NDCC 1st Grade went into week 2 at 0/5 still trailing the Lighthouse keepers by 41 runs. We got off to a solid start with Cottom and Salakas both playing shots. Cottom was then dismissed and was quickly followed by Ean and Shadow. 3 quick wickets and suddenly things were looking grim. But enter John Robinson. Robbo came in and, with Salakas, shared a valuable 50 run partnership. A great display of what we need to do from these guys, with excellent application and shot selection on show. A very disciplined effort and we were looking good as we started to build a lead. Unfortunately just when the momentum was almost well and truly in our favour, Salakas was run out for 23. Robinson continued doing his job as Murph came and went for 0. Rhys and Robbo put on a handy partnership and we were starting to build a lead which may have given us enough to contest the outright. Robinson was out for 36 and his top scoring effort was a tribute to his efforts and deserved to go on with it. Rhys dug in well and scored a patient and valuable 14, and Neil Ryan came in and applied himself to tick the runs over. With Rhys dismissed Neil had a go and hit a couple of boundaries including a huge zac to give us some quick, late runs, finishing on 17. Jamal played some nice shots to the fielders and finished not out 0 and Bond was the last man to go for 0. Butchers finished on 120 all out giving us a lead of 74, Wollongong requiring 75 to win.
Needing early wickets, Jamal took the new pill with Neil starting up at the other end. Jamal bowled a great spell of fast bowling and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket. Neil broke through and got us the first wicket in what was a great spell of spin bowling. He bowled very tightly and made it hard for the batsman to score, and was unlucky not to have picked up a couple more wickets with a couple of sharpish chances going down. Rollo came on after JB and bowled fast and straight, picking up 2 scalps, both unassisted wickets, bowled. He did a great job and toiled hard right til the very end. With the game slipping away Salad bowled a couple of overs and bagged a wicket on the second last ball of the day with a long hop. Wollongong passed the target of the next delivery and did so finishing at 4/78.
A disappointing loss considering we were again in a decent position to set a reasonable target at 3/70. Batting is improving and will continue to get better over the next couple of weeks. Our bowling and fielding standards have been very high, and we are encouraged by this, and have confidence in this aspect of our game. All it will take for us to get a win up will be to get a few runs and some confidence with the bat, and put on a total of 150+, easily defendable with our bowling attack. Heads up boys, we are on the up and we will get that elusive first victory up soon!!
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