1st XI v Earlswood
Posted by Nobody on 14 August 2012
Broadway v Earlswood – Premier Division, Saturday 11th August
Broadway 1st v Earlswood 1st – Premier Division, Saturday 11th August
Broadway (0) 82 all out lost to Earlswood (22) 85 for 0, by 10 wickets.
The game had the feel of an "end of term" about it, at least from the home side’s perspective, and it was all concluded extremely prematurely inside 40 completed overs!
The depleted home side were inserted by the title chasing visitors looking to return to form after significant wobbles over the previous two weeks. On a wicket that proved a little two paced the Broadway batting performance could be encapsulated by any of the following adjectives: limp, poor, awful, lifeless, or dreadful. Collectively the total of 82 was completely inadequate.
Earlswood’s all pace opening attack started a little waywardly and the hosts raced to 24 without loss. The game changed conclusively in the fourth over as both openers Humpston (13) and N Evans (10) succumbed to leading edges as the lack of pace in the pitch became evident. With confidence restored the Earlswood team pressed home their advantage as the pace of Delahey (4 for 31) and Snipe (4 for 44) unravelled the Broadway line up. Only Captain for the day Smallman who faced 44 balls to remain undefeated on 15, and chairman Donoghue (12) provided any real resistance, the latter despite suffering a painful blow to the forearm.
Nobly Smallman and Donoghue managed to endure the final seven overs of the opening pair. Mohammed’s slow off breaks however brought a swift end to the first innings in the 21st over.
Having successfully defended a similar total recently at Bearley, a similar outcome was never realistic in the conditions. Although Broadway’s attack strived valiantly, Smallman particularly beating the bat with some unplayable deliveries, L Everett (45) and Mohammed (38) managed to see the title aspiring visitors to a confidence restoring victory unscathed.
Broadway travel to Wellesbourne this week hoping and expecting better.
