2nds still fighting

This could be the victory that keeps Outwood in Div. 5, although still a long way to go. Not only were Knockholt 3rd in the Division, they are a very dangerous side with hard-hitting batsmen who can take a game away from you if you don't get them early.

Max won the toss and elected to bowl first, meaning we would know the target we had to chase. Max Evans and John Hall kept things tight early on - just 6 runs off the first 4 overs. John removed the dangerous Ollie Amos in the 6th over, caught on the boundary by Max for 2. Max removed the other opener and 44 for 3 after 12 overs represented a good start with 3 dangerous batsmen back in the hutch. Neil Hope continued to hit 6s until bowled on 49 by Gareth Abramson playing only his second game for the 2s. All the Outwood bowlers maintained good pressure on the Knockholt batsman. Quite exceptional (again) was 13-yr. old Jon Wylie who bowled his allotted 5 overs for 6 runs with 2 maidens and 1 wicket - this against batsmen itching to launch him into the woods. Alex Wood took 2 wickets in his first over, narrowly missing a hat-trick in a spell of good pace. At 99 for 7 in the 25th over, Outwood were well on top. Some good batting by the experienced James Amos plus the onset of tiredness/lack of concentration amongst the fielding side meant that Knockholt staged a good recovery before being finally bowled out for 165 in the final over of the 40. A great effort by the bowlers although probably about 30 runs more than it should have been.

This was never going to be easy against a hostile attack including the pacey Ollie Stone Sly. Paul Howard fell early but then Henry VdW and Harry Mawer put on a crucial 72 for the 2nd wicket, hitting 17 fours and a six between them. Henry went first for 42 but Harry completed his 50 in a match-winning innings of 55. The chase looked reasonably comfortable at 95 for 2 after 19 overs and 129 for 4 after 25 but a flurry of cheap wickets found us 9 down with 21 runs still needed. Vice skipper Keith was batting 11 due to injury so we had experience there but success relied on 13-yr. old Jonny Wylie at the other end. Although never nasty, Jonny was subjected to the customary 'verbals' by the close fielders - all good experience! He responded by hitting his first ball for a comfortable single and his second for 4 to the square leg boundary. We were nudging closer. Jonny played a maiden over from the Knockholt opening bowler with apparent ease before Keith hit the first ball of the 37th over for 4 - scores level! A wide ball could easily have won us the game but the Outwood umpire rightly decided it was too marginal for the match-winning delivery; only for the same bowler to bowl one at gulley - too wide not to call and we had won a famous victory.

In truth, Keith and Jonny had never really looked in any difficulty despite the precarious position we found ourselves in. When asked after the game if he had been a bit nervous, Jonny replied "no", casting a withering look at the questioner as if to say, "why would I be" ?