2nd team survive scare to beat Greenwood Park

In recent weeks it has been a variety of youngsters who have enabled Ricky to win games against the odds. This time it was the turn of young Yusuf Khan to demonstrate his amazing potential as he played an innings of maturity, skill and perseverance with the bat, to enable the 2nd team to get a much needed win against 2nd place Greenwood Park.

Earlier, it had been a bowlers day at Ricky tore through the talented GPCC side on a wicket that was offering assistance to bowlers who would put the ball on the stumps. There were also some good catches as only Ahmed with 47 showed any long-term resistance to the strong Ricky attack. Yash and Yusuf, both just 16, bowled 11 overs between them, going for just 30 runs as Greenwood's batsmen found ways to get out, such as Run Out by Fizzy, and Lekshay, that had nothing to do with the pitch. With the scoreboard hardly moving veteran Smith (3-4) and steady Safraz (3-9) then blew away the remaining batters to leave Greenwood with just 95 to defend.

An easy task you would think, but GPCC are not 2nd in the table without reason! Their bowling attack was direct and awkward and Ricky wickets began to tumble. It needed someone to stay in and see the team home and Yusuf stepped up to the plate. At one point it looked like Yusuf was the only person taking the game to Greenwood, as the score went from 30/3 to 70/7 with the numbers 5,6,7 and 9 only contributing 1 run between them. Yusuf was desperate for a willing partner and luckily in came Saffie who, not for the first time this season, proved the perfect companion.

Yusuf could now hold an end, whilst Saffie smacked the ball around and with 2 final boundaries, the game was won.

This season has been the great escape for the Ricky 2nds on so many occasions. Just once it would be nice to see them take a game by the scruff of the neck and show just what is possible. The players are there - and once it all clicks it doesnt seem impossible that a late promotion charge could take place. Next up it is Hatfield & Crusaders. The lucky black bails will be back out again. A combination that hasn't seen a loss at home yet in 2022.