karl Baker, who’d been out enjoying Shakeeys at 6am with Gandy & having barely slept, was cleaned up for 6 & then skipper for the day Tom Vale nicked a wide half volley gone for a quacker. Daniel Mulvihill was bowled for a duck by a beaut & at 27-5, things were looking very ominous.
Owen Birchley nicked behind for 2 before four entertaining balls from Ollie Dunks saw him bounce one from the road into Lane’s field, a ferocious six & a four before spooning a dolly up, caught for 10 off 4 balls. Mr Cricket meanwhile was continuing to bat well with bets on the sidelines about whether he would be not out AGAIN. Pete Gardner edged one to slip (1) & Olly ‘Sonic The Hedgehog’ Saunders managed to run himself out for a quacker without facing a ball, after calling AB through for a suicidal two.
AB (43no) decided to try & blast a few, striking five fours & two sixes, including one that smashed the indicator of a car parked on the road for the flower show – fancy parking on the busy main road where there’s a corner!
Alex Stratford was bowled by Poe for 1 with the opener taking 5-11 in 7.1 as the Brock attack bowled brilliantly to dismiss MCC for 92. AB still remains not out this season after another brilliant knock & it was wondered whether that might just help his side take some wickets and earn some bonus points…
At the break, the point was reinforced that we play for points & see where that takes us…Pete Gardner & Ollie Dunks started well with Pete knocking over one of the openers, before Dunksy cleaned up three bats, & AB saw one nicked behind to Olly, even if the keeper & Pete had dropped one each behind the pegs prior. Brock were 20-5 & all of a sudden an incredible victory looked well on the cards.
But there was no room for complacency…Alex Stratford came into the attack & first ball, enforced an error as one was spooned to OJ who managed to make the ground for the grab despite not seeing it till late. An unfortunate bounce then saw Stratty (2-14 in 7) strike again as the batsman was trapped in front. Pete was drafted back in after AB (1-15 in 8 ) had literally given everything, collapsed on the floor needing a breather, probably something to do with all the shovelling he was doing pre-match to help with the construction of the exciting new pavilion! Pete (2-25 in 8 ) grabbed another LBW & at 57-8 it looked almost a dead cert that Martley were completing one of their greatest ever wins.
However, Brock’s bowling hero Poe, was looking to be batting hero too, as he struck 20, & all of a sudden, they needed just 14 for the win.
Martley kept probing as the run out chances came & went, & balls beat the bat, as the treated, sun-kissed crowd were chewing their fingernails with a pint in hand. The determination of this side however, is unlike many of years gone by, with all still believing victory would come (perhaps not AB, which was probably his only downfall of the day). And Dunks back into the attack, delivered, as he induced a nick to AB at slip.
Martley played a dangerous but smart game, allowing Brock to take the odd single so the hosts could target the number 11. The Malvern Hills brothers (Mulvihills’ new nickname) in close put the pressure on, & thankfully the pressure told as Daniel’s one-handed catch off Dunksy almost happened in slow motion, sending the home team into absolute delirium in the middle, no doubt, one of the club’s finest ever moments.
Four wins from four played, joint-top, & Alex Basford putting last season’s disappointment behind with another top display, 220 runs so far this season & still not out – a remarkable achievement.
A fair few beers were consumed in the sunshine after a very early finish, with Dunksy (BELOW) doing his buying beers duties after a tremendous 5-24 in 8.5.
That win was for Sally! Onto next week at Lye. #UTM
