Electric Show From Cowlard

An electric all round performance from Andy Cowlard lit up a cold dull day at the Fortress of Dreams.

Thurgarton were the visitors and Cowlard’s only blemish on the day was to lose the toss and we batted first. Our openers had extra pressure with a girl opening the bowling down the hill. Ernie was soon suckered fourth ball by his Sunday side chums, pulling a rank long hop to short fine leg for a duck.

Dale had felt like a council wheelie bin: left out overnight by the selectors on Wednesday, then brought back in late on Friday. He was bristling with intent and timed the ball like Gower from the off. For Drurs, it was like old times batting with Kingy, still in single figures as the 50 came up in rapid time, Wensley cracking seven blistering boundaries.

The introduction of pie-throwers at both ends slowed the scoring. Dale had a century there for the taking, but threw his chance away with a horrible slog, out for a glorious 48. Drurs followed soon after, bowled round his legs sweeping for 23.

Slow bowling and an even slower pitch didn’t play to the strengths of Paul Lay and Dave Garland, but the pair showed admirable restraint in putting on a second fifty partnership of the innings. Paul survived some close LBW’s before playing on for 26.

Cowlard came in at six and played straighter than anyone could ever remember. AC and DG accumulated steadily with good running between the wickets and saw the innings through to the close. A pre-match application of linseed oil to his willow had clearly benefited Garland bringing up his fifty in the penultimate over. Cowlard allowed himself a trademark slog to mid-wicket off the final ball to raise his own score to 40 and the team to an impressive 209-4 at the break.

Tea was a fantastic spread courtesy of the Legge’s. The insalata di tonno con piselli narrowly pipped the barbabietola con orange, while the sublime torta di cioccolato send the calorie count off the dial.

In reply, Leggy only went for just three scoring shots in his first four overs, sadly they were 6,6 and 4, and one enormous six bounded on down Nottingham Road. Mike Smith disappeared for an age after the ball. Most thought he’d nipped to Coral’s for the 4.15 at Thirsk, but it later transpired a twisted ankle was to blame.

Cowlard made the first breakthrough removing the dangerous opener with a proper wicket, Ernie snaffling an outside edge. In his next over another breakthrough as Davey G held onto a sharp chance at gully. Then the highlight of the innings as AC claimed two in two balls. At 30-4 Thurgarton were in disarray. Cowlard’s previous hat-trick ball had been a leg side wide, but this time was more on target, narrowly failing to get an edge with eight slips and a gully waiting.

The game was pretty much up at this point and the following 20 overs were turgid viewing for the sparse crowd, only Rebecca and the Tollerton Express braving the elements. Dave G was brought on for some flight and guile. Cowlard misunderstood the calls for ‘F&G’ thinking fags and gin were on offer at the drinks break. Mike Smith bowled a tight spell up the hill, only going for 11 off his 5 overs, before going lame with his twisted ankle. Ground fielding was tight with Johnny Rogers and Tuckers sharing the fielding point.

The Adonis took over and finally made a double breakthrough, Ernie trapping a low edge between his pads, followed by a clean bowled. Leggy nipped in with another down the hill, before Cowlard finished his 12 overs with two more scalps to finish with magnificent figures of 6-36 off 12 overs.

By now the NE wind was whipping in and most were dreaming of a hot shower, Leggy claiming that he hadn’t been as stiff since his wedding night.

Paul Lay had promised JB a pint should he take 3 wickets for less than 50 runs. The Adonis could smell the hops bowling at Thurgarton’s jack, but Paul took matters into his own hands with a sharp run out to finish the innings off for 137 in the final over.

20 points and a fine all round performance to see us to the top of the table.