1st XI v Whitwell
The 1st XI overcame nervous periods with both bat and ball to register their first win of the season
The 1st XI overcame nervous periods with both bat and ball to register their first win of the season against newly promoted Whitwell, in rural Derbyshire, last weekend.
Having lost the toss, new 1st XI Captain Sam Ogrizovic was inserted by Whitwell’s Captain Shaw, a decision which looked vindicated when the Captain (13) clipped to square leg and Walker (5) played around a straight one from Kovacic, leaving the visitors reeling at 23-2. Debutant Ratcliffe (19), joined the assured Lloyd at the crease and the pair laid a solid foundation, accumulating a partnership of 67 before Ratcliffe was bowled by the Captain Shaw. This bought new overseas recruit, Leon ‘Boom Boom’ Botha to the crease, who lived up to his nickname, with a breezy 42off just 29 balls, despite the slow and green Whitwell wicket. Following a flurry of boundaries, Botha tried one shot too many and slashed a wide half volley to point. Lloyd followed soon after, having become frustrated by the accuracy and lack of pace in the Whitwell attack, his initially fluent, 45 runs crucial in setting the innings up for a grandstand finish.
The main protagonist in said finish was Tom Bowers; who went on to carry his bat for an invaluable run a ball 58 not out. He played with experience and poise, scoring his runs in a low risk manner and along with Blinkhorn (27) and then Rhodes (25* off 20 balls), timed the innings to perfection, allowing Papplewick to declare on 261 with 5 overs remaining.
Whitwell couldn’t quite believe their luck at the declaration, with Rhodes quickly building momentum with a series of boundaries, but the extra 5 overs were to prove crucial to Papplewick.
After the break, Rhodes led Papplewick’s charge, having the Captain Shaw well caught by Ogrizovic at Slip. Fellow seamers South and Blinkhorn both chipped in with a wicket apiece and following a run out courtesy of Botha, Whitwell were in trouble at 65-4. At this point Papplewick struggled to find consistency with the ball in the quickly deteriorating conditions and coupled with some gritty batting and aggressive fields, Whitwell came back to life.
From 65-4, Whitwell fought back into the match needing just 7 an over with 14 overs remaining. Ambition was to prove the newly promoted side’s downfall however, as with the scoreboard reading 175 they looked to up the run rate, but just like the local bus service, when one went, so did the others.
The young spin duo of Charlie Blatherwick (4-58) and Hudson (2-30) showed excellent character to recover from faltering starts and ripped the heart out of the Derbyshire side’s innings. Blatherwick using spin and dip to combine with new Wicket keeper Ratcliffe twice for two smart stumpings, whilst Hudson relied on flight and accuracy to prize his two scalps. The match finished with arguably the best ball of the day, as Blatherwick spun one past the outside edge to clip the top of Kovacic’s off stump and finish with well deserved figures of 12.1 overs 4 for 58, with Papplewick completing the victory in Whitwell’s 52nd over.
In summary, a pleasing result against a buoyant Whitwell side that gave a good account of themselves. Plenty of room for improvement however, if the 1st XI are to go one better than last season and achieve promotion back into the Nottinghamshire Premier League.