In a match that will be remembered for its dramatic twists and turns, the Outwood Outlaws emerged victorious against the South Nutfield Mavericks in a thrilling contest at our home ground last Friday. The weather was perfect for cricket, with clear skies and a light breeze setting the stage for an exhilarating evening's play, with the warm smell of Fajitas rising up through the air.

Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, the Outlaws faced a powerful Mavericks lineup. South Nutfield started strongly, racing to 86 in just 8 overs for the loss of only two wickets. However, the Outwood bowlers tightened their grip, taking regular wickets to slow the scoring rate. Marcus Malley and skipper Dru Tunstall led the charge. Malley’s figures of 3 for 28 and Tunstall’s 3 for 26 in their four overs each proved crucial. Charlie Mist was the most economical, conceding just 22 runs in his four overs. Tight bowling restricting tye Mavericks to 161 runs for 9 wickets in their 20 overs.

In reply, the Outlaws’ innings got off to the worst possible start. Skipper Dru Tunstall fell to the second ball of the innings, and the team slumped to 41 for 5 in the seventh over, facing a daunting task ahead. However, Chris Preen and Marcus Malley mounted a remarkable recovery. Preen’s composed 55 not out from just 30 balls and Malley’s crucial 36 set up a steady platform, with the pair putting on 117 runs for the sixth wicket.

As the chase neared its climax, young Charlie Mist provided the final push with his explosive cameo, smashing 24 runs off just 7 balls. The match reached a thrilling finish in the 19th over, when a boundary secured the win, bringing the Outlaws to a relatively comfortable 162 for 6 in 18.2 overs. The victory, achieved with a boundary 4, seemed far from assured after the early collapse, but the team’s resilience and skill shone through.

With this thrilling win, the Outwood Outlaws advance to the quarter-finals and semi-finals, set to be played on 18th August at Valley End Cricket Club.