The 1s travelled to a well drilled Old Elizabethans side and with drizzle forecast for the next 2 hours, a 2pm start looked likely. However new team captain Christian Mulvihill won the toss and elected to bowl first in gloomy conditions and after receiving this news, the team completed its first ever extensive warm-up 20 minutes till the start time which was agreed at 12.15.
Ollie Dunks (1-18 in 10) opened up the bowling, taking the first wicket of the season in the first over, crashing straight into the batsman’s off stump, with pistol Pete Gardner (1-29 in 10) applying good pressure at the other end. With the youngest off side field Martley have had in a long time, we kept it nice and tight up to 15 overs with the score being 65-1. The first bowling changes were made with the spin options coming on with James Ganderton (0-30 in 10) and Owen Birchley to try and take a few more wickets, which led to OEs batsman walking down the track and missing the ball to get stumped one ball before drinks. With pressure building, Mr Chairman was bought on to bowl after drinks clearly showing he was the only one who had a net, taking 4-42 in 9.5. Special mention to Ollie Dunks who took a straightforward catch when it looked like he really didn’t fancy it.
After some confusion, our new captain had counted the overs wrong which led to having to find someone to have an over, so who better than captain marvel himself. In result, he took a wicket first ball with a delivery which pitched in bowling extreme car park where the batsman spooned it straight into the air for Dom Jones to take comfortably. After this crime Mr Mulvihill should have been in the back of a police van along side senior Birchley, who also committed a crime with a two-footed tackle on a ghost by the looks of it, as the ball shot past him at slips! Obviously didn’t fancy the chase…
We bought a few more wickets with a direct hit from O Birchley taking the stumps out the ground, and Martley looked in a good position going into the last few overs of the first innings. The last 10 were kept very tight with a very good fielding performance which led to OEs finishing 198 all out thanks to a Waddington run out.
Martley boys felt confident going into bat with conditions drying up quickly and a very strong batting line-up. Jnr Goose (12) and Dunksy opened up hoping to get us off to a quick start but Ollie nailed one to the left of mid on who took a brilliant catch gone first over. OBirchley came in at 3 and steadied the ship with Jnr Goose who kept the scoreboard ticking until Gand was tempted by the short boundary and had a big sweep which resulted in the middle stump going for a walk. Ben Waddington who was excellent in the field was soon bowled for 2.
Mr Chairman was promoted to 5 with the skipper stuck in the bathroom, and looked well drilled where he and OJ managed to take it up to drinks at a steady pace, making Martley look the favourites once again. After drinks O Birchley was bowled for 32 which bought the skipper in but he was trapped in front for 5.
Dom (turbo) Jones came in next – everyone on his team fears to bat with him as he is the only one who makes running a 2 look like a slow jog!Valer accelerated with a few nice boundaries until he was cleaned up finishing on a very good 57 which meant Martley now needed 56 from 10 overs with 4 wickets remaining.
Jones made 25 bringing martley closer to the finishing line. Senior Birch chipped one up straight to mid on as birthday boy Dan Mayfield (1) went to have a go but unfortunately it was shortly lived as he came back to the pavilion pretty swiftly quoting: ‘I was in 2 minds lads didn’t know if I wanted to scoop it or charge down.’ The walk down the wicket didn’t work and despite everyone backing Tobey Jones (4) to whack a couple, he toed one straight up which was taken on the boundary. Martley finished 25 short but it was a fine effort on a slow scoring pitch.
It was back to the Tap & Run for a few beers and the captains’ round-up. Looking forward to next week where the 1s play newly promoted Worcester Nomads 2s at home.
