It's two from two as the 1's ground out their second win of the season at the May & Baker ground, winning comfortably by five wickets.
Our hosts won the toss and decided to bat. Having posted over 300 the previous week, they probably felt that they could defend any score that they set. Our first success came in the 7th over when Jack Plom castled their opening bat with the score on 29. On a pitch that carried massive boundaries, our bowlers restricted their batsmen to less than four an over as they couldn't penetrate the fielders, who looked sharp and alert.
Jack Newton and Caleb Seleka were brought on to replace Jack and Tom Arnold after 10 overs, but Issac only lasted 13 balls before injury curtailed his bowling. His over was finished by George Ballington, who went on to take the vital wicket of their centurion of their previous game. Bowling in tandem, he and Caleb reduced their run rate even further, and at the halfway stage of their innings, only 90 runs were on the board. George took his wicket in the 27th over and Goresbrook continued to limp along, a series of rash shots should have seen them dismissed earlier, but luck seemed to be on their side.
In the 38th over, Big Al Rickenbach was brought back for a second spell, which led to the home side's demise. From being 139-3, two wickets in the over saw the collapse begin. he was mightily unlucky not to get a hat-trick, the batsman just getting to the ball in time. Caleb was also brought back, and between them they mopped up the rest of the team as Goresbrook scored just 20 runs in 34 balls and losing their last SEVEN wickets to capitulate to 159 all out. Caleb finished with 4-22 from nine overs, his second four wicket haul of the season (a five-for can't be too far away?) and Big Al taking 4-33 from eight.
Losing both openers in the first five overs wasn't the ideal start for us, but Toms Arnold and Austin steadied the ship and put on 42 before the latter lost his wicket for 20. Young Tom top scored with a very controlled 42 before being given out LBW, and had taken the team past the 100 mark in the 22nd over. He had been assisted by Ronnie Jackson, who was the last wicket to fall, scoring 26 before be nicked one to the keeper. Caleb and Will Howard brought the team home in an unbeaten partnership of 30, with Caleb scoring 26 and yet to lose his wicket this season, and Will scoring 16. The win was achieved with over 14 overs to spare. The final runs were scored as the final whistle went at Wembley as captain Dave Hickey's beloved Crystal Palace made history.
We remain at the pinnacle of the table as only one of three teams still with a 100% record. Next up is Belhus, who we managed to beat in a pre-season friendly very recently. A first home game will no doubt see a lot of people at The Shen, looking to see a good performance and (hopefully) the winning streak continue from the the division's most in-form team.
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