1sts Win Thriller

MNDCC 199/5 (45 Overs)

Patrington CC 196/8 (45 Overs)

MNDCC won by 3 runs 

MNDCC made the long trip to Patrington on Saturday and emerged victorious following a thrilling encounter. The home skipper won the toss and asked MNDCC to bat first on a decent wicket in excellent surroundings. 

Captain Ricky Woodmansey and in-form Ruben Syrett opened the batting and found scoring opportunities difficult to come by in the early overs. With Syrett looking to up the rate, he was bowled by the evergreen Glenn Ratcliffe for 15 with the score 34-1. Jonny Addy joined Woodmansey and the home side tightened the screw with spinner Eggett and captain McKinley both bowling economical spells in the middle overs. Addy fell for 21 and the scoreboard was not moving quickly. Two more wickets were taken and the it was looking precarious for the away side. However, as he has done so many times in the past and the reason why he continues to churn out big runs season after season, Woodmansey battled through and then accelerated the scoring at a rapid rate to reach his 100 in the penultimate over of the innings. He was ably supported by Tate (11) and Yates (7*). MNDCC finished on 199-5 at the close with Woodmansey carrying his bat for a truly outstanding 116*. Ratcliffe senior was the pick of the bowling - 3/60.

Paceman Rich Brigham was rewarded with an early wicket in the second over to kick start MNDCCs bowling effort. However, Eggett and wicket keeper Fincham started finding the boundary regularly and the away side’s total looked to be well short. A big moment occurred when spinner Jack Riby bowled Fincham for a quick-fire 55 with the score 80-2. This brought captain J McKinley to the wicket. He played aggressively and soon reached 27. However, attempting to clear the ropes again, he holed out to long on - 128-3. Bringing left arm seamer Col Suggitt back on for a second spell changed the game as he took three quick wickets but it was still in the balance going in to the closing stages. MNDCC needed a hero to finish the innings and this week it was the turn of left arm spinner Tom Yates. He bowled with maturity and took the key wicket of Ratcliffe senior (37) with his first ball of the final over. He held his nerve and with a 4 needed to tie off the last ball, the home side could only manage a single. Yates and Suggitt both finishing with 3 wickets each. 

Man of the match this week was skipper Woodmansey, whose innings was ultimately the difference between the sides.

It was a superb game of cricket played in the right spirit. There were momentum shifts throughout and credit to the lads for sticking in there to emerge victorious. A good test or character and a very satisfying win in the end.