For the second week running a member of the White families batting played a crucial part in Milford winning away at East Keswick. Last week it was young Ben White who scored 28 no and helped the second team clinch promotion, this time it was elder brother Dan who’s 84 no significantly contributed to the first team winning for the first time in 6 weeks.

The morning had been bright and sunny but cloud was moving in from the west by the time we arrived at East Keswick. The wicket looked green and still damp from over night rain. The home side won the toss and put us in to bat. Things went from bad to worse when on only the third ball of the innings Jimmy Liddle, skipper and leading run scorer, edged one to the keeper. The ball bouncing a little more than Jimmy expected.

Keswick were certainly making the most of the conditions and for the first 20 overs the wicket was very unpredictable. Stuart Morley and Dan White certainly had to graft for their runs and we had only pushed the score onto 58 by then. More importantly though we had not lost any further wickets and with the blustery SW wind drying the wicket conditions for batting would get better and better.

So it proved, just as Stuart looked to be settled and starting to push on he nicked one through to the keeper. Andy Jarvis came in at four and the game was just set up for him to take the fight to the Keswick bowling. Seventeen overs remained and with wickets in hand we should be looking to more than double our 81. Straight away Andy attacked and for the second week running rode his luck. He was dropped twice before finally run out on a direct hit for 48 off just 27 balls. He & Dan had put on 72 runs.

All the time while Andy provided the fireworks Dan was steadily accumulating runs. In a very mature innings, he picked out the bad deliveries and worked the ball in the gaps to pick up singles to keep the scoreboard ticking and rotating the strike. Wicket keeper Paul Hebden joined Dan for the last 8 overs and took up where Andy had left. Perhaps getting wound up before coming into bat did him good, the site of him throwing his pads around must have really confused the Keswick fielders. Might have to try it again next week.

There just wasn’t enough time left in the innings for Dan to reach his maiden senior century but together with Paul he pushed the total to 218, finishing undefeated on 84. A brilliant performance. Paul was 39 not out off 30 deliveries.

Just before tea a rather unpleasant smell started drifting over the Keswick ground, whether it was that or the very poor teas on offer but I must admit to having little appetite. If someone can tell me what was in those crust less sandwiches it would be appreciated. When the packet of Walkers crisps is the best element of your tea, you know you’re in trouble.

The total set was good but I was unsure if our under strength bowling attack could defend it. With both Adam Gee and Andy Clark missing from the team we needed the four recognised bowlers to each bowl at least 10 reasonably economic overs.

Things started promisingly enough when veteran John Cain took a wicket the second ball of his first over, but Keswick batters Bobby Mustaq and Saikat Rahul soon had their side looking favourites by pushing the score along to 78 inside 15 overs. Skipper Jimmy had to take veteran John Cain off after 6 overs as he was taking the brunt of the Keswick attack, 47 runs been conceded. Dan White (2 for 38) at the other end also ended his permitted 7 over spell but for an economic 17 runs.

The change of bowling seemed to do the trick as Alistair Last (2 for 45) bowled Mustaq (18) to split the pair and Steve Ryder (2 for 37) trapped Rahul (66) lbw just as he seemed to be taking the game away from us.
Now it was a case of could we bowl Keswick out and when veteran John Cain returned to the attack for his second spell and took 2 wickets in 2 balls it seemed only a matter of time.

Keswick captain Andrew Hirst (33) had other ideas and slowly he built is innings along with the Keswick lower order towards our total. With 14 overs remaining, they needed 77 runs. Dan White returned at the pavilion end to finish the innings off and a quick bit of work from wicket keeper Paul Hebden had Hirst stumped.

Today’s match only had one league umpire officiating and the batting side was providing the square leg umpire. The Keswick player was reluctant to give the stumping much to the consternation of Paul. A lot has been said and written about the spirit of cricket over the last fortnight but an excellent example was giving when Andrew Hirst, to avoid a nasty incident, took the decision on himself and walked. This gesture was warmly applauded by the Milford players and spectators.

Now it was a case of could we bowl Keswick out and collect the full 6 points or would we have to settle for just five. An excellent catch in the deep by Alistair Last (Shogger please note) and a straight ball by veteran John Cain (4 for 66) secured us the extra point. Hopefully this thrilling win will boost our confidence for the run towards the end of the season and we can finish safely mid table.