Outlaws' Young Guns Overpower The Mavericks

The opening game of Outwood's 2018 Surrrey Slam campaign got off to a winning start against pre-match favourites the South Nutfield Mavericks on the evening of 9 May at South Nutfield.

Skipper Matt Norman's team selection included a mix of experience and youth. The team policy of playing at least two U20 players was reflected in the inclusion of Lucas Evans, Dru Tunstall, Matt Talbot, Harry Crawford and James Malley whose combined age only just exceeded that of 'old hands' Michael Cleaver and Mark Lane.

Winning the toss, Matt had no hesitation in batting first. Middleton fell early with the score on one, but Lane and Michael Stephen got the scorecard moving and the impetus was maintained by Harry Mawer when Stephen was out, bowled for 20 from 11 balls.

The innings then lost momentum, the scoring pegged back by a flurry of wickets, but Marcus Malley took on the Maverick bowling with a fine display of late order hitting, scoring 32 n.o. from 15 balls including three sixes.

Matt Talbot and Matthew Norman opened the bowling for the Outlaws and kept the scoring rate down without taking a wicket. The Mavericks reached 43 before their first wicket fell, their skipper Bellars bowled by Mawer.

Thereafter it was the Outlaws academy players, Evans and Tunstall that took over the show. They looked comfortable when their opportunity to bowl came, despite the pressure to take wickets and slow the scoring rate.

Lucas Evans and Dru Tunstall were particularly effective, keeping the run rate down, and taking wickets. Both were on hat tricks during their spells, with Lucas agonisingly close to a caught and bowled that would have given him his third in three balls.

As it was he finished with four wickets and Dru Tunstall with three, including a brilliant reflex stumping from 'keeper Middleton.

So a win by 35 runs gets the team up and running in the Slam, with Merstham Magics next up in the game at Quality Street on 21st May