Burton Leonard 1st XI v Knaresborough Forest 1st XI

Knaresborough Forest 148 all out
Burton Leonard 151-1
Burton Leonard won by 9 wickets

Third game into the new season away at Knaresborough Forest and with one point out of a possible twelve, Burton’s season needed to get going sooner rather than later.

Having won the all important coin toss, Burton skipper decided to take full advantage of the soft and wet track, due to poor weather previously in the week, and invited Forest to bat first.

It was the job of young Murray and skipper Blaken to open the bowling. Both bowled with a good degree of discipline, but were both unfortunate not to get the breakthrough. J Skaith looked as though he was to become Blakens’ first victim of 2009, being bowled by a slower than slower ball, only to hear the dreaded call of “no-ball” from the umpire, Blakes overstepping with his big size 9’s!

With 11 overs gone and no breakthrough, it was time for Dan Thirkell, the returning Non League Footballing superstar, to turn his arm over in his first game of the season. From ball one, Thirkell looked very sharp and likely to take a wicket with every ball (except for the stock delivery down legside). More than happy to bowl right through, 12 consecutive overs were produced from Thirks and he was rewarded with figures of 12-2-26-5, pace and some fantastic deliveries leading to the down fall of the five Forest batsmen.

With Thirkell attacking at one end, Burton were able to defend at the other. Much to the surprise of the rest of the team, Craig Eustace was asked to ‘do a job’ by the skipper, and do a job he did! Figures of 6-2-17-1 proving that coming off 4 paces and putting the ball in the right areas at a slower pace is just effective as the ‘fast’ bowlers. A great spell by Eustace and Thirkell really put the pressure on Forest and the game shifted in Burton’s favour. Some resolute tail end digging-in by Forest batsmen meant Burton still had their work cut out to get the full 10 wickets and pick up the bowling point. But bowling well in his returning spell, Muzza produced the deliveries required to tail enders to pick up some well deserved wickets. Finishing with figures of 12-2-42-3, just reward for an impressive second spell. Mike Stansfield taking a superb catch at silly mid off. leaping forward in salmon like motion to take a stunning one handed catch low to his left.

Just one wicket required and it was Kris Burtwistle, bowling from his favoured bottom end, deceiving the batsmen with flight, guile and turn, who picked up a well deserved wicket. Getting the batsmen reaching forward to a delivery that turned square and lightening hands by James Townsend behind the stumps, whipping the bails off quicker than you could say “got him!” and Burton had their bowling point. Knaresborough finishing on 148 all out with J Skaith top scoring with 39.

After a good feed at the hands of a fantastic tea provided by Knaresborough Forest tea lady, tuna/sweetcorn proving a firm favourite with skipper Blakes, Burton batsmen knew they had a job to do.

Eustace and Stansfield strode out to middle to open the innings. After two typically lusty 4’s Eustaces’ innings came to a premature end, seeming to be aiming towards cow corner the ball stuck him on the pads, the umpire giving him the dreaded finger, LBW for 11, a decision that looked to be tight call. This brought out Rangeley, promoted to No. 3 in the order. Forest's bowlers continued with a disciplined line and length outside off stump, but allowed Burtons’ Rangeley and Stansfield to leave too many balls, meaning both men could get their eye in and get used to the surface. After drinks at 22 overs, both men upped the ante, singles were run aggressively and boundaries became a familiar sight. Stansfield capping off an excellent day with a fine 79 not out, including 6 sixes. Rangeley being rewarded for a Neil McKenzie esq innings, hitting the winning runs and finishing with 46 not out. Burton ending the innings 151-1 with 6 overs to spare.

A good team effort on a day when a win was a must. Disciplined bowling backed up by a great effort in the field by everyone and Mike Stansfield and Matt Rangeley proving that patience and application when out in the middle can reap rewards.

This entry was posted on Saturday May 2nd, 2009 at 9:00 PM and is filed under Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response.

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