99 problems but Marston ain't one

On a warm but overcast day Headingley welcomed promotion chasing Long Marston to the Glen Road arena. The visitors won the toss and opted to bat first on a dry yet typically grassy Glen Road wicket.

Lawson and Abid opened the bowling and kept things tight early on not giving the batsman any easy runs. Trotter's frustration at not being able to find the boundary saw him aim a big shot off Lawson only to sky it and it was safely pouched by the 'man who doesn't drop dollies' Mason at point. Marston continued to find runs hard to come by as Asif and Ifti were brought into the attack, Ifti conceding just 7 runs from his 6 over spell. The visitors were struggling to find the boundary and the run rate remained below 2 an over for the first 30 overs of the innings. The spin twins of Harish and Gilks entered the fray and kept the pressure on with Harish in particular extracting some good turn from the surface. After Rawling had broken the shackles with a couple of sixes to the short boundary a mix up saw both batsman at the same end allowing Mason to collect an easy run out. Armitage came to the crease and immediately looked to up the run rate, attempting to attack virtually every delivery. After a quick fire 29 he was eventually removed by a slower ball from the returning Asif. Meanwhile at the other end opener Lewis was giving a masterclass in batting for your average but failed to secure the red inker he was looking for as he was caught at cover in the final over by Frosdick to give Lawson his second wicket. Marston finishing on 168 for 4 from the 45 overs.

Mason and Rogers opened the reply for Headingley and started of watchfully looking to play themselves in. After weathering the opening bowlers new ball spells the pair looked to accelerate, with Mason in particular moving through the gears with ease. The scoreboard started to rattle along as boundaries came regularly, the highlight being a brace of sixes from Mason off the returning danger man Barnitt. The hundred opening partnership was brought up and neither batsman looked in any trouble so it was a surprise when Rogers was given out LBW to Lewis for 38. Frosdick joined Mason and they continued comfortably along towards the target the only question was whether or not Mason could reach a maiden century. A big straight six took Mason to 97 with 2 needed for victory, the next delivery was toed down to third man for 2 to give Headingley victory and leave Mason one short of that elusive hundred.

A near faultless fielding display limiting the opposition to a score which in hindsight was at least 50 below par. Headingley's chances of the title now rest on whether Marston can pick themselves up to get the win over St Chads next week to guarantee their own promotion