May 8, 2018, 8:19 pmBenwell & Walbottle were relegated from Division 2 last year and we knew we would have to be right on our game against a side accustomed to playing at a higher standard. With David Dent unavailable through work, Michael Adamson came up from the second team. We were otherwise unchanged from last week’s victory at Whickham.
Skipper Peacock lost his first toss of the year and Benwell unsurprisingly chose to bat first on a flat deck and a gorgeous day for batting. The changing room was livid at the prospect of bowling first in the mid-day heat, Mark Lawrence immediately began applying a vast number of sun tan lotions to protect his pale skin. Apparently applying factor 50 twice and then a top layer of 20 gets you factor 120 protection.
With Dent unavailable, James Richards took the new ball alongside stalwart Greaves. It was Richards who got the first breakthrough trapping Tomlinson lbw to a beauty which nipped back and trapped him in front of all three. Richards was now hitting his stride and had clearly found his line to the left hander, number 3 Denehy was fortunate to survive a number of close appeals before succumbing in identical fashion.
Lead by Reed, Benwell went on the counterattack in an attempt to alleviate the pressure, reed hit a number of fine cover drives off Greaves and the away side recovered somewhat to 20-2. Other than some movement through the air with the new ball the pitch was offering very little to the bowlers but we managed to contain the run rate through some good work from our opening bowlers.
Not to be left out Greaves soon got in on the action, taking the big wicket of Reed trapped LBW for 11. Lawrence came on for Richards who finished an impressive spell returning 10-13-2, such a big boost to have him back firing on all cylinders again.
Lawrence came into the attack looking to build on his 2-123 from last week…his troubles seemed long forgotten as he quickly settled into a rhythm. An aggressive line and consistent accuracy soon yielded results as Birrell fell LBW for 8. Lawrence was incensed a few balls earlier when he was convinced he had his man LBW, the umpire quite rightly turned down the appeal. Birrell was about 10 feet down the wicket on a sweep to a ball that hit him on the top of the knee roll, not out Mark.
Opener Bartram had dug in well amongst the fall of wickets at the other end, before a lapse in concentration lead him to go for a sweep shot to the shorter boundary and he was bowled for a structured 32. Bartram was visibly frustrated with himself as he made his way back. Benwell were 60-5 at this stage and well behind the curve on a flat deck.
With the more recognised batters back in the hut Lawrence & Cory Milburn continued to push home the advantage. Cory was bowling with good pace and getting a good response from the hard wicket. Harrington fell caught behind to a ball that grew on him and just caught the outside edge. A sharp catch from non-keeper, non-batsman Peacock.
Into the 40th over and Scott Maddison picked his bottom lip up off the floor to come and join the party. Cory had bowled well but wickets had dried up and the skipper brought on Maddison in an attempt to close out the innings. The two combined as Maddison pushed one past the right hander and Cory made an absolute meal of the easiest catch you will ever see at first slip. Cory a few overs before had dropped a chance to Lawrence which subsequently cost him a 5 wicket hall, Cory used to be our best fielder, used to.
Benwell closed on 89 all out which was a way behind par, credit to all of our bowlers who were superb when conditions were against them. Our batters now had a real opportunity to go out and win the game and take us to 3 from 3.
A special shout to Lewy Tanney who was outstanding in the field at mid-off, throwing himself around and probably saving 15-20 runs just on his own back. No doubt the pressure he managed to build helped our bowlers take those wickets. I don’t know whether it was the thrill of his new house or the new £2.50 sunglasses he was wearing, but more of the same next week please!
Peacock’s much better half got a hero’s welcome when she turned up with team ice lollies at half time. Good job James Richards was batting 10 as he had eaten 13 calippo’s and it wasn’t even 4:30pm.
Callum Milburn needed to leave early to make a night shift so was sent up the order for some licensed biffing alongside regular opener Harwood. The pair wasted little time, Harwood set the tone with a slashed drive for 4 off the first delivery.
The pair raced to 30-0 off 4 overs and the game was pretty much over as a contest. Callum (44 off 36) was in his winter net batting mode where everything he faced was getting carved up and over to the boundary. Luckily for everyone our captain is sensible enough not to let anyone see his winter net bowling mode, which consists exclusively of either half trackers / life threatening beamers. It was great to see Harwood back in nick also as he hit an equally fluent 37 off 47 balls, with some fine shots of his own. We chased the required 90 run target 0 down off 14 overs.
A great win but counts for very little at this stage. Another huge game next week as we travel to Blagdon who have also had a good start to their season.
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