Dan’s The Man

Up until three weeks ago Dan White had the bragging rights in the White household with the record of scoring 129 runs at Crossgates a couple of seasons back. Then younger brother Ben matched him when we played away at Thorner on the June 6th. Dan still tried to insist his was the better innings as he was undefeated at the end but that really didn’t hold water. Last week he looked all set to smash that record when we played Headingly only to fall short with a 96. This time he made sure he reclaimed the family honour with 131 not out batting all through the innings away at Saxton.

The morning was grey and wet with drizzle or heavier rain coming and going. Still it wasn’t enough for the game to be called off, so on with the waterproofs and away up to Saxton. As it proved the weather forecast was spot on and almost as soon as we arrived it began to clear and by tea time the sun was shining brightly. The morning dampness led to a 10 minute delay in starting the game but there were no interruptions after that.

Our skipper, Paul Hebden, once again won the toss and decided to bat. Never easy to bowl & field with the ball been turned into a bar of soap by the wet outfield. Three changes from last weeks team with Martin Bramley, Sean Nesbitt & Hew Oeppen coming in to replace the missing Steve Winspear, Adam Gee & Sam Thomas.

Dan White & Steve Korko opened the batting for Milford and Dan attacked right from the off. He took a particular shine to the bowling of Yorkshire Ladies Hannah Buck, knocking her out of the attack after just 3 overs. Steve was been the more cautious as the ball was moving around a bit due to the early overcast conditions. He also had a big slice of luck when Saxton keeper Nick Sowerby dropped a one handed catch off him when only on 7.

Dan seemed untroubled playing some lovely shots. The pairs 50 partnership coming up in just 47 balls and the century in a further 78 balls. Dan seemed to find the 2nd string of Saxton bowlers slightly harder to smash to the boundary but Steve took a liking to John Potter hitting him for 3 boundaries in one over. John got his revenge 3 overs later when Steve pushed a catch to Danny Walsh. Just at this stage we had a little shower which dampened the wicket again making it harder for both batter & bowler. Martin Bramley replaced Steve and the runs kept flowing.

Dan seemed to be setting himself for a long innings playing a bit more cautiously at this stage but we still hit the 150 mark off just 170 balls. Just as Martin seemed set he holed out and Aussie Whirlwind Sean Nesbitt came to the crease. Sean only seems to know one way to play and that is to go after the bowling and that he did. The scoring rate soon picking up when he smashed the returning Danny Walsh for 15 in one over.

Dan reached his century after 2.5 hours at the crease facing 116 balls and crucially over 8 overs left to beat brother Bens score earlier in the season. Soon after Sean fell for a nice cameo 30. Dan’s brother Ben then joined him in the middle. Together the White lads further demoralised the Saxton bowling by smashing a further 50 runs off them in just 5 overs. Both brothers smacked 4 & 6’s and Ben made a rapid 23 before giving Danny Walsh his second catch of the day.

Just after Ben had departed Dan picked up a single to take him to a new family high of 130. A big cheer rang out and Dan was happy for Alex Ward to thump 14 off the last over of the innings to record our best score of the season so far 269-4.

Saxton provided an excellent tea with plenty of variety in the open sandwiches, the red onion on the cheese & onion been particularly keen. Nice selection of sweet stuff though I suspect it may all have been bought. The lemon drizzle was lovely.

Saxton went out to bat with no great confidence having only a best of the season so far of 198 when loosing away at Ledsham. The chance of them getting close seemed even more remote when they were 33-2 by the 11th over. Opening bowlers Loz White & Sean Nesbitt sharing the wickets. Andy Clark then came on at the top end and produced the ball of the day which smashed opener Chris Borrowdale’s stumps asunder.

It was only number 5 John Potter who seemed capable of staying in and building an innings. The longer he batted the more confident he appeared. A well crafted 50 coming off just 51 balls. Unfortunately no other Saxton batsmen could stay with him and it wasn’t till Josh Hesselden came in at 9 did Saxton have a partnership over 30 runs. Hesselden came in attacking from the off but just as it seemed Saxton might sneak the 202 for a point Ben White was brought on and he bowled Hesselden and wrapped up the innings getting Danny Walsh stumped.

So a whopping 101 run victory for Milford on a ground we have struggled a number of times in the past. Next week sees the last game of the 1st half of the season when we play host to Long Marston.

Time for some parish notices. Rumour has it that missing spinner Sam Thomas has finally managed to bowl a maiden over, though official confirmation is required before this can be added to the scorebook. Also congratulations must go out to Adam Gee and his wife who have just had their second child, a little boy. Mrs Gee has put her foot down and told Elmer he cannot name his new son Stevie……….. Also can someone please buy our President a corkscrew, it was pittiful seeing him wondering around the Saxton boundary with a full bottle of red wine and no way of getting the cork out of the bottle. Obviously Brian was never a boy scout.