Weakened E&MWCC Pull Together To Beat Locks Heath

E&MWCC would in all honesty have been happy to have not been at the receiving end of a rolling at the start of their County Division 1 match against 5th place; Locks Heath. Club chairman Adam Murch took the place of club pro James Schofield. Brian Nevile and an injured Mark Dickety also joined the side as they were put in to bat on a green Easton wicket. Kite inevitably fell in the third over without scoring. Sparks continued to show his good form with the bat striking early blows to a Lock's Heath bowling attack that lacked control. Joined by Padwick after Jamie Banks was dismissed without scoring the pair continued to build until Padwick chopped on for 7. Banks built a carefully crafted innings in support of Sparks as the runs kept coming as the LHCC second and third change bowlers kept mis-firing. Steve Green joined Banks in the 27th over and looked threatening from the off. Clubbing LHCC captain Levi through midwicket; he announced his arrival at the crease. Banks played an essential part in supporting Green through an otherwise shaky start at the crease. Banks was dismissed for a hard earned 15 that more importantly gave Green time to build. Adam Carrick and Seb Stanard also followed Bank's example as they too steered Green toward his 50 in an excellent display of measured batting from both. Carrick was bowled for 6 and Stanard 2 but both spent vital overs at the crease. Green saved his best until last, smashing 20 off the last over he blasted to 69* and E&MWCC to 194 for 8 with 56 extras coming from LHCC.

Kite and Carrick started off strongly as the LHCC opening pair looked unsettled. Their Australian overseas failed to impress with the gloves and did little more to explain his plane journey over with the bat. Kite kept him silent for 4 overs as Carrick dismissed his opening partner and number 3 for very little. Both bowled excellent lengths as the new ball did the talking on the green. Padwick (42/0) bowled through, again tight the LHCC batsmen couldn't get him away as the run rate began to climb. Jamie Banks (32/2) joined the party as with two key wickets as LHCC slumped to 81 for 5. Jack Paskins edged his way to an unconvincing 55* as star man Steve Green coaxed all of his partners into giving their wickets away. Two outstanding boundary catches by Jamie Banks left LHCC 148 for 8 but the game looked fully in the balance as the final wicket pair of Dan O'Neil and Paskins continued to search for the boundary. O'neil smashed Green toward the pavilion finding Banks, his hands still throbbing from his previous two catches. Green added final figures of 5/29 to his unbeaten 69 to claim the well deserved man of the match award. E&MWCC the deserving victors after a hard fought battle in the tropical heat. They play an undefeated Ellingham CC side next week away to complete a trinity of victories.