VICTORY FROM THE JAWS OF DEFEAT

GRASSMOOR WORKS C C 227 FOR 6 MILTON C C 211 ALL OUT

BASSETLAW AND DISTRICT LEAGUE 1 AT BARNES PARK

29 JULY 2023 --- 1PM

JOHN DONALDSON FOR GRASSMOOR WORKS V MILTON

Just before 5.30pm and at 121 without loss Milton were understandably parking up in the winners enclosure as their reply was going with an unexpected ease at just shy of seven an over with opener Daniel Walker [90] threatening a one man destruction of the target.  But come just over ninety minutes later they had to slam into reverse gear to back out of the enclosure to make way for Grassmoor who had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to earn their third win of the season.

A HELMETED CARL BOWLING

Rain rain everywhere and so the last three Saturday's of cricket had been lost but today after a pre-match downpour prospects looked good although a green wicket and uncut outfield probably all due to the inclement stuff would add an interest to the home sides innings.  Visitors Milton won the toss put Works in and on a damp outfield added to the length of the grass they appeared to have the poorest of the conditions and so it was a good toss to have won.  

Grassmoor put on 70 for the first wicket which saw the studious Carl Bowling [15] having the bails dislodged by Walker.  At the other end there was a return to form for Andy Woolven who was applying some big hitting as usual to his contribution, although again there was a large selection of this shots failing to get over the ropes with the outfield conditions.  Luke James [9] fell caught behind by Ryan Cliffe off the bowling of Faisal Rana to a signalled wide but the Grassmoor number three had nicked it and did the admirable thing with an about turn walk back to the pavilion.

UMPIRE ALAN SHAWCROFT COUNTING UP THE OVERS

With just over ten overs left Woolven [98] had looked further to push along the score and frustratingly just two short of a deserved century tickled one behind to Cliffe off Alistair Skinner.  The Works opener had struck 10 fours and 3 sixes in an enterprising knock that would ultimately set up Grassmoor for the 22 points later on.  Adam Bedford [30] would contribute a valuable effort, John Donaldson [12] on return looked about to go big after his half a dozen balls faced produced 1 four and 1 maximum but he fell bowled to Jon Tann who disturbed his stumps.  There was an excellent cameo at the end from David Spendlove [47] from 34 balls which included 4 sixes and 3 fours.  Indeed then penultimate over went for 21 runs including 3 of those maximums his other came from final ball of the last over, an over the contained an audacious reverse sweep four to get Grassmoor up to what looked like a very acceptable total of 227/6.

CARL BOWLING IN PROFILE

Tea interval was the usual local amble and back well in time for the Milton reply which lets just say got off to a flier.  The ground seemed to have dried out and looked a little easier for Milton but lets take nothing away from Daniel Walker [90] who absolutely dominated the home attack with an innings that was blowing away any thoughts of 227 being enough within the first hour.  

It was looking desperate and even I have to admit to the thought of leaving early but Grassmoor stuck at it and with the first ball of the twentieth over he fell to the bowling of Spendlove.  A fantastic innings which contained 10 maximums and 4 fours in an opening stand of 121, his 50 had arrived in just 34 balls.  Fellow opener Smith was playing the studious partners role, much like Bowling for Grassmoor, and looked more than capable of moving the Notts based side towards victory.  He was joined at the crease by keeper Cliffe and scoring would become more conservative.

WIDE TO THE TOAL SIGNALLED BY UMPIRE PAUL DENHAM

However just fifteen runs were added when Smith [34] fell lbw to James [L], shortly afterwards Jack Beard [3] holed out on the boundary to James [L] from the bowling of Mark Crain and it was 154 for 3.

When the two wickets fell on 164 that would see half of the Milton side back in the pavilion this started to look like game on.  Joe Warriner [9] had sought out Donaldson on the boundary and Pat Stutt [0] was caught by Woolven both of Crain who would bask in bowling figures of 3 for 32 at the close.  With singles and 2's available it seemed a funny move to try to hit big when the steady approach surely would have seen Milton home but the guile of Grassmoor was starting to win the day.

ADAM BEDFORD VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION

Skipper Skinner [9] was bowled by Ian Bradley with the score on 181 for 6 and when Faisal Rana [8] fell caught James [L] off  Donaldson who was now steaming in up the hill with an end change for his return spell and the win was definitely a possibility, but with Cliffe who had batted very sensibly still there it would be close.

The result would soon fall into the home sides favour with Robert Handy run out by Bedford for a duck and Joe Tann [1] bowled by Bradley for his second the score was on 211.  

Entering the penultimate over Cliffe [35] from 75 balls realised he had to now go big and after a great effort had his stumps removed by Donaldson to secure the home side an exciting win

A remarkable finish to a game that looked to be gone brought a valuable victory to Grassmoor in their battle to stay in division one for the second season in this return spell.

MARK CRAIN CALMNESS PERSONIFIED 

To misquote the football saying 'cricket its a funny only game'.

JOHN DONALDSON BIG HIT