Birstwith Away

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The pressure was rising for Stonewall as he prepared for the trip to Birstwith, he knew this would be the toughest game thus far in the season.?On losing the toss Stonewall found himself and the team with a hot sweaty afternoon ahead possibly chasing leather round the park. No Hebb meant Butch Dingle Maltas was behind the sticks this week, he was joined by Amos Lambchop Haigh who was in for Part Time Partridge and also stolen from the seconds was Angry's sibling Piewalker.

Sherman and Tichie were the Stonewalls choice for opening up the attack against the young Birstwith openers and things couldn't have got off to a better start when Tichie had Moore caught for five with the score only on six.

From there on in it was downhill for the opening bowlers, Tichie finished his spell after only four over's and it soon became clear that tanks don't come equipped with air conditioning and Stonewall had to remove Sherman from the attack after only seven over's.

Stonewall picked up the wicket of Nelson with his first delivery and briefly things looked up, briefly until Riley and Barnes began an massive one hundred and seventeen run partnership totally demoralising the Blubbs boys, Angry could do little to contain himself hurling abuse all round the ground, Stonewalls simmer started to boil.

Stonewall finally turned to Amos Haigh and Splinter when it became clear he wasn't going to take another wicket and his average was in danger.

The breakthrough finally came when Amos trapped Barnes leg before but the damage was done, Stonewall could do little to lift the troops, Angry got angrier and the runs mounted.

Three over's bowled and Amos was starting to get some tap, Barnes smashed one straight back at Amos who fearing for his sideburns stuck his hand out desperately trying to protect himself. The ball struck him on an old shaving would and felled him like a tree in a beaver park, writhing around on the floor in agony the only sympathetic words coming from Splinter "Welcome to real mans cricket", Amos could only grimace before finally making it back to feet to ready himself for the next delivery.

Stonewall turned to Potter who finally got amongst the wickets but not before getting more batter than a cod at Jennys fish and chip shop. Riley was Potters first victim finally falling for ninety one but Birstwith were still in the driving seat at one eighty eight for four.

Hodgeson went next to an athletic Angry catch but not before he'd smashed Potter half way to Hampsthwaite totally demoralising the wannabe wizard.

Potter cleaned up Riley (J) for seven and Sherman brought back in to try stem the runs picked up the consolation wicket of Milward before Birstwith closed on a respectable two hundred and forty three for seven leaving Blubbs a big task for the second half of the game.

Stonewall knew a captains innings was required as he accompanied Angry to the crease to commence the Blubbs run chase.

Twenty one on the board and Stonewalls day worsen, a thick edge behind snapped up by the keeper and despite protests of "I wasn't ready" Stonewall was on his way.

Potter joined Angry and things were looking good, one short of the fifty partnership Potter had a rush of blood holing out for twenty and it was seventy for two.

Academic Andy was back this week and took number four, the score trickled along? at a reasonable rate and Angry looked set for a big score.

One beamer followed another as the Birstwith attack tried to break Angry and Academics partnership, Stonewall was now boiling like an old Ford Cortina with no fan belt, eventually the top blew off the radiator and Captain Cock was born. Angry protested to Sherman who could do nothing to cool down the steaming mess which was once Stonewall.

Angry finally fell to Riley when a miss-hit drive fell well short of the boundary and Blubbs were one thirty four for three.

Wilkie batting five replaced Angry and looked good with the willow despite missing a week quickly pushing the score along to one fifty nine before Academic became the fourth wicket to fall trying to push the run rate up and was stumped for a valiant forty three.

Butch Dingle the new man in, two balls later became the new man out in was down to Tichie and Wilkie, it was a big ask, a big big ask. One fifty nine for five soon became one seventy seven for six when Wilkie tried to smash one ball too many, caught for twenty two and Stonewalls now looked to Sherman.

Sherman hit his first delivery like he'd be in for ten over's, thundering down the track he turned for two as Tichie charged back towards him, quick thinking from the Birstwith fielder seeing Sherman setting of back down the wicket like it was covered in toffee saw last weeks hero become this weeks zero and Blubbs were eight down for one ninety and one point looked in danger never mind five.

With only four over's remaining new man Splinter and Tichie held out for a vital point but Stonewall had his first taste of defeat for the season.

Points Awarded Birstwith:5 Blubberhouses:1

Fielding Points: Piewalker(2)

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