Hill Towers Over The Rest

Unexpectedly the sun shone on the first game of the 2013 cricket season. You half expected having to sweep the snow off the wicket so poor the weather has been in the run up to the season start. A chilly SW breeze took the edge off the temperature and the fact Saxton’s new pavilion, like many in the Wetherby League, looks NW which means it is only late in the day do you get the sun coming round to warm up anyone spectating (or scoring).

Paul Hebden, starting his second spell as 1st team captain, won the toss and decided to put Saxton in. Runs proved to be hard to come by as both of Milford’s opening bowlers, Steve Winspear and Andy Clark, were on the money right from the off. Andy in particular bowled with good pace and line, shaving the stumps on more than one occasion. Alas neither could make the important breakthrough and when the usually safe hands of Dan White dropped John Potter it seemed we were going to be in for a long afternoon.

So after 12 overs Paul made a double bowling change, bringing young Sam Thomas on from the pavilion end and Loz White the bottom end. It was Sam who started the mini collapse with two wickets in consecutive balls. The first opener John Potter caught & bowled the second, former Milford junior Jamie Winter, stumped for a golden duck.

Saxton’s other opener Steve Hill though seemed untroubled and after a very cautious start soon upped the scoring rate and together with Steve Hutton, coming in at number 5, put on a 51 fourth wicket partnership to see the score on to 135. Hill seemed the only batsmen who could get settled and looked set for a well deserved century until the returning Andy Clark found the edge of his bat and Paul Hebden took a wonderful catch behind the stumps just inches off the ground. Excellent cricket to dismiss Hill for a best score of the day 89.

With the exception of veteran John Cain all of Milford’s bowlers picked up at least one wicket but it was Sam Thomas who finished the innings with the best figures, 3 for 50 from 10 overs. Saxton closed their innings on 186 for 7 which seemed around a par score on what was a slow wicket.

Saxton’s impressive new pavilion is now almost finished and looks very good, now they just need to bring the rest of the ground up to the same standard. Teas were only standard fare with a selection of open sandwiches and cake. Nothing wrong but not much imagination in the selection. Scorers rating 5/10.

With the sun still shining brightly the Milford innings started equally brightly, openers Greg Handley and Peter Batty both looking well set and keeping up with the run rate. Greg in particular looked in good touch until he played down the wrong line and was bowled for 27.

Peter was then joined in the middle by Dan White and they moved the score on to 70 off 20 overs. We seemed to be in a real commanding position. Still it wouldn’t be a Milford innings without a collapse and so it proved again today, from looking set fair at 70 for 1 we went to 72 for 4 inside 3 overs. Peter Batty (28), Dan White (11) and Stuart Morley (0) the victims. It was up to captain Paul Hebden and new recruit Andrew Radi to try and save the day. Andrew is an ex Kippax player, and Aussie (but we wont hold that against him), who has moved into the village. He opened his Milford account with a glorious drive through extra cover. Unfortunately just has he & Paul seemed to be turning the game once again in Milford’s favor he holed out to square leg.

The chance of a Milford win was pretty much over when 4 overs later Milford Skipper Paul Hebden bottom edged a ball onto his stumps. That left us at 124 for 6 still needing 14 for a point. That was secured with the help of a fantastic thump from Loz White which saw his first ball disappear into Cow Corner. Alas he was bowled 3 balls later when he tried to do something similar.

Milford were bowled out for 155 with 3 overs remaining. A case of one that got away, as in most aspects of the game we were more than a match for Saxton but none of our batsmen could put together the innings which Saxton’s Steve Hill did which proved to be the difference between the two teams.