2nd XI hit the high notes thanks to TV star Watson

Did someone say 'bounce back'

After a couple of cold, damp, drizzly weekends and a rainy week we woke up to a bright and sunny English morning and after last weeks loss we needed to bounce back to winning ways. However the opposition was an inform St Margaretsbury side that were in the promotion spots having won 4 games so far.

Today was the start of the rather 'old skool' 53/47 version of the game and winning the toss was to be the start of a great day of cricket.
As has become our team philosophy of always attacking and with our big and fast strike bowler Tom 'the gun' Watson roaring to go, the team lined up with 2 slips, a fly slip, a gully, short point, silly mid-off and a silly mid-on. This was too much for the batsmen and Tom struck in his first over blasting through the stumps. Brett Harvey, accompanying Tom at the other end, came on with his usual 2 step 'Fast' seamers bowling wicket to wicket and started with a maiden.

Looking to consolidate, St Margaretsbury went into safe mode and weren't interested in playing any attacking shots for a while which played into Ricky's hands as 8 overs of great bowling increasing the pressure with every ball, beating the bat on many occasions.
At the start of Toms 5th over the batsmen decided to take the big man on and went for a solid smash at Toms good length ball which went straight to Bobby Chowdhry at silly mid-on at lightning speed. Luckily with Bobbys lightning reactions he just picked it out of the air near the side of his face, class. Now with the captain at the crease facing Brett, within a couple of balls got bamboozled by Bretts cutters and the stumps once again fell.

St Margaretsbury were now firmly on the back foot and in the next 8 overs did everything they could to just block the straight ball and leave everything else, The field setting was getting increasingly attacking and eventually skipper Kasser opened up the whole of cover and leg side for them to try and hit a shot. With Tom and Brett bowling as tight as possible it was only a matter of time before they broke through. Brett again came through with an excellent ball to a set batsmen and took his wicket. Tom struck again in the following over as the batsmen finally tried to hit a shot and nicked it straight to keeper Rory Cusack, who took it with great ease.

Now it was a race for Tom and Brett to see who would get to 5 wickets first. The captain backed his bowlers who had by now bowled 11 overs each and the race was on. Tom's energy increasing with every ball and Brett's quirky deliveries getting just that much better. Brett again smashed through the wickets with a great full length ball, that was 4 bowled! Toms energy and determination got him 2 more wickets to take him to 5fer, with one great yorker and then to finish off with a glorious caught and bowled, we only needed Brett to get his 5fer of his 15th and last over and that would be innings. But it was not to be. Tom ended on 5 overs 7 maidens 5 wickets for 25 runs and Brett finished on 15 overs 6 maidens 4 wickets for 20 runs.

The last wicket was still required and deciding to finish it off quickly and swiftly on came Billy and Bobby (The sultans of swing) and in only his 8th delivery Billy bowled a beautiful out swinger to a left hander, which was caught by Rory diving wildly to his left. A jubilant Ricky team now only needed 59 runs in nearly as many overs to win the game. Ricky chased down the runs convincingly with Raz getting some form back with an unbeaten 19.

But the day was all about the bowling and fielding, it was a thoroughly deserved win. Ricky 2s have officially bounced back to winning form. Captains Man of the Match Tom 'the gun' Watson!