3s Come Out Second Best in Another Tight Clash

On another sunny Saturday at Barrowell Green, the 3s looked to build on some promising performances in recent weeks and particularly a maiden victory over Holtwhites.

Andy Fitzpatrick lost the toss and the Adders were asked to bat first. Milton D'Costa and one of last week's heroes Gareth 'Moggy'Morgan opened up. Milton immediately took a liking to OEs opening bowler, smashing a 6 to get off the mark in the opening over and playing the lead role as the Adders raced past 50 within the first 10 overs.

The opposition needed to change things up, and brought on a youthful first change bowler. His tall action immediately caused problems, an in-ducking yorker doing for Moggy and in the next over he got one to just seam away slightly, taking the edge of Milton's bat and being gobbled up at gully. Later in the over, he induced a false shot from Finlay Hemington who lost his middle stump. Suddenly, we found ourselves 54-3 and in a spot of bother.

The experienced duo of Neil Watts and Dan Simms went about re-building, and looked to be heading to drinks serenely until one shot through low and Simms, misjudging the bounce, was hit on the ankle in front of middle and had to depart LBW for 12. The very next ball, Scott McClaren was bowled trying to copy Milton and get off the mark with a 6 - and once again we found ourselves in the middle of a mini-collapse.

Aaron Fitzpatrick joined Neil at the crease with another re-build needed. They made their way past 100, but Neil then became the 4th victim of the opposition's young bowler. Matt Key soon followed and we were staring at a very sub-par score. However, Pavan Halai came in and played with promise, partnering Aaron nicely and the two took the score up to 160. Pavan eventually was out in the 20s, and Andy and Aaron ran a few hard to get us up to 169-8. Possibly just below par (we had failed to defend 190 a few weeks previously here) but something to bowl at.

In response, Tommy Spratling and Pavan Halai opened up. Tommy in particular kept it very tight, and did for both openers - one caught smartly by Andy at gully and the other LBW. Unfortunately, the inadvertently brought the two OE danger-men in together early. From 25-2 after 9 overs, they rapidly moved the score along and went at 5 an over to take the score up to 120-2 before Milton had the number 3 trapped in front for another LBW for 41. Their number 4 kept going though, passing 50 and taking OEs towards the finishing line.

Our bowlers tried hard to stem the runs, but in the end the chase was done with 3 overs to spare - leaving us rueing a couple of mini-collapses that left us just a little bit short.

Man of the Match: Tommy Spratling