Birstwith Home

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Baking hot sun and not a cloud in the sky meant it wasn't going to be a good day for fatboys, never the less Stonewall was up for the challenge against Birstwith for game fifteen of the season. A mid week cry off from Mad Frankie and Tichie un-available for selection meant Tony "seven bellies" Boreham and Uncle Peter were called upon for first team appearances.

A hash of the toss from Stonewall meant Blubbs would be spending the day baking in the sun like Cath's potato skins in the Hopper later. A new week brought new tactics for the disillusioned skipper in his crusade for the division two title and Swing accompanied by Splinter took the honours with the new ball. Things didn't quite go to plan when Splinter took an early battering from the Birstwith opening pair who were quickly racking up the runs as the afternoon grew hotter.

It didn't take too long before Swing got the breakthrough Stonewall wanted when Nelson cut one square and Splinter diving like a rat from a sinking ship scooped up the catch and Birstwith had lost one for only thirteen runs.

Splinter not wanting to be out done picked up wicket number two only four runs later when Hebbs magical hands conjured up a slick catch behind the sticks and the visitors had lost both openers for seventeen.

A brief stand of fourteen was quickly put to rest when Splinter struck again, a failed pull to square rapping Barnes on the pads,  and up went the finger and Birstwith were three down.

Hebb was on top form and snatched catch number two when Riley got the faintest of nicks from a Swing swinger and at thirty one for four Birstwith were in trouble.

The visitors number five and six put up some resistance pushing the score along, Stonewalls head was in his hands when Green chipped up a what looked simple catch to Seven Bellies Boreham, unfortunately Seven Bellies didn't make it look simple, two fumbles and a bit of juggling finally saw the ball spill to the ground and roll across the square.

The sad captain was once again smiling when Moore knocked up an easy catch to him and not even his glass fingers could spill this one and the bowling point was in sight at sixty three for five with still plenty of over's to go.

Swing picked up wicket number three and a relieved Seven Bellies watched on as Green made his way back the hut thanks to a classic "crisp bag" catch from Bungle which somehow earned him a fielding point which was still a talking point in the Hopper later on in the day.

Swing and Splinter finished off their twelve over spell's making way for Stonewall and Sherman who were looking to finish off the away teams innings and hopefully finish it quick, Sherman removed Atkinson for thirteen but Stonewall was lacking his usual tripe wicket taking deliveries and after only four over's called upon Bubba to try his luck.

Sherman caused a few tremors when he took a diving caught and bowled, which measured seven point five on the Richter scale to dismiss Bezer for nineteen and Blubbs were hoping they'd be chasing down a score less than one fifty.

The visitors innings finally came to a close when Sherman picked up Heard leg before for two then three balls later cleaned up Jones for nought and Birstwith were all out for one hundred and forty and Stonewall pondered on a six pointer from the division two leaders.

Stonewall let Angry take first knock this week and things got off to a great start, Angry wafted at one outside off stump trying to give his wicket away but fortunately it was put down by gulley and the visitors knew it could be a costly drop.

The opening pair kept up a constant flow of runs, Stonewall at one point out-scoring Angry for the first time in his Blubberhouses career and a shock defeat for the visitors was on the cards. A solid partnership of seventy six finally came to an end when Stonewall fell foul to his favourite dismissal leg before for forty one but surely with nine wickets in hand sixty five to win should be a stroll in the park for Blubbs.

Bubba for the second week running look good from the off and aided Angry in adding another twelve runs beore an under hit pull from Angry failed to clear square leg and Blubbs were two down but not concerned.

Arnie joined Bubba but Bubba didn't stay long, another rap of the pads, another shout for leg before and up went the finger and it was one hundred and seven for three.

Sherman was back up the order this week to five and nervously joined Arnie in the middle, thirteen more runs were added and all by Arnie, desperate to get off the mark Sherman played a drive softly out into the covers and called Arnie through for the single, Arnie stood there like a rabbit dazed in an oncoming cars headlights, motionless waiting for Sherman to get totally stranded in no man’s land before calling "No get back it's gone to the fielder!". Sherman walked off the field without even bothering to try get back and it was one twenty for four and the boat started to rock.

Bungle was the new man in and hoping to make amends for last week’s failure with the bat, of course he didn't, first ball smashing the sticks all over the shop and Blubbs looked in trouble still on one hundred and twenty four.

It was all down to Arnie and Splinter now to muster up the remaining twenty one runs for victory and Arnie knew after getting rid of Sherman he had to be there at the end, Splinter was defiant, and the pair slowly but surely brought Blubbs home to victory in the fortieth over and a well deserved six points for Stonewall.

Birstwith home match report, written by Monday night.....DONE.

Points Awarded Blubberhouses:6 Birstwith:0

Fielding Points: Hebb, Bungle.

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