It was a trip to the ever-quaint Sedbergh this week for Simon Gould’s band of merry men.
Bathed in sunshine against the backdrop of rolling hills the afternoon beckoned awaiting the sound of leather on willow and the subtle clink of an empty wine bottle of two tumbling from the skippers bag.
Gould won the toss and elected to bat on a firm surface. A rejigged side saw Paul Yates team up will a new opening partner in Ollie Wilkinson. Both were helped by some wayward bowling which gifted Shires the start the wanted with Wilkinson scoring freely on both sides of the wicket before being undone by a ball that stuck a little in the pitch presenting mid off with a simple catch.
Gould senior, next at the crease caressed a 4 to the boundary before being undone by Brianna Rays bowling when she wrapped his pads and watched in delight as the slow finger of expulsion was raised at Gould.
And with the exception of a late token wicket that really was all that Sedbergh had to celebrate on Saturday as an emboldened Adam Murphy strolled to the crease, arms wheeling, eyes narrowed.
Striding forward, chest out, cresting at his full height of 4′ 2 Murphy put Sedbergh’s young attack to the sword with a maiden league century of 113 from 103 balls, ably supported by steady accumulation of Yates (61) whose wise words and on field coaching kept a young narcissus present until the final overs of the innings.
Shireshead declared 232/ 3 as the milk bottle white pair of Gould (J) and Greenwood applauded the remaining stooge in the trio and all sat down to tea.
Devilish swing would be the order of day for bowling with Tom McCartney partnering with the returning Jake Agar to share the new ball.
Agar bowled with pace and late swing to claim 4 – 43 in his 12 overs while McCartney held fast at the other end with 1-45. Mike Mead (2-29) trundled through the middle overs with Will Greenwood ( 2-10) as Sedbergh were bowled out for 145, earning them 15 points.
No game for the 2s next week which means we will see bright sunshine and record temperatures!
