Top Leggie!!!

Newcastle v Durham Academy

What a busy week it has been for the Mighty Turret! We had our first league game of the season vs Durham Academy (who don't have a 2nd XI, so my loyal troops have to wait until next week) and the 3's began their campaign with a win at South North and a very special bowling performance from a Legend.

Due to university and county commitments, the 1's were weakened by the absence of Jamie Atkinson and Michael Richardson, our two best batsman (sorry Davo, they are) so in a maverick piece of thinking skipper Niall Penfold decided to augment his bowling line up by bringing me into the side from the wilderness to enhance his attack. This means early starts. To the game itself, DCA are always very competitive and we knew it would be a stiff test at HQ, on what looked to be a road we stuck them in. Their openers trotted out (both had 100's at Jesmond last year in different games) and within 2 overs had been despatched, DCA rocking at 4-2. They bat deep though these young lads and managed to make it up to 235-8. Special mention to Prateek Kar who bowled excellently with 4-67 on debut off 17 overs, and Ross McLaren who burgled a 2 for. 270 is about par at Jesmond, so we were still reasonable happy, but a total of 7 dropped catches cost us a lot of runs in the wake of an extremely disciplined bowling performance.

Now, if I refer you to a previous blog I stated my default position was a hatred of 1st team captains, but that I was prepared to give the new one a chance. Well no more. 60 (*profanity deleted) overs in the field an no bowl, making a mockery of his decision to bring me in. I weigh approx 19 stones and am not the quickest over the ground, so I certainly wasn't in the side for my fielding though I did demonstrate to messrs Malpass, Corby (x3) and Carding how to take a catch with a top take at short extra cover off my housemate. (He told me later that had I dropped it I'd have been murdered in my sleep.) Worse still, Penfold made me go fine leg to fine leg on occasion and chided me for the time it took me. The only thing he got right all day was the new tea lady appointment (his mam and sister) who provided an excellent spread. However, I was reminded by the skipper at lunch that we were in the field and I may have to bowl so to take it easy on bangers and mash. Then I didn't bowl. My reaction to this is not printable. In his defence, there was no need to bring me on - the Academy were well contained until the last 10 overs really, by then it was too late to be fair. 

When we batted it became clear that the youths weren't going to give us much in our half. Martin Fearon fronted up with 53, then got out trying to force the game at a bad time which kind of characterised our innings. We lost wickets at the wrong times. James Davidson again suffered from Davidsons Syndrome (a condition where a batter gets a good 40 odd then gets out almost immediately - very rare only 2 known sufferers in the club) and others chipped in but with 3 overs to go the chase was called off and the shutters came down. Jamie Carding (17) stood out on debut for his composed 31* but needs to work on getting off strike, however an innings filled with fantastic promise. We closed on 219-7, as Prateek Kar completely ignored the discussion about the draw and went at it like a windmill.

It was extremely disappointing not to win a game which we had mainly been in charge of, but a good draw against a good side with our 2 senior batsman missing (both back this weekend). Better still, on the team evening out it was decided that I am officially better looking than James Davidson by the ladies of Newcastle, a fantastic example of democracy in action. In further good news the 2's are in action on Saturday vs Gateshead Fell (my former club) in a game that will hopefully provide both sides with a first win.

Great to be out and about playing, just need a bowl now!!! As I'm captain next week, it's likely!!

All the best to all cricketers (except Niall Penfold)

PH

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