The Second Team took just 5 points from the double weekend. Having beaten Roe Green on Saturday, they went down by 28 runs to Dukinfield on Sunday – John Kerambrum’s hat-trick being the only highlight. Fortunately other results mean that they are still just 2 points off the top spot.
At 17 for 3 against league leaders Roe Green, it wasn’t just the weather that was looking bleak for the second team on Saturday. However a partnership of 98 lifted directly from the pages of the Boycott/Tavare batting manual between the in form Fiorentini and skipper Bradley provided the platform from which a late flurry saw the visitors post 159 for 7. Fiorentini passed 50 for the second time in three games to finish with with 62, Bradley posted a chanceless 45, as Damon Montgomery provided the late impetus with 24 at better than a run-a-ball.
Tea was exceptional.
The Green run chase never got going in any way which threatened the Prestwich total, nor did it ever look likely that they would be bowled out, thus conceding the bonus point to the visitors. Not, that is, until the introduction of spin at both ends – Bradley tying up one end with his customary accuracy, Montgomery turning in an M.O.M performance at the other picking up 5 for 20 to leave the hosts 109 all out.
Sundays trip to Dukinfield was notable for several reasons, Eric Hudson’s return to the middle at the age of 74, Haris Aziz’ senior debut at the age of 4, the noise Fiorentini’s head makes when a cricket ball ricochets from its follicly depleted surface, the random run generator that Dukinfield have installed to replace their scorebox and a hat-trick for John Kerambrum. Unfortunately it will also be remembered for the worst second team batting display for several years.
Matt Walsh had already captured 4 wickets and the score stood at 113 for 6 when the ball was thrown to Kerambrum. If Mahmood provided the base, and Gascoine the top layer of cricketing bread, then Grimbaldeston must surely have been the glorious filling within the Cheese sandwich.
Tea was eaten, mostly, by Lorenzini.
Chasing 120 to win should be a straight forward task for a team who have won all available trophies for the last two years, however, it was not to be as a calamitous collapse left the Champions reeling from from a 28 run defeat. The only batsman to come to terms with conditions in any way was Scargill who mustered 33 runs. True enough the pitch got lower and lower, and one or two dubious umpiring decisions did not help, but we should not look for excuses – this performance was not up to scratch and there will need to be an improvement.
