1sts Edge Out Newport

MNDCC 244/9 (45 Overs)

Newport CC 234 all out (42 Overs)

MNDCC won by 10 runs 

MNDCC travelled to Newport on Saturday looking to bounce back after two disappointing heavy defeats. They came out on top following a close affair on a hot afternoon.

Skipper Ricky Woodmansey elected to bat first on a dry wicket. The captain and fellow opener Ruben Syrett managed to navigate the challenge of the new ball however when seamer Josh Chapman was introduced to the attack he caused problems for the MNDCC top order. He was getting threatening uneven bounce from the School End and took the first 3 wickets for the home side. Syrett was dismissed for 14, caught behind from a delivery that rose steeply from a length with the score at 31. Woodmansey soon followed for 23 in a similar fashion, agloving to slip. When Tom Walgate fell without scoring the innings was in trouble at 55-3. However, this brought vice-captain Harvey Dixon and hard-hitting all rounder Isaac Wilkes to the crease. They decided attack was the best form of defence. Both batted aggressively and played some excellent shots that got the scoreboard moving quickly. A quick fire 75 run partnership was broken when Dixon was caught for 57 with the score 131-4. Veteran Shaun Tate continued his good form, however he was dismissed for 20 attempting a big shot in the closing stages of the innings. All of the lower order batsmen contributed well and supported Wilkes who fell for 62 from only 61 deliveries. MNDCC finished their innings with the score 244-9, a decent effort and one they felt confident defending.

Seamer Harvey Dixon and left-arm spinner Tom Yates took the new ball for MNDCC. The latter got the big early breakthrough, bowling Newport’s captain and talisman Adam Mitchell for 0. Dixon then removed the other opener, with stand-in wicketkeeper Syrett taking an outstanding catch behind from the edge of Cokerill’s bat. With the score at 11-2 it seemed that the chase would be a short-lived affair. However, Daniel Smith had other ideas. He batted aggressively and played some bludgeoning shots to reach his 50 in quick time. With some disappointing fielding not backing up the bowlers, it was left to spinner Shaun Tate to make the vital breakthroughs. He bowled with discipline to take his first 5 wicket haul of the season and tame the home side’s reply. He dismissed key men to finish with 5-42 from his 12 overs. A sterling effort. All of the other bowlers chipped in with 1 wicket each. With the score at 189-9, it seemed like the only outcome was a MNDCC win. However, a 45-run final wicket partnership threatened to take points until Woodmansey held his nerve to dismiss J Mitchell for 16, caught in the covers by Jack Riby.

A good game of cricket played in the right spirit. MNDCC are joint-fourth in the league and look to push on again next week against top of the table Hull Zingari.