Dad misses the action AGAIN!

At last a warmish sunny Saturday – After 2 washed out weeks the team were keen to get a result and banish the Holme game to a distant memory. Feeling confident after 2 good midweek cup wins a good game against Warton was on the cards. It was therefore disappointing that Warton only turned up with 8 men plus a mum to field. You can only play what is put in front of you and Jason was hoping that they would win the toss and bat. No such luck – the coin fell wrong and Jason had to decide – bat and possibly get a lot of runs and not be able to bowl them out – though he could declare, or put them in and maybe settle for 12 points. His kids can only bowl in 7 over spells however success favours the brave so batting it was and hopefully the kids would fire with the ball.

With no Mike Bracken in the team the 20/20 opening partnership of Adam and Joe were sent in to see if they could capitalise on their form in the cup. It quickly became apparent that they could. With Shaun Partridge bowling from one end Warton did not really have a regular bowler from the other. Runs came quickly with both batsmen timing their shots and finding the inevitable gaps in the field. 10 overs down and 72 on the board a large score looked inevitable but with Burt, Lee & Partridge to bat for Warton – just how many were needed to make sure that it was 15 points not 7. Adam got to his 50 1st followed not long after by Joe. Could they now go on and get their 100’s? After missing Joe’s hat trick on Tuesday his dad had now missed the 50, never mind he would be there if the 100 came – wouldn’t he?

The run rate continued at 7 an over with 20 overs seeing 148 on the board. Shaun Partridge worked tirelessly at one end but the gaps in the field could not be filled and the score grew. Joe survived a caught behind from R Willan when he was on about 60 and seemed to get his head down again after a talking to from Adam. Adam reached his 2nd 100 in a week with a 4 and now it was up to Joe – could he get his 1st and would his dad get there in time?

The nerves set in and on 98 he ran an unnecessary single almost getting himself run out for the 2nd time in a week. Anyway he survived and another single brought up his 100. And dad missed it!!! Another one to read about in the papers Mr Portmann!

Time to declare? Maybe, they probably could not get the runs but they were more than capable of digging in for a draw, take it totally out of reach and maybe they would just give up. Decisions decisions and everyone has an opinion to give the captain about when to declare. Adam eventually went for a hit too many and was out on 121 to a good stumping by Phil Burt which brought Simon Willacy to the crease with the score on 253. For the past 20 overs Simon has been keeping the scoreboard up to date but then getting into trouble from Gerald for standing in front of it so that no-one else could see it. Gerald says that Simon should know better after the length of time he has been playing, Simon says that as no one else would do it they didn’t deserve to see it – think he misses the point that the players on the field also want to see it.

Anyway after another couple of overs and 20 quick runs Jason decided that enough was enough and called them in protecting Joe on a maiden 122 no - at least 20 mins is long enough for a 16 yr old to recover before opening the bowling. We had 54 overs to get them out, it should be enough but cricket is a funny old game.

Phil Burt and C Mulloholand opened the batting and seemed to want to show that they were not going to be a push over but also that they would play shots and not dig in for a draw from ball 1. Credit goes to them for a good attitude.

Michael Sharp got the breakthrough in the 8th over with Dylan (Ginge) Sagar taking a superb catch in gully off Mike Sharp to dismiss Phil Burt on 8 with score on 18. Shaun Partridge came to the crease and they settled down again however 2 in 2 balls by Joe Portmann in the 13th over were killer blows and the end was then in sight. Having missed out on his 2nd hat-trick in a week Joe had to be taken out of the attack having bowled 7 overs so it was left to Jonny Matthews to deal with the tail taking 4 -8 in 4 overs.

Warton must be commended for raising a side and for a first (fielding dad mum and son in the same game) however games still have to be won and we can only play what is put against us. We would rather it be a full team however if not we just have to get on with it and not worry about making a good score against a depleted side, 15 points are more important.