Despite a poor batting display, Martley completed a remarkable comeback to beat 2022 Evening League champions Worcester Police at Old Elizabethans CC on Tuesday by 13 runs, solidifying their position at the top of the table.
Although it was a stormy Tuesday morning, the game went ahead & Martley were put into bat. It wasn’t a great start as it proved difficult to get away, but some wides aided Martley’s plight. James Ganderton (5) was caught in the deep before Ben Roberts missed one. Skipper Tom Vale went into bat before realising he’d forgotten his box so Alex Taylor stepped in, blasting an enormous six on his way to 17 before being stumped. Christian Mulvihill was bowled for 20 before Vale returned, but soon caught on the ropes for 7.
Doug Stormonth-Darling (9) hit Ryan Tongue (brother of England & Worcestershire’s Josh) for four but was then bowled by him, steam coming out of his ears as he trudged off the pitch as he felt he didn’t have time to step out the way as the bowler charged in before he was paying attention. Ollie Dunks went next ball spading it up to Tongue but Max Hickman (12no) & Owen Birchley ran well before OJ was bowled for 5. Andy Richardson nudged 2 before being cleaned up, doing well to get the visitors to 120-9 from their 100 balls. Extras was actually top-scorer with 40+ runs, proving to be very costly for the hosts.
Feeling like it was probably 20+ short, Birmingham League opener Tongue & his fellow opener couldn’t get Dunks away who bowled a brilliant 10 balls for just 3 runs. Doug backed it up & the pressure was on but the pair turned up the heat as they found runs off Roberts & then Owen, & without any wickets, Martley were facing defeat as the hosts needed just one a ball for the 2nd half of the innings & all wickets intact.
Doug (1-28 from 20) prized a wicket as Vale took a sliding catch from long-off & despite Mulvihill (1-11 in 10) being dispatched by Tongue to the old Perdiswell Golf Club, the next ball was hit straight to Vale on the ropes. Still one a ball needed for the hosts for the final 40 & the ball was tossed to Gandy (1-16 from 20) who immediately tied them up before Dunksy took a decent grab behind square & another was trapped in front as Vale finished 2-10 from 15 balls.
The skipper then had an easy run out & Dunksy (1-12 in 20) came back on for the final 10, bowling well to ensure Martley safely saw the game out to complete another cracking win by 13 runs, the hosts finishing 107-7.
Next up Martley host Hanley Castle next Tuesday, looking to keep top spot in the Evening League table. #UTM
