Two quick wins

By Mark Lane

After defeating the reigning champions in the opening game of the season The Wood faced another stern test with a trip down to Bidborough. Traditionally that would have been the expectation but this Bidborough outfit did not reflect the recent championship winning teams with the club now seemingly embarking on a period of transition. The game nevertheless had to be won and such assignments can be slippery.
At 58-3 there was genuine concern. The wicket was slow and spongey and Bidborough opened with a spinner from whom it was challenging to generate any pace. Scoring was tortuous.
Blease and Ash regrouped well, both took their time and consciously adjusted well to conditions. Ashley started with a few nice shots through the offside before latching onto some short balls as well as sweeping the spinner. With little pace for his favourite straight drives (or the ramp!) Blease nurdled before expanding his shots once the score provided a degree of comfort. They recorded a 99 run partnership and at the fall of Ashley’s wicket we had started to feel comfortable at 157.
The final overs witnessed the entry of the real star of the show. The self-proclaimed champion bowler, Skipper & generally our hero demonstrated his batting prowess with not one but two massive sixes. Tales to be told to his one grandchildren one suspects! All joking aside they were lovely strikes and rich reward for the foundation created.
In response Bidborough didn’t get going. Drew opened up the hill and took a wicket in the first over before dispatching the number 3 shortly thereafter. This brought their best bat to the crease and briefly Bidborough looked tidy. His first scoring shot was a beautifully timed, lofted and frankly huge on-drive which looked like it was sailing over the boundary. However our glorious skipper ran backwards and calmly, nonchalantly even, took a superb catch over his shoulder running backwards up the hill. With that the game was nearly up.
But not before one final flourish. Matt Talbot, recently having returned to the squad, bowled down the hill and produced a superb spell full of focused aggression. He removed the remaining opener caught behind and then in the same over two more in consecutive balls. 3 slips, 2 gulley’s, a short mid-on and mid-off awaited Matts hat trick ball. He charged in; full, straight & yorker length lasering towards middle stump only for the batsman to bring his bat down at the last moment. A commendable hat trick ball and treble wicket maiden.

Following the eagerly anticipated games against Bearsted and Bidborough it was important that we followed up with a solid performance against Sissinghurst at home. Shorn of some high-quality University players that will feature for them later in the season this was game in which we had to be clinical.
Matt won the toss and stuck them in with the wicket looking a little moist from the weeks rain. The breakthrough came from Blease on the second ball. Sissinghurst then briefly rallied despite the fact that Drew bowled superbly to their number 3 who seemed determined to stick him into Horley. Instead he had to carry him self back to the dressing room after nicking off to Scooby at gully. Drew got his man.
Their Captain departed softly and we ran through them with Norman, Talbot & Mathews taking two as well as Harry and Louis both affecting run outs. Sissinghurst were all out for 88 off of 28.3 overs leaving poor Charlotte without a paddle and no hope of getting teas ready for the change over!
In reply Outwood were never seriously troubled despite the fact that we lost both openers. Ash demonstrated his stubborn side and evidently valued his wicket and made sure that there were no further mishaps. Louis also got some batting practice for sterner tests to come.
One of which we expect this weekend at Linton Park away. With both teams undefeated it promises to be competitive game. Outwood won the corresponding fixture last year but one suspects that Linton will be more committed this season. We hope to see you there.
Up the Wood!