Mixed Weekend For Austerlands
Kevin Fielding of Austerlands attacks. (all pictures: Neil Cadd)
The cricketers of Austerlands had a defeat and a victory over the weekend. With the details, Neil Cadd:
ON A WEEKEND WHEN MANY players expected the weather to spoil their fun, Austerlands managed to get two full games played. On Saturday the firsts made the journey to high flying Droylsden, who after reaching 78/1 finally were all out for 165.
However, another poor batting display from Austerlands saw them fall short by 40 runs, a display that didn’t bode well for Sunday’s visit to Thorpe Lane of Bamford Fieldhouse.
Sunday’s game managed to start on time, the force ten gale probably drying out the field. Austerlands were asked to bat first with Bamford hoping to pick up some easy points, and they were not disappointed with Austerlands losing two early wickets, which brought Farhat to the crease.
In determined mood to make up for Saturday’s poor batting performance he started his innings with a four and then went on to score a respectable 65, with his cavalier batting style upsetting the Bamford bowling attack. However, Austerlands finished on 120, nowhere near enough runs to trouble the Bamford batting machine. Or was it?
Austerlands took to the field in a positive mood and they soon got their reward with Bamford’s pro Hodnet hitting what he thought was a flat six, which left the bat like an Exocet, straight to Farhat at deep mid-off for a duck. The second and third wickets quickly fell leaving them at 7/3 after four overs.
The match swung one way then the other with partnerships building (Marshall and Wright scoring into their twenties) and then being broken. Bamford crept towards the nineties with wickets in hand. With his opening bowler Dave Oldfield tiring, skipper Adam Young was forced make a change. Still needing four wickets, he brought 17-year-old Andrew Cadd into the attack to support Farhat, and the youngster didn’t let him down picking up three wickets for 12 in his three overs. Farhat snapped up the other to finish with 5/24 from 19 overs.
A fantastic result not only for Austerlands but the whole of the Saddleworth League, inflicting Bamford’s second defeat of the season and giving hope to the other clubs in the league that they can be beaten.
Thanks once again to Neil for the excellent pictures and report. Other results from the weekend can be viewed at the league’s website here.
Austerlands professional Humayun Farhat hits a six.
Another quick single for Austerlands.
A Bamford batsman shoulders arms.
The last Bamford batsman about to be caught to complete a victory for Austerlands.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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