From Top To Bottom

With the returning (from injury) Harry McInley and the returning (from holiday) Connor Newbold replacing Matt Hutcheon and Rory Haughton; the reigning champions went to early league leaders Spencer in search of our 1st win after 2 losses from the opening 2 league games.

Harry won the toss and opted to bat on what looked a good wicket that would offer little help to the bowlers. David Gent and Fraser McGuinness had a cautious start but having done the hard yards against the new ball both will be annoyed with themselves when both were out hitting potential 4 balls into the hands of point; Genty for 26 (45-1) and Fraser for 11 (47-2 in the 14th over). This became 61-3 when Henry Tye (2) was lbw to Nomi Bashir. Luke Sheridan and Ant Ireland both found the boundary with cover drives before Ant (11) was lbw to left arm spinner Hugo Trotter to see the Llamas at 91-4 in the 27th over.

Harry McInley set his stall hitting sixes (4) and fours (8) as he hit 10 from over 30 and 16 from over 31 before Luke Sheridan lost his leg stump to Barbar Hussain for 135-5 in the 34th over. Harry continued his onslaught-10 more from the 35th over- and reached his 50 in the 38th over having come to the wicket in the 27th over.

Will Jones (2) became Nomi Bashir’s 2nd victim when Will lost balance following a wide leg-side delivery to be stumped-although VAR may have a different opinion. 150-6 became 150-7 as Connor Newbold (0) was bowled by Nomi Bashir (10-1-33-3). 10 overs left but just 3 wickets remaining.

Crossy (6) was bowled by Barbar Hussain for 160-8 in the 42nd over before Harry McInley was caught behind for an excellent 71 (56 in boundaries) from just 65 balls to be 9th out for 187-9 in the 47th over. Toby Briggs was last out, lbw to Barbar Hussain (8.2-1-26-3) leaving Alvin Richard Sathya (6) the not out batsman as the Llama innings closed on 189 with 16 balls of the 50 overs remaining.

The Spencer innings followed a similar early pattern to the Llama innings and after 11 overs Spencer were 44-0 (Llamas 45-0) with Steve Cross and Toby Briggs in particular (7-1-16-0) keeping the run rate in check. Connor Newbold’s 3rd over (10-1-27-1) saw him have James Smith (18) caught by Genty at backward point (an opener caught at point following the pattern of the Llama innings) and 52-1 in the 14th over was soon 52-2 one over later as fellow spinner Harry McInley’s 1st over saw Will Grant get a faint nick for Fraser to take a smart chance standing up at the stumps.

Spencer captain Simon McConnell joined George Roberts as they took the score to 92 when in the 25th over Alvin beat both bat and stumps for the ball to land in Fraser’s gloves-standing back. Simon was out of his ground and not paying attention as a quick thinking Fraser promptly threw down the stumps to see Simon out for 26.

The Llamas were back in the contest as Harry McInley (10-1-47-2) got Adam Caddy to sky one to deep long on where Ant Ireland called for and duly took the catch and Spencer were 103-4 in the 28th over (Llamas 102-4 at same stage). The Llama bowlers, including Alvin who bowled with good pace (7-1-41-0) to complement the energy he brings with his fielding; couldn’t break through as Spencer youngsters and last season 1st teamers George Roberts (55no) and Freddie Horler (46no) calmly steered Spencer to victory, reaching 190-4 with 6 overs to spare.

It is of course early days in the season but the Llamas find themselves bottom of the league where we will be in danger of staying unless we can post scores better than 150 all out in week 1, 131 all out in week 2 and 189 all out today.

RUN OUT or STUMPED?
I think the circumstances of Spencer captain Simon McConnell’s dismissal were similar to the dismissal described in https://wisden.com/stories/county-cricket/bob-willis-trophy/watch-derbyshire-keeper-effects-bizarre-stumping where Derbyshire wicket keeper (standing back) throws down the wicket with the batsman having switched off when standing out of his ground.
However Law 39 (Stumping) also depends on whether or not the batsman was attempting a run-if they were then the dismissal would be run out. If they were not attempting a run then the dismissal would be stumped. If it was a stumping then the wicket would go down to Alvin but either way it also belongs to a quick thinking Fraser