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An absent Piewalker meant BOB had to be un-wrapped for his first appearance of the season as Blubbs hosted new-comers to division two Middleham at the freshly mown BCG and the weather was a 100% improvement on last week.

Sherman won his first toss of the season and decided to give his men some excercise by sticking in Middleham on what appeared to be a dream track for the batsmen.......what was he thinking.

Frankie stepped down from his usual opening slot with the ball to make way for Bubba and Gobby Bobby kept his spot at the other end for the start of the days play, Bubba didn't get off to the best of starts as he sprayed the ball around like a graffiti artist on speed.

Gobby got off to a better start getting movement, swing, turn and bounce which was too much for Marshall who mis-hit a drive straight into the waiting chest of Bupa Boy and Middleham were eighteen for one in the second over.

Middlehamn continued the assault on the Blubbs bowling and Sherman began to realise fielding first was maybe not the smartest decision of the day as the runs piled on.

Stonewall was early into the attack after Gobby finished up his six over spell for a respectable twenty five, it was a brief but productive spell, for Middleham that is, and Sherman found himself asking Stonewall to have a blow after only four overs.

Sherman joined in the attack but things didn't get any better as the ball zipped to the boundary at regular intervals, Bubba started to feel his feet but it was all too late as his twelve over spell finally came to an end.

It was Mad Frankie who finally got the breakthrough one hundred and twenty one runs later when Brown missed with the bat but hit with the pads and was adjudged leg before for twenty and Middleham were one thirty nine for two, Blubbs still had a mountain to climb.

Yates was next to go cleaned up by Sherman who finally managed to get one to pitch and pitch in-line with the stumps, and Middleham were one sixty six for three and Blubbs thought the visitors might be on for a collapse.

Frankie skittled Peacock for none and Sherman bagged his second of the day when danger man Burnett finally steered one of his edges to a fielder and Middleham were wobbling on one seventy three for five.

Another wicket to Frankie knocking over Baker's sticks for just over a dozen and two twenty was looking a long way off for the visitors but Marshall and Woodcock had other ideas, despite playing and missing the first few suddenly they started finding the middle of the bat and once again Blubbs were on the back foot, Angry could little to contain himself as once again the boundaries started to flow and the angry-o-meter started to bubble.

"Last over" was the call from the umpire "thank ****" was the call from Sherman with Middleham well past the two fifty mark, Frankie finished off the innings taking one more wicket but as the home side left the field Sherman knew two hundred and sixty to win was a big ask.

Stonewall got the Blubbs inning underway, along with his regular partner Angry, Stonewall was hoping to make a better performance with the bat than he did with the ball, sadly he didn't and with the score on only eighteen Blubbs were one down.

Bubba full of confidence after last week's knock took his usual three spot and settled into things straight away, Angry finally started to let off some steam and the run rate started to rise, Blubbs easing past the hundred mark in a litttle over twenty overs.

Angry cruised past his second fifty of the season, Bubba wasn't too far behind and things were looking good as the run chase looked well and truly on, Angry finally departed the crease after a suspect catch decision went the wrong way and Blubbs were one twenty seven for two but still in the game.

Arnie took to the crease at four with Blubbs looking to push the run rate up and Middleham started to worry, Bubba ended his innings on seventy five after trying to moose a straight one into the river and it was one sixty three for three, into the fray walked Mad Frankie and Sherman was hoping for some fireworks. A couple of bangers went off then the wet catherine wheel fizzled out and over went Frankies middle stump and Blubbs were one seventy four for four.

Bupa Boy made a brief appearance at six and successfully managed to run himself out on a wide with a direct hit by the Middleham third man and Sherman started to panic as the run rate rose faster than Angry's temper in the first half.

It was time for a captains innings and Sherman took to the field knowing that the game was in Middlehams hands, ten an over was all that could save the day and Shermans pride.

Arnie was starting to warm up crashing successive fours then giving Sherman the strike, Sherman replied with successive sixes and a delicate one handed "Angry Flick" for four and with twenty five coming from the over Blubbs were back in the game. Shermans innings was brief, chopping a semi-moon ball onto the stumps and the game rested in Arnie and Bungles hands.

A quick eighteen from Bungle kept the game alive but Bungle decided it was "heave-ho" time, missing a straight one and was two twenty six for eight with only Hebb and Uncle Peter left to bat the game was slipping through Shermans hands like a soggy bar of soap.

Hebb assisted Arnie adding another thirteen runs to the total before Marshall's aim was straight and true and down went the stumps again, leaving Uncle three balls to defend to see out the forty fourth over and give Blubbs hope for at least the batting point.

"Good shot" shouted Sherman as Uncle edged one for four, sadly the only edge the ball hit was the edge of off stump and it was Game, Set and Match to Middleham taking all six points from the game and a dejected Sherman had to settle for nothing.

No Hopper meant a trip to the Sun and Sherman was really starting to feel the heat in a game with more edges than a rhombic dodecahedron the battered captain was left thinking things can only get better..............but can they?

Points Awarded Blubberhouses:0, Middleham:6

Fielding Points: Hebb (x2).

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