The Westcott Weekend Double-Header continued at The Gibbon on Sunday with the rearranged league fixture. Both sides needed to draft in players to replace those unavailable from the day before, but the weather was the same, no – it was even hotter!
Joseph continued his excellent tossing and chose to bat on a belter of a wicket and rapid outfield. With Westcott missing both their opening bowlers Marsh set off well with Beardie and Vadivale in the opening berths and looking steady. That is until the 6th over and with the total on 25 Satty was caught for 17 to be followed back next over by Beardie caught behind for 8. Scotty was meeting the ball well and punching straight back as he looked to get a feel of the bowling, but played across his pad before he was ‘in’ and found himself ‘out.’ Marsh 46-3 off 10.
Then followed the partnership to set up victory. Skipper Joseph who had decided to drop down the order on Saturday and had got a third ball Quack persevered at 4 and was joined by yesterday’s hero Richardson at number 5. Both batted securely to begin with and ticked the board over. It was clear that 200 would be enough to create scoreboard pressure, but would it be enough? With this in mind the two started to press and boundaries came. With the score on 144 Joe was bowled by Bateman on 60 and the partnership fell 2 runs short of a Ton.
Nine overs remaining and 200 the target: Richardson stepped on the gas. Abbott, Fox (Snr!), Callow and Chambers came in and threw caution to the wind in search of quick runs and fittingly Sammy crashed the last ball iof the inning for 6 to take Marsh to 205-7.
Would that be enough? There was batting in the Westcott line up, but probably not in great depth, though 2 long sessions in the heat would not have helped.
Chairman Kyle and Crouch opened up and kept it tight but no wicket until the 6th over when Callow struck as Joseph took the rising catch behind. Danger man Khan came in at 3 and looked to continue his positive approach of the day before and targeted Callow. Skipper replaced Crouch with Richardson and got his reward with opener Cherry clutched by Seb Fox in Sammy’s first over. Khan was still a problem until Needham claimed him again. This time a superb running catch from the older (and slightly taller!) Fox brother coming in from Long On. Westcott 52-3 off 15. It was in the balance with 153 required off 30 and so 5 an over required.
It was the time for the Westcott Skipper Strong to perform and partnered by Raynor they clipped the ball around and accumulated steadily. It took 20 overs for Marsh to break the pair, when in the 36th over and score on 139 Callow held a precious catch off Abbott to remove Raynor. A further 67 runs required off 54 balls required….
Richardson had restricted the runs and finished with 1 for just 12 runs off 8 overs and it rested with Vadivale and Abbott to bring home the victory.
Just as soon as Symes came to the wicket, Seb Fox sent him back with a razor sharp piece of fielding at backward square leg to run out the grumbling Symes with a direct hit. Vadivale and Abbott – who had reversed the previous days plan and now decided to pitch the ball at the batsman’s end – were keeping the tiring Skipper tied down, whilst they picked off the tale.
It was good to welcome Lewis Jeacock to the Gibbon crease again, especially as the rate was over 10 per over when he arrived and as true as elephants can’t fly, Lewis isn’t going to smash boundaries! (Sorry Lewis)
Skipper Strong (64) was eventually bowled by Vadivale and with that the game was Marsh’s. Westcott ending 20 runs short.
Back to back victories and 57 points moved Marsh up more places in the table.
Excellent contributions from many over the weekend, but none more than Sambo Richardson to bring it home, with scores of 60 and his highest score of 79 not out, plus 8 overs 1 for 12 at a critical point to restrict runs on the Sunday – not to mention 2 catches as well!